• Duo Coote Zaldua – 14 March 2024

    Duo Coote Zaldua – 14 March 2024

    James Coote and Alistair Zaldua established duet improvisation over the course of 2023. James plays an experimental drum set-up that includes a diverse array of objects, and Alistair plays the 5-stringed e-violin. Recent releases: Duo Gallio Zaldua: Curses and Spirits (2023) https://scatterarchive.bandcamp.com/album/curses-and-spirits Duo Pons Zaldua: crossings (2023) https://panyrosasdiscos.bandcamp.com/album/crossings Trio CZW: Where The Wind Takes Us…

  • the three muses – 27 February 2024

    the three muses – 27 February 2024

    the three muses are: untitled woman – vocals & electronics keith jafrate – saxophone regular viewers might know them as 2/3 of pollen count. this duo venture shares some characteristics with that trio, but also evolves the approach, with more live manipulation of the sound, and a stronger narrative element. the results range from dark,…

  • Gidouille – 8 February 2024

    Gidouille – 8 February 2024

    This month our guests are Gidouille, featuring Kath Tyldesley (Theremin, Glockenspiel), and Mike Tyldesley (Sax, Flute, electronica). They’ve been exploring nonsense recently and will report on some of their findings. Who Gidouille – 8 February 2024 When Thursday, February 8, 2024 8:00pm – All Ages Where Fuel Cafe (map) 448 Wilmslow Road Manchester, England M20…

  • John Haycock – 30 January 2024

    John Haycock – 30 January 2024

    John Haycock is an accomplished kora player having trained with Gambian griot and kora master Jali Nyonkoling Kuyateh for over 10 years. John’s musical inquisitiveness  has led him to embrace the fusion of elctronic and woodwind elements in his compositions and live performances to create captivating and emotive soundscapes. Influenced by luminaries of ambient music…

  • Minimum Wage Immanence Unit – 11 January 2024

    Minimum Wage Immanence Unit – 11 January 2024

    David Birchall (guitar) brings his trio with Adam Fairhall on accordion and Michael Perrett on bass clarinet. The band is called Minimum Wage Immanence Unit. https://davidbirchall.bandcamp.com/album/swamp-cypress Who Minimum Wage Immanence Unit – 11 January 2024 When Thursday, January 11, 2024 8:00pm – All Ages Where Fuel Cafe (map) 448 Wilmslow Road Manchester, England M20 3BW…

  • Whiteley, Morton, Jackson, and Bright – 14 December 2023

    Whiteley, Morton, Jackson, and Bright – 14 December 2023

    Gill Whiteley is a multi-media improviser and artist working with instruments, objects and assorted materials. Clayton Jackson improvises with modulated percussion and objects, occasional adaptations, moving image, and events. Phil Morton, accidents and treatments. Performance forged in the air that it moves. Geoff Bright is an improviser and live art performer working with sound (mainly…

  • Abyssal Trio – 28 November 2023

    Abyssal Trio – 28 November 2023

    ‘Abyssal’ are an experimental trio featuring James Gardener (trumpet), Tom Pountney (guitar/electronics) and Jonno Gaze (drums). The group play ambient, improvised music with an electronic edge – creating cinematic soundscapes inspired by everything from Taku Sugimoto to Jon Hassell, to Radiohead. https://www.instagram.com/abyssal_trio Who Abyssal Trio – 28 November 2023 When Tuesday, November 28, 2023 7:30pm…

  • Thorpe / Prince / Heath – 9 November 2023

    Thorpe / Prince / Heath – 9 November 2023

    Rob Thorpe – baritone electric guitar Simon Prince – flute Sylvie Heath – voice and flute The trio are drawn to the smallest of sounds, and embrace the spaces that frame them. With each member having a background in contemporary classical music the pieces form with a sense of detail and concentration. Simon Prince is…

  • dbh Improv – 31 October 2023

    dbh Improv – 31 October 2023

    Fresh off his Spanish tour, dbh returns to the Noise Upstairs with free flowing acoustic guitar improvisations. Ole! Who dbh Improv – 31 October 2023 When Tuesday, October 31, 2023 8:00pm – All Ages Where The Golden Lion (map) Fielden Square Todmorden, England OL14 6LZ

  • Emil Karden / Lawrence Casserley – 12 October 2023

    Emil Karden / Lawrence Casserley – 12 October 2023

    A first time duo performance with Lawrence Casserley (live-signal processing) and Emil Karlsen (drums). Best known for his work in free improvised music, particularly real-time processing of other musicians’ sound, Casserley has devised a special computer processing instrument for this work. He has worked with many of the finest improvisers, particularly Evan Parker, with whom…

  • Cold Bath Street – 26 September 2023

    Cold Bath Street – 26 September 2023

    Cold Bath Street return to the Golden Lion for their first appearance at the Noise Upstairs. Before and after the set will be the usual jams. Come on down up! Who Cold Bath Street – 26 September 2023 When Tuesday, September 26, 2023 7:30pm – All Ages Where The Golden Lion (map) Fielden Square Todmorden,…

  • Alistair Zaldua, James Coote, and Andrew Rothwell – 14 September 2023

    Alistair Zaldua, James Coote, and Andrew Rothwell – 14 September 2023

    Only recently having moved to Manchester Alistair Zaldua previously lived in Canterbury where in 2015 he set up the Free Range Orchestra, which is an all-comers improvisation collective, and is closely associated with the Free Range experimental and improvised music Concert Series. Alistair is interested in collaboration; recent projects include duet work with Christoph Gallio…

  • Dave Insua-Cao – 29 August 2023

    Dave Insua-Cao – 29 August 2023

    This month in Todmorden we welcome the wonderful Dave Insua-Cao: Dave Insua-Cao is a multi-percussionist based on the Rochdale Canal. He has played and toured globally with Nwando Ebizie, 1927 theatre company, Gifford’s Circus, and the duo Brazen Head with Timothy Hill (Banjaxed available on MuteAnt Sounds). Dave is interested in disrupting the boundaries between…

  • Samson – 10 August 2023

    Samson: a freely improvising noise covers band oozing from the depths of the south Manchester student underground scene. Who Samson – 10 August 2023 When Thursday, August 10, 2023 8:00pm – All Ages Where Fuel Cafe (map) 448 Wilmslow Road Manchester, England M20 3BW Other InfoSamson: a freely improvising noise covers band oozing from the…

  • Geraldine Snell – 25 July 2023

    Geraldine Snell – 25 July 2023

    This month in Todmorden we’re delighted to welcome Geraldine Snell. Before and after her set we’ll have our regular jams, so put your name in the hat if you want to join in, or otherwise enjoy the show. See you there! Geraldine’s melodic, meditative, mellifluous music makes mesmerized audiences slow down and soften to the…

  • David Birchall and DBH – 27 June 2023

    David Birchall and DBH – 27 June 2023

    Dave Duo Dos   David Birchall and DBH have been playing together for over 15 years, mostly notably in the legendary Levenshulme house show math rock band Cornish Tin Mines with Ed Troop. More recently they worked in trio with artist Naomi Kendrick performing together at The Whitworth Gallery in Manchester and the Liverpool Biennial.…

  • Bartholomew – 8 June 2023

    Bartholomew – 8 June 2023

    Bartholomew (or Chris to his friends) is a composer, improviser and technologist based in Newcastle. Live, Bartholomew uses a carefully curated set of eclectic electronics to weave evolving textures from audio ephemera. Expect to hear internet detritus, electromagnetic fields and amplified cookware. Who Bartholomew – 8 June 2023 When Thursday, June 8, 2023 8:00pm -…

  • Tor Robot Band – 30 May 2023

    Tor Robot Band – 30 May 2023

    At last. At long last. Third time lucky? Tor Robot Band is a new project from illustrator and musician Jake Blanchard. Jake has designed, built and programmed a band of musical monsters with most of the instruments specifically built to suit each member of the band. Expect motorised drums, robotic bleeps, a confusing number of…

  • The Bottom End – 11 May 2023

    The Bottom End – 11 May 2023

    The Bottom End is Geoff Bright on bass saxophone, voice and stuff and Mick Beck on bassoon and other things. Overjoyed to be back at Noise Upstairs after the bad, bad days of Covid, we’ll continue our interrogation of the sonic basement possibilities of the timber grumbler and the brassy belcher – with a whoop…

  • Long Swan Tongues – 25 April 2023

    Long Swan Tongues – 25 April 2023

    This month we’re delighted to welcome Long Swan Tongues – an improv/noise/drone/doom/duo from Todmorden. Before and after their set we’ll have our usual jams, so drop your name in the hat if you want to play, or take a seat and enjoy xx See ya there! Edd Sanders – Violin, uilleann pipes Al Wilson –…