Music
Larkhall (With support from Samuel Sharp)
Standard: £12
Larkhall
What if you could see music?
Meet Larkhall, the award-winning concert pianist and one of the brilliant minds behind the ground-breaking app, Shazam.
At the heart of his artistic innovation lies Otto, his computer co-performer. Otto isn’t just your ordinary AI; it’s a virtuoso in its own right. It possesses the remarkable ability to decipher the intricate musical nuances within a song, translating them into stunning visuals that dance in perfect harmony with the sound. Imagine being able to not just hear, but actually see music as it is created, interpreted with astonishing precision and creativity.
His performances showcase his ‘harmonics machine’, which changes the sound of some notes into glassy, otherworldly bell-like tones, an ‘infinite resonator’ which allows the piano’s sound to build and grow without limit, and a series of onstage pixels and visual projections which interpret each composition in a new and engaging way.
Originally based in Chicago but now living right here in the South West, Larkhall is on a mission to shatter the conventions of classical music. Larkhall draws inspiration from artists as diverse as Nils Frahm, Peter Broderick, Max Cooper and Poppy Ackroyd, conjuring visuals that feel equally at home in a nightclub or concert hall.
In his youth as a classical pianist, Larkhall was a prizewinner at the International Shostakovich Piano Competition. He toured with several bands, performing from SXSW and CMJ festivals to London’s Cafe Oto, and collaborated with multi-Grammy-winning ensemble eighth blackbird. He has performed works by Rzewski and Corigliano, including city-level premieres.
Larkhall is living proof that the algorithms that surround us in our daily lives can be harnessed as tools for artistic expression. Weaving together music, art, and technology, an evening with Larkhall is a unique, unforgettable piano experience that pushes the boundaries of creativity.
Samuel Sharp
Samuel Sharp is a composer, saxophonist and producer based in London. His recent work involves contemporary story-telling through innovatively crafted soundscapes that blur the lines between classical, jazz, and electronic music. His shows are truly unique, as he attempts to capture fragments of memories and emotions, repainting these scenes live on stage with his saxophone and an assortment of harmoniser and delay pedals. Crowds react well to the intimacy and immediacy of the music – there are no big layers of pre-recorded track or loops here – if he stops playing it all grinds to a halt. Make no mistake though, the sonics can build up to epic proportions, with one recent punter commenting that she was “mesmerised into oblivion”.
His albums “Patterns Various” and “Consequential” have had airplay on BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum), BBC Radio 3 (Unclassified and Night Tracks), and BBC 6 Music (Tom Ravenscroft and Stuart Maconie). Louder Than War magazine declared him “one of the great sax innovators of our time”, Backseat Mafia described “Patterns Various” as “an album which will be looked back on as a chronicle of our times”, and the compositions have taken centre stage on the front page of bandcamp several times now thanks to the “New and Notable” selection from their editorial team.
Outside of his own releases, Samuel’s CV reflects an eclectic mix of work: as a touring musician he has performed with the likes of Hackney Colliery Band, Augustines, Hollie McNish, Introducing Live (DJ Shadow Project) and Stephen Crowe. As a session musician and producer his collaboration and remix portfolio includes artists as diverse as Philip Selway (Radiohead), Uno Helmersson (The Bridge), Angus MacRae, Soothsayers, Quest Ensemble, Roska, Laura Mvula, Bawrut, Nick Luscombe’s Musicity, Beverley Knight and Ben Taylor.
“Beautiful use of the saxophone”- Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2
“The new album is terrific” – Stuart Maconie, BBC 6 Music
“I love the way he plays the saxophone” – Elizabeth Alker, BBC Radio 3
“One of the great sax innovators of our time” – Louder Than War
“I’ve absolutely fallen in love with this music” – John Kennedy, Radio X
“Wonderful music” – Hannah Peel, BBC Radio 3
