Kicking things off for April, this month we’ve asked our talented Guest Editor Simon Coates to share his top 4 event picks from the Sampler!

4th-8th April 2018

Counterflows Festival

Founded in 2012, Counterflows is committed to providing a platform to a wide array of radical, off-stream and experimental music. This year’s iteration features performances from Mhysa, Russell Haswell and Sue Tompkins, Susie Ibarra and more, along with screenings and discussions.

20th April 2018

Tse Tse Fly Middle East x Reprieve

The experimental arts platform partners with the human rights charity Reprieve.  The night will feature curated short films, a talk from a Reprieve case-worker and live performances from English vocal and Middle Eastern oud duo Catherine Earnshaw and storywheel, and Iranian experimental musician Pouya Ehsaei.

21st April 2018

Pandit Kushal Das and Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya: Music of India

Both revered Indian classical musicians, Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya plays the santoor (a type of dulcimer) while Pandit Kushal Das plays the sitar. Both are supported here by tabla maestro Pandit Yosgesh Samsi who studied under the great percussionist Ustad Allarakha Khan.

24th – 26th April 2018

Ligeti Quartet

The Ligeti Quartet perform twice as part of Sheffield University’s Sound Laboratory week-long take over.  The 24th date sees an amplified string quartet meeting electronic music to explore psychoacoustic effects, while on the 26th the quartet perform compositions from the university’s Department of Music.