There were some murmurs going around a while ago that with the Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange and Studio reopening, the Attenborough Centre’s pull as a music venue might reduce. Over a year later it seems there’s plenty of room for both art hubs to flourish. Certainly, the ACCA has maintained its happy knack of attracting a cluster of revered and often iconic contemporary musicians (remember Xiu Xiu, Basinski, Scanner, Gazelle Twin, Erland Cooper, Alessandro Cortini from the last year or so). It’s a trend that’s seems to be continuing in 2025. You might already be lucky enough to have snatched a seat for Nubiya Garcia’s sold out show next week or maybe you’ve clocked that avant- chanteuse Keeley Forsyth is on her way to perform in Falmer on 7th May. Well, to complete the hat trick for their spring season, on 9th April ACCA brings you a unique live performance from renowned electronic musician Fennesz.
Beginning as a guitarist, Austrian born Christian Fennesz first shifted into the experimental scene thanks to European techno, re-routing his guitar via pedals, laptops and software to become a pioneer in glitch ambient, sonic expressionism. 30 years on he’s released around eight solo albums, numerous soundtracks and collaborated with everyone from Sakamoto to Jim O’Rourke. His 2001 ‘Endless Summer’ album has become a defining classic of the soundscape form and his more stripped-back recordings from last year’s ‘Mosaic’ were lauded as “the ultimate antidote to dark nights and bleak times” by Bandcamp. Renowned for the melodic, magical shimmer of his music, this Fennesz show, one of only two UK dates on a short European series, should mark the perfect transition to more hope-filled days.
Support for the evening also holds much promise: a set from Brighton-based multi-instrumentalist/producer Marcus Hamblett. A go-to session and live player, he’s worked with The Staves, Bears Den, Nadine Shah, First Aid Kit and more, formed a duo with James Holden to support The Smile, plus released two solo albums: ‘Concrete’ (2015) and the head-turning ‘Detritus’ in 2019. Adding to that the running of his discerning label, Willkomen Records, just a chink of time id left for shows of his own. So make sure to catch this one.
Marcus Hamblett
Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts, Wednesday 9th April 2025, 7.30 pm.
Get your tickets here.
