Portico Quartet
Itchy feet are programming 4 great gigs in Sligo this February under the banner of Quattro and the second last date has really caught my eye. Happening at The Factory on Thursday Feb 25th it’s with a group called The Portico Quartet from London who have a hang drum (or two?) as part of their make up.
I only discovered the nuts-looking hang this november as one of the Fresh Air Festival artists; Roland Gomez is a hang player. It’s a hugely unusual instrument that is hand made by panArt in Switzerland and therefore very hard to come by, but seemingly very instinctive to play if you are already proficient in another instrument. It looks like a spaceship and sounds equally otherworldly. Have a listen to Roland playing on Donal Dineen’s show here>
The Portico boys have been nominated for a Mercury Prize and are not shy on great press quotes, of which this is just one.
“A band who make experimental and adventurous music sound wonderfully accessible, Portico Quartet are like nothing you’ve heard before.” Straight No Chaser
At first listen they seem as likely to turn up on a Cafe del Mar cd as on a jazz or contemporary classical one, so I’m looking forward to hearing what they have in store for Sligo.
Not quite sure why music network don’t have any web links for the quartet on their site, but you can listen to them on their myspace or visit their rather nice site. They seem to be on tour to a few places around the country- full list here. The Sligo gig tix are €12/15 and avail from The Factory on 071 917 0431
Feb 6th – Frisk Verde (Ireland/Denmark/USA) Guitar maestro, Mike Nielson’s latest Jazz Combination
Followed by “Grapevine” Sligo’s newest club playing: soul, funk, dancehall jazz and blues! with DJ’s Pedro and Barra
Feb 14th – Netnakisum (Ausria) Astounding and quirkingly entertaining classical musicians play Motzart to Harmonic yodeling from the alps (Back due to popular demand)
Feb 25th – Portico Quartet (UK) award-winning foursome that play a unique style of jazz featuring the world famous hang drums of Switzerland
Feb 27th – Niwell Tsumbu and The Songs of The Nations Band
(Congo/Cuba/Germany/Holland/Ireland) Gifted Guitarist, Niwell has put together an stunning international group of musicians to play his original and spell-binding compositions.
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