You cab read an interview with Khyam Allami in advance of his show with the Alif Ensemble in Birmingham on Thursday 19th July about his first experiences of Arabic music and a little of what you can expect from this exciting show.

Despite his cultural background, Khyam Allami wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Middle Eastern music.

Having moved with his family from Damascus at the age of nine, and quick to embrace his new home, it was the electric guitar wizardry and thumping drum solos of rock music that got his heart beating quickly.

Then in 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq and Allami found his world view shifting.

“It wasn’t so much that I wanted to play Middle Eastern music per se, it was more that I wanted to immerse myself in music full stop,” he explains.

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2012/07/12/interview-the-alif-ensemble-s-khyam-allami-on-his-philharmonic-hall-concert-99623-31366193/#ixzz20toxFopi

The debut performance by this new Arabic music collective took place in Liverpool at the weekend as part of the Arabic Arts Festival. We’re delighted that the Alif Ensemble will be performing in Birmingham this Thursday 19th July at Ikon Gallery. Tickets are still available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/

Here’s a review of the show from the Liverpool Echo –



The ‘sound’ is led by ensemble founder Kyam Allami, playing the oud, the traditional fretless string instrument which is the basis of middle eastern music.

Add to that the buzuk, mastered by vocalist Tamer Abu Ghazaleh, the the rest integrates the already widely familiar – bass guitar (Khaled Omran), two percussion players (Ayman Mabrouk and Kaled Yassine) with Yaroub Smarait on violin and Maurice Louca on keyboards.

Indeed, when also operating the mixing desk, Louca’s bodily animation communicated enthusiasm for a sound world which, frquently, could easily have crossed over into the realms of mid-period Pink Floyd.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-entertainment/2012/07/16/review-the-alif-ensemble-philharmonic-hall-100252-31401375/#ixzz20nE4kS9Z

First and foremost, we are thrilled to invite back former Supersonic Festival alumni, someone who appeared at the very first Supersonic in 2003 (he also performed again in 2008 and with King Midas Sound in 2010) we are of course speaking of Kevin Martin aka The Bug. This time, Kevin Martin will be bringing the party vibes accompanied by the world’s fastest rapper and founder of Raggamuffin hip hop Daddy Freddy and Flow Dan (co-founder of UK Grime collective Roll Deep).

What Supersonic Festival line up would be complete without a local hero? For the tenth birthday celebrations, Supersonic are delighted to host the latest project of Nicholas Bullen, forever pushing and evolving ways of working with sound. With a highly impressive career spanning 35 years having founded Napalm Death and since established himself as sound artist and composer in his own right. Nicholas Bullen is known for his captivating multimedia performances and his omnipresence will undoubtedly be witnessed across the entire weekend. Stay tuned for more information regarding his involvement soon.

Bringing great diversity and an air of playfulness to the festival are a trio of musicians from the Finnish label Fonal Records. Visual artist and musician Islaja will marvel with her compelling combination of her unique vocal delivery and interweaving of a rainbow of instruments. Lau Nau, the free spirited Finnish artist otherwise known as Laura Naukkarinen playfully and expertly blends ethnic tinged folk songs with curious and intuitive sounds conjured from both familiar and exotic sound sources. And one of the most recognised experimental music makers, Jan Anderzen will perform as Tomoutonttu offering an exuberant cacophony of streams, mutilated voices and found sounds resulting in an all-round ecstatic display of contemporary music.

Over the next few months an exciting programme of film, talks and exhibitions will be revealed, including the unveiling of plans for sonic led dining experiences at the festival. There are still some more musical additions as well, all exploring & celebrating 10 years of adventurous music.

As a reminder, here is a list of the line up as it stands; Body/Head/Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore/The Bug/Carlton Melton/Clifford Torus/Dope Body/Drunk In Hell/ Dylan Carlson/Flower-Corsano/Goat/Hey Colossus/Hookworms/Hype Williams/Islaja/Jarboe/JK Flesh/Kevin Drumm/KK Null/Lau Lau/Lichens/Merzbow/My Disco/Nicholas Bullen/PCM/Rangda/Richard Dawson/Ruins Alone/Sir Richard Bishop/Six Organs Of Admittance/Small But Hard showcase/Stian Westerhus/SWLLWS/Thomas Ankersmit/Tim Hecker/Tomoutonttu/Ufomammut/Warm Digits and Zeni Geva

Tickets are available via http://www.supersonicfestival.com/tickets

Supersonic Festival, the world renowned event for adventurous music, art film and beyond is celebrating its 10th birthday.. We love a party so are expanding our celebrations by hosting two very special taster shows in London and Birmingham in August. These events showcase the sorts of artists programmed at the festival, and celebrate our passion for adventurous new music.
Produced in association with Eastside Projects, on Saturday 4th August King Midas Sound System and JK Flesh, joined by Iron Fist Of The Sun, Laurence Hunt and Sarah M Farmer will bring, abstract, abrasive and titanic sounds into the walls of this converted art gallery/warehouse space in Digbeth. Tickets are £15 for five brilliant acts, and we’ll be running a lovely real ale bar.

If you’re London inclined, a Supersonic Festival taster will take place on Thursday 9^th August at Corsica Studios, in association with The Quietus. This event will feature King Midas Sound (without the system), JK Flesh and Glatze (aka Sam Underwood). Tickets are available via http://www.corsicastudios.com

Chris has also released the first of three Supersonic Festival podcasts, giving you a taster of some of the artists playing at the 2012 edition of the event, which just so happens to be its 10th year – how exciting.

In case you missed the news yesterday, we’ve just announced a very exciting show with Norwegian avant jazz group Supersilent, who will be joined by the legendary John Paul Jones – multi-instrumentalist and Led Zeppelin bassist. This heavyweight collaboration will enter uncharted sonic zones.

We are producing this event in conjunction with Town Hall Birmingham, and Jazzlines. Support comes from cassette manipulator Aki Onda.

This very special event will take place Wednesday 14th November at Town Hall Birmingham, tickets are available via http://www.thsh.co.uk/

The Alif Ensemble have posted up this teaser in advance of their UK tour dates. One of the most exciting new projects to come from the Arab world, bringing together musicians from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq for a beguiling blend of acoustic and contemporary electronic sounds. The ensemble will feature Capsule favourite Khyam Allami, who has blown Supersonic audiences away both solo and in collaboration with Master Musicians of Bukkake.

The Alif Ensemble will perform at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham on Thursday 19th July. Support comes from Simon Fox whose work ranges from traditional folk songs to more challenging sonic experiments.

Tickets are available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/

Watch a full Unsane live set from May, 1997. Pretty exciting stuff.

You can see them play in Birmingham on Wed 4th July at Rainbow Warehouse with the mighty Big Business (members of Melvins) and Stinky Wizzleteat. Tickets are available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk