Frontiers Festival returns this June with a week of music inspired by the traditions of downtown New York.
One of the great American drummers and percussionists, Warren Smith will perform a one-off gig with a line-up featuring Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) at the Hare & Hounds on 5th June. Over a sixty year career, Smith has collaborated with the greats of Motown such as Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, and also Nina Simone, Janis Joplin and Van Morrison.
Rhys Chatham, the American composer credited for “altering the DNA of rock”, gives the UK premiere of A Secret Rose for 100 Guitars at Town Hall Birmingham on Saturday 7th June. Guitar enthusiasts from across the UK are travelling to Birmingham to be part of this unique event, with some performers coming from as far afield as Buenos Aires and the West Coast of the US.
The following day, Sunday 8th June, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group will lead 1,000 people in an all-singing, all-shouting super group in the world premiere of David Lang’s Crowd Out at Millennium Point.
Birmingham Conservatoire’s Jazz Department will perform the entire back catalogue of American jazz giant Thelonius Monk, with 70 performances over four days.
Presented by Birmingham Conservatoire and Third Ear, Frontiers Festival looks to the collaborative and do-it-your-own-way traditions of New York and the sounds, ideas and iconic moments from that city which have fuelled music culture. The first part of Frontiers Festival took place in April 2014 and it now returns for a week long period this June.
Full programme and ticketing information at www.frontiersmusic.org