Live events
KIMMO POHJONEN “Simply amazing” The Guardian “Nothing can quite prepare you for Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen” The Wire UK Tour: 11 – 17 MAY 2008 Finnish accordion adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen stands apart as one of the world’s musical innovators. Likened to Jimi Hendrix, Laurie Anderson and even Batman, his singular mission is to expand the capabilities, sound and experience of his instrument in many different settings. Accordion, voice, effects and surround sound combine to create a compelling live experience which has won Kimmo ardent fans across musical genres. Earth Machine Music sees Kimmo compose new works inspired by four UK farms, using sampled material from agricultural machines – ranging from tractors, milking machines and threshers - and local farmers ‘playing’ some of the machines alongside Kimmo in each farm. Ahead of the Earth Machine Music performances in May, Kimmo will visit each farm in March to record the agricultural machines plus meet the local farmers and any others involved in the project. Kimmo will then return to Finland to compose new music for each of the venues and their machines, corresponding with the various collaborators where necessary to aid the writing process. Earth Machine Music is great opportunity for exchange between the worlds of agriculture and the arts. Each farm has its own story to tell and some of the performances will include additional activity such as farm trails, a food ritual by resident artist-cuisinère Miche Fabre Lewin, a hog roast BBQ and even the chance to enjoy a special local Earth Machine Music beer. Earth Machine Music venues and partners: Hall Farm, Nowton, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds Festival). Kimmo will perform in a cow shed on a local farm in Nowton as part of the Bury St Edmunds Festival. Hall Farm is largely arable growing wheat, sugar beet, spring barley and oil seed rape, but also some beef. The farm also boasts a large collection of vintage tractors dating back to the 1940s. Manor Farm, Cocking, West Sussex (County Arts Service West Sussex + Roots Around The World). Earth Machine Music will take place in what are now semi-redundant farm buildings on the Cowdray Estate, which also owns a number of working farms. During the afternoon there will be a free guided walk of the village conducted by archeologist James Kenny and a display of ariel photos, old photos and Cocking artefacts for the public to browse. There will also be a hog roast, BBQ (vegetarian option available) and special locally brewed Earth Machine Music beer to savour before the performance. Earth Machine Music provides the West Sussex rural arts unit (one of only two in the country) with its first opportunity to work with local farms. They will work in collaboration with a local promoter, Roots Around The World, who have a longstanding relationship with the farms and the local community. Westcott Barton, Middle Marwood, Barnstaple, North Devon (Beaford Arts). Westcott Barton is situated in its own secluded valley where there has been a homestead since Saxon times; it is even mentioned in the Domesday Book and was the home of the Chichester family during the 17th century. The main farmhouse building is a Grade II listed Devon longhouse and facing the house is a large barn, and whilst Westcott Barton is no longer a working farm there are relics from its working life including a water wheel and threshing machine. Beaford Arts (one of the oldest rural touring networks in the UK) is working with local farmers and others to be part of the project. Park Farm, North Aston, Oxfordshire (Oxford Contemporary Music). Park Farm is part of North Aston farms, a 900 acre organic farm with beef, sheep and some pigs. In addition to selling organic meat, the farm supports other local produce through renting land to North Aston Dairy and North Aston Organics), as well as promoting natural hedge rows and other environmental initiatives. Audiences can come early for a guided farm walk, and then enjoy lively tastings from a culinary installation created by resident artist-cuisinère, Miche Fabre Lewin. Earth Machine Music is part of Oxford Contemporary Music’s Born in a Barn series.
Tour dates:
NB: Audiences should wear suitable shoes / boots and warm clothes. This tour is generously supported by Arts Council England, ESEK, Finnish Institute and LUSES. Media partner: Farmers Weekly. Produced by sound uk / www.sounduk.net www.kimmopohjonen.com
/ www.myspace.com/kimmopohjonen
Earth Machine Music in the press:
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