John Ellis is a pianist/singer from the north of England and has worked with artists such as Tom Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lily Allen and John Squire (Stone Roses). He is also a founder member of The Cinematic Orchestra and a major contributor to the albums ‘Everyday’ and ‘Man With The Movie Camera’. John has written […]
Winner of the 2017 BASCA British Composer Award for Innovation, Shiva Feshareki is an experimental composer, radio presenter and turntablist of British Iranian heritage. Her work explores the sound of electricity through a wide range of practices and collaborative processes incorporating classical methodology. Shiva will be leading our second Both Sides Now residency taking place in Leeds […]
Scratch DJ and music maker Peter Parker’s career started when he came 3rd in the 1997 UK DMC DJ finals, when Mark Rae of Manchester’s Grand Central label was one of the judges. He quickly snapped up young Parker and enlisted him as tour DJ and band member for the labels various live projects with […]
Manchester based trumpeter, composer, record label boss, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall is one of UK music’s brightest talents. A gifted trumpeter with a beautiful, expressive tone, his heart-warming music draws on his love of the transcendental spiritual and modal jazz of Alice and John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, as well as more contemporary dance music […]
Kabantu are a world-folk-fusion quintet of award-winning musicians known for concocting captivating, exhilarating improvisations, infectious rhythms and beautiful melodies from around the globe. They regularly lead workshops in primary schools around Greater Manchester and as a group they’ve performed at prestigious events including the BBC Proms. They’ve been leading Junior Jam, our monthly music group for children, […]
James Holt is a Manchester singer/songwriter and former trainee practitioner at Brighter Sound. James took part in Brighter Sound’s Chaos to Order at Manchester Central Library and has performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth Proms. He currently facilitates Sing City, our songwriting sessions and live nights for songwriters, composers, performers and producers aged 13-18, alongside Natalie McCool and Phill […]
Jane Weaver is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Liverpool, England. She has performed as part of the Britpop group Kill Laura, the Farfisa-fuelled girl group Misty Dixon and as a solo artist. She also runs the record label Bird. Jane Weaver’s Spotify Playlist Voyage 1 — Catherine Ribeiro + Alpes I think Catherine […]
We’re really excited for our tenth Artistic Directors Series, Dub Reactors: Reggae Roots Residency, to take place next month. We’ll be welcoming Manchester roots reggae and dub veterans P.Lush (Nucleus Roots, Dub Reaktion), T-Gad (T & Le Touch, Edward II) and a special guest vocalist to lead this three-day intensive residency at Band on the Wall. As we’ll […]
Phill Howley is a professional drummer, composer, producer and educator. Over the years he’s worked and recorded with a variety of bands and musicians, including Liz Green, Louis Barrabass, The Bedlam 6, Paddy Steer and most recently Manchester based ethio-trad, folk-hop band Honeyfeet. He’s also one fourth of the genre defying Shyfinger who have just […]
US MC, rapper and educator Jahi shares his ultimate Spotify playlist. Oakland rapper Jahi is frontman of PE 2.0, the next generation of iconic New York rap group Public Enemy. Jahi first met Public Enemy legend Chuck D after performing at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, kick-starting a friendship and music […]
DJ Andrea Trout may tell you she spins for fun – but don’t let that fool you. A lack of the usual ego associated with those serious chaps who stand behind turntables making equally serious faces while tweaking their beards, makes her prone to underestimate a passionate, educated, heartfelt and un-hackneyed approach to music. With deep […]
Mercury Prize-nominated singer and multi-instrumentalist ESKA shares her ultimate Spotify playlist. ESKA defies categorisation, blending soul, folk-pop, jazz, electronica and blues. Her twenty-year career has taken her around the world, collaborating with artists including Grace Jones, UNKLE and Tony Allen. In 2015, ESKA released her self-titled debut album to rave reviews, earning a Mercury Prize […]
Manchester based Birds Hit Records share their ultimate Spotify playlist. Birds Hit Records produce custom, one-off and short run vinyl records in Manchester. In April they will lead a three-day vinyl pressing course curated by Mr. Scruff during which they’ll offer six participants an introduction to the art of cutting vinyl. “Part geeky, part playful, this course […]
DJ and Crazy P vocalist Danielle Moore shares her ultimate Spotify playlist. Danielle is a performer of sorts — front woman with disco lovers Crazy P and an avid selector of music. Mainly DJing to club dance floors around the world. She also enjoys playing a more eclectic selection at home ranging from folk to techno. An admirer […]
Musician, DJ, producer and video artist G-Kut shares his ultimate Spotify Playlist. G-Kut has been around the music scene in Manchester for 20 years as musician, DJ, producer and video artist. He’s also been teaching for 18 years around the North West, concentrating on music technology, instrumental skills and performance. He’s currently developing A/V techniques […]
Happy New Year from all of us at Brighter Sound! This month’s Spotify playlist is a sneak peek forward to 2017 and some of the artists that we hope to bring to you this year. Keep your eyes peeled for some of our forthcoming announcements, with opportunities to explore music with these incredible musicians through […]
Folk Group facilitator and traditional fiddle star Emma Sweeney shares her Spotify Playlist. Emma Sweeney is a Songlines Award nominated fiddler whose debut album Pangea has confirmed her status as one of folk music’s rising stars. Emma’s unique style combines her traditional Irish background with a fusion of world influences, drawing upon her experience of […]
Ethio-American singer, songwriter and cultural activist Meklit shares her ultimate Spotify playlist. A TED Senior Fellow, Meklit co-founded the internationally renowned Nile Project, bringing together artists from eleven countries to overcome politics and conflict through musical collaboration. In April 2016, she was commissioned by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts to compose the song cycle, There Is […]
We look back this month as we share our own ultimate Spotify playlist featuring a selection of previous artists in residence. Over the years Brighter Sound has had the pleasure of working with a number of different artists, each project providing a new and exciting take on the music making process. We’re proud to have collaborated […]
Brighter Sound Digital Marketing Apprentice, Joe Clegg shares his Spotify Playlist Joe Clegg took up a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with us a year ago, and as the placement is now coming to its end, we thought, what better way to give the social media voice of Brighter Sound some recognition and profile, than by giving him free reign on […]
Noisy Toys founder Steve Summers shares his ultimate Spotify playlist with Brighter Sound. Noisy Toys is all about having fun experimenting with sound. They deliver workshops, events and interactive installations connecting science and music together in new ways, including creating amazing instruments out of up-cycled computers that people have thrown away. Their founder Steve Summers is […]
Acclaimed composer Anna Meredith shares her Spotify playlist with Brighter Sound. Described as “one of the most innovative minds in modern British music” (Pitchfork) Anna Meredith is a composer, producer and performer of both acoustic and electronic music. Her music has been performed everywhere from BBC Last Night of the Proms to flashmob body-percussion performance in the M6 services, PRADA fashion […]
Test Card is a community exploring the development of new technologies and techniques in the area of audio visual performance. Their wider programme includes Test Card Live, a platform for artists, filmmakers and VJ’s to showcase new work and the Test Card Talk Programme which invites both local and internationally leading artists, filmmakers, VJ’s and […]
Liam Sutcliffe, marketing guru shares his ultimate Spotify playlist with Brighter Sound. Liam joined the Brighter Sound team back in 2010 and quickly showed a natural talent for all things marketing in the world of music. He moved across the corridor in April last year to work with our creative music partners at Band on the Wall, […]
Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Josephine shares her Spotify Playlist with Brighter Sound. Josephine is an English singer-songwriter with Jamaican and Liberian roots. Her upbringing is reflected in her songs that cover a variety of genres from gospel and country to soul music. Her debut album ‘Portrait’ which was produced by Leo Abrahams, was released in 2012 to critical […]
Journalist, writer and producer Chris Long shares his Spotify Playlist with Brighter Sound. Chris Long has been involved with Manchester arts and music for the past decade and a half, as both a writer for the BBC and as the producer of BBC Manchester Introducing. Now working as the North of England Arts and Entertainment […]
Multi-instrumentalists Serafina Steer and Natalie Sharp share their ultimate Spotify Playlist with Brighter Sound. Serafina is a harpist, singer-songwriter and composer. She’s released three albums, the last produced by Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) received high praise across the board. Natalie has been composing and performing music for ten years and is the women behind the world […]
Young musician Adam shares his ultimate Spotify playlist with Brighter Sound. Vocalist Adam has been a regular at Brighter Sound, joining other talented musicians at Sing City, our weekly singing and songwriting collective for under 18’s as well as our regular music residencies at Band on the Wall. He’s rarely seen without either a microphone […]
Ben Cottrell – composer, saxophonist and bandleader – shares his ultimate Spotify playlist with Brighter Sound. Ben is best known as the director of the award-winning Beats & Pieces Big Band, but is also a prolific composer and orchestral arranger. His works have been performed and recorded by world renowned orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra and […]
The Futureheads’ frontman Barry Hyde shares his ultimate Spotify Playlist with Brighter Sound. We’re delighted that Barry Hyde, frontman of post-punk band The Futureheads will be joining us this December to lead a very special Sing City masterclass. Barry Hyde has been working as a professional musician since 2002. He has released five albums, had over 100 songs […]
We’re thrilled to be working with two incredibly talented musicians – Avital Raz and Sam Lewis – on a brand new Indian Fusion project. Here they share their ultimate ‘Indian Fusion’ Spotify Playlist – songs that have influenced their music-making. Avital and Sam will performing live at Band on the Wall later in the month […]
We caught up with talented musician Eddie McAlpine in between A-Level exams at Xaverian College to find out his ultimate Spotify playlist. The 18 year-old vocalist and lyricist is a regular at many Brighter Sound events, from Sing City, our singing and songwriting group, to artistic residencies with Ethiopian-born star Meklit Hadero. Eddie recently performed at […]
Our Spotify Playlist for September comes from talented young jazz pianist Harry Thompson. Harry has been a regular at Brighter Sound – both as a participant at projects such as Manchester Jazz Youth Foundation and CHANGE, and also as a work experience student. Following fantastic G.C.S.E. results, Harry is off to Xaverian College, with a future plan of […]
Liam Frost, solo musician and member of Manchester band TOKOLOSH shares the Spotify Playlist he put together especially for Brighter Sound’s Kirkby High School project. Liam has been leading an exciting music project for Brighter Sound at Kirkby High School with fellow musicians Hannah Hird (Bird to Beast, Ellie Goulding) and Christian Madden (TOKOLOSH, The Earlies). The project […]