Brighten The Corners Presents British/Iranian composer, multi-instrumentalist and performer Kavus Torabi at The Smokehouse on Thursday 29th August. Support comes from Lee Ashcroft.
“A disciplined and radical figure who methodically works at his music, writing and visual art.” The Quietus
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Time: 7.30pm - 11pm
Venue: The Smokehouse, Ipswich
Tickets: £12+bf
Supports: Lee Ashcroft
Age Restrictions: 14+ (14- 15s must be accompanied by an adult)Accessibility: There is step-free access into the venue and the bar / venue is all on one floor. There is a Changing Places toilet across the courtyard from the venue. Please be aware we are a small venue. For further information, please email info@brightenthecorners.co.uk so we can make your visit as comfortable as possible.
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Kavus Torabi is a British/ Iranian composer, multi-instrumentalist, performer, author, artist, broadcaster and DJ. Since 2016 he has fronted legendary psychedelic band Gong with whom he is principal songwriter. He is a member of the semi-modular experimental/ psychedelic trio The Utopia Strong. He is a former guitarist of legendary British cult band, Cardiacs and avant rock instrumentalists Guapo. As part of a a DJ duo with Steve Davis, he has performed festivals throughout the UK, recently performing at Wembley Stadium between bands for Blur’s comeback performance. In 2021 White Rabbit published, Medical Grade Music, his memoir with Steve Davis which was Shindig’s music book of the year. In April 2024 his commissioned piece ‘Lion Of The Lord’s Elect’ will make its debut at Roadburn Festival, NE.
In 2020 he released his first solo album Hip To The Jag. The follow up, ‘The Banishing’ will be released on May 3rd 2024
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Depending on who you ask, Lee Ashcroft is either a musician, writer, social care worker, artist, theremin player, autistic man, internet radio host, two-time loser of BBC’s Pointless, or one-time member of The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu. He lives with his partner in North Essex, UK.
‘Persons Underground’ began in a few weeks into the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. While the rest of the world seemed to be at home baking sourdough and watching ‘Tiger King’, Lee was on the frontline, attempting to maintain the wellbeing of disabled adults at a point they were forbidden to leave their home. Through a fog of low mood and physical exhaustion, a chance encounter with some cult record labels looking for lockdown-inspired submissions, along with some old musical acquaintances, led to the discovery of a new sound for Lee – mournful, bassy, with lethargic rhythm.
Over the next 4 years, Lee continued to explore these sonic territories, working with singer-songwriters and producers from the UK, Europe, Singapore, and the US. The resulting album is the culmination of this work – a journey through the haze of physical and mental exhaustion, coming out the other side to a more hopeful future. The album also features a remix of one of his earlier songs recorded as The Nearly, recorded independently from this project, but sonically fitting like a glove.