Mieko Shimizu - Wonky Plonky Electronk

 

Mieko Shimizu

Wonky Plonky Electronk

Mieko Shimizu
Dhangsha
Shape Navigator
Jasmine Morris

All is Joy (Soho)
28th March 2024

Shape Navigator

The dark resonant footsteps of Wonky Plonky Electronk stomped into the former Warner Bros cinema at All is Joy in Soho last month for a night of unbridled electronica. The line-up included nonconformist Japanese outsider Mieko Shimizu, noise-bass guerrilla Dhangsha, modular synth landscaper Shape Navigator and breakthrough Sound Artist & Composer Jasmine Morris.

Jasmine Morris

Wonky Plonky Electronk is an uncompromising sonic meltdown of experimental, noise & ambient electronic music. Watch out for live events throughout the UK in 2024. Currently their artist-in-residence is Mieko Shimizu, the composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose music transports you into a world of dreams and nightmares, oscillating between visions both real and surreal.

Dhangsha

Recently Shimizu re-released her album My Tentacles, featuring the mesmeric standout track, Think Like a Swarm, reminiscent of Laurie Anderson’s art meets pop sensibilities. The album bristles with quirky, dysfunctional beats and chimeric fusions. Her Tentacles are truly her own, for this free-spirited champion of outsider art pop.
https://mieko-shimizu-co-uk.stackstaging.com/

Esther Bennett - Words for Wayne Shorter

Esther Bennett

Esther Bennett - voice
Tim Lapthorn - piano,
Oli Hayhurst - bass
Flavio Li Vigni - drums
Brandon Allen - saxes

02/02/2024
Polish Cultural Centre, Posk, Jazz Café, King Street, Hammersmith
https://www.jazzcafeposk.org/

Flavio Li Vigni 

One of the great nights of originality, performance and raw creativity at Jazz Cafe POSK in Hammersmith. Singer Esther Bennett premiered her latest project, Words for Wayne Shorter, at the West London Cultural hub in front of a packed house. Created specifically for POSK, Bennett created lyrics, voice and poetry for a selection of Wayne Shorter compositions.

Oli Hayhurst 

The tunes chosen from Shorter's Blue Note period gave plenty of opportunity for Brandon Allen (saxophones), Tim Lapthorn (piano), Oli Hayhurst (double bass) and Flavio Li Vigni (drums) to shine. As well as an intertwining of likeminded musical threads from Bennett and Shorter, it was also a night of shared philosophies and existential views. What stood out most was the sheer pizzaz of Bennett, the Brummie belter had more spark than a Black Country furnace.  

Tim Lapthorn

Esther Bennett is one of the jazz scene’s most highly respected and widely loved vocalists. Her innate sense of musicality, gleaned from her earlier years of saxophone playing and study of the jazz idiom, inform a voice that has individuality, originality and flair. Bennett's debut album “Just in Time” was produced by multi award winning singer Ian Shaw and launched at London’s 606 Club in 2005. Since then, she has carved out a prestigious career as a jazz singer, performing extensively in major venues in and around London, across the country and in Europe, accompanied by some of the UK’s leading jazz musicians.

Bandon Allen

Catch more Bandon Allen at Jazz Cafe POSK in the coming weeks, when he brings his Groove Band to the venue on 23rd February 2024.

Esther Bennett 

TwickFolk Birthday Concert 2024

The String Fellows - Bernie Dembowski, John Rogers Prosser, John Davies

Sue Graves
The String Fellows - Bernie Dembowski, John Rogers Prosser, John Davies
Amrit Sond
Ivor Game
Mandy Woods
Martin, Helen and Vanessa
Michael De Podesta
Paul Solman
Paul Vile

TwickFolk - The Cabbage Patch Pub, 67 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SZ
www.twickfolk.co.uk

21st January 2024

Paul Solman & Paul Vile

A great mix of current and vintage performers, together with the friendly and fun atmosphere that has made TwickFolk so popular for more than four decades.

Amrit Sond

Last Sunday at TwickFolk marked the final night of my year long art residency. It has an been an amazing privilege to experience such high quality performers, to hear their music and to sketch them of course. The year started with a re-brand of the TwickFolk logo and the unveiling of a new stage banner. I felt very proud to watch the performers strut their stuff in front of the banner. And it is testament to the team at TwickFolk and especially their official photographer, Riikka Gregorowski, that images of the folk musicians (and the banner) can be found all over social media.

Ivor Game

There were several highlights of the residency. First must be the quality of the floor spots. These brought both new discoveries to my attention but also an appreciation of the talent that is the TwickFolk team ranks. My favourite night of the year was the Young Folk Showcase, curated by Jennie Higgins, and featuring Sean Spicer, Seb Stone, and East Corner Trio. It's good to know that the future of British folk music is in such good hands.

Sue Graves

I'm very grateful for the Sunday night welcome I received from Sue Graves, Paul Kenny, Paul Vile, Paul Solman, Riikka and the rest of the team at TwickFolk each week. It really is a special folk club and they would not have been able to flourish for 41 years without nurturing a community around them. I feel fortunate to have been placed at the heart of this community for a year of my creative life.

Mandy Woods

Martin, Helen and Vanessa

Michael De Podesta

 

Pete Morton - Twickfolk

Pete Morton

Pete Morton

floor spots from
Paul Vile
Paul Solman
Michael De Podesta

TwickFolk - The Cabbage Patch Pub, 67 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SZ
www.twickfolk.co.uk

14th January 2024

Paul Solman

Pete Morton fired 2024 into life for the Twickfolk audience this week. He sang from the heart, for there is no better place, delivering songs that spoke of the human condition. His passion was unquenchable, his strong voice a guiding light, especially when a string broke on his guitar, and he dropped to his knees to repair it. It was a pleasure to hear his songs, a mix of humour, politics, love and social comment.

Michael De Podesta

Pete Morton began his musical journey after he came across a Buffy St Marie record. It was from that moment on he decided to become a folk singer. Discovering the songs of the early sixties protest movement, it inspired him to write and take his songs into folk clubs and beyond. Starting out as a busker on the streets of Europe, he has entertained all over the globe with his unique and involving style of song-writing and singing. 

For thirty years, Pete has been performing to audiences all over the world. Throughout that time he has been regarded as one the best on the contemporary roots music scene.  His latest album ‘A Golden Thread’ has received rave reviews with eight newly self penned songs, a Pete Seeger classic ‘Oh Had I A Golden Thread’, and versions of the traditional gems, ‘Barbry Allen’ and ‘The Farmers Boy’.

Paul Vile