Just announced: Gondwana mini-fest at Band on the Wall, June 14/15.

Go Go Penguin and Mammal Hands plus Gondwana DJs

14 June / 19:30 / More Info / Buy Tickets

Skittering breakbeats, telepathic interplay and a penchant for anthemic melody all contribute to a sound that’s wholly GoGo Penguin’s own. Featuring pianistChris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner, the brilliantGoGo Penguin, draw on a heady brew of influences from Squarepusher to Brian EnoDebussy to John Cage and Massive Attack to create their unique, groove-heavy, highly lyrical, acoustic-electronica sound. Their latest album, v2.0, was released to widespread acclaim in March 2014

It’s obvious why the Manchester clubs are jumping to this band” The Guardian 

“A stirring re-evaluation of what a piano trio should sound like in the 21st century”
 Barclaycard Mercury Prize

“Closer to Aphex Twin than Dave Brubeck… a group marking out their own musical world” The Times 

Support comes from Mammal Hands, a trio of like-minded musicians: Nick Smart keyboards, Jesse Barrett drums and percussion, and Jordan Smartsaxophones. Drawing on influences from Steve Reich to Aphex Twin and DJ Krush, alongside elements of North Indian and African music their debut album will be released on Gondwana Records in June 2014.

Matthew Halsall and the Gondwana Orchestra

15 June / 19:00 / More Info / Buy Tickets

Manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall’s unique sound was brilliantly described as “Rain-streaked spiritual jazz from Manchester” by the Independent On Sunday and tonight’s very special show features the home town debut of his latest project, The Gondwana Orchestra: Featuring Matthew Halsall on trumpet, Nat Birchall saxophones, Lisa Mallett – Flute, Keiko Kitamura – Koto, Rachael Gladwin – Harp, Taz Modi – Piano, Phil France – Double Bass and Luke Flowers – Drums They’ll be playing music from their forthcoming album When The World Was One (due for release May 2014) featuring deep, soulful, modal jazz drawing on the legacy of Alice Coltrane and influenced by Halsall’s love of Eastern music and spiritual jazz.

“Grooving through time on the spiritual sunship.” Mojo Magazine

“’Kind Of Blue’ meets The Cinematic Orchestra …With hypnotic grooves, and a meditative slow-build to his solos, Halsall’s music is saturated in a life-affirming glow”. Time Out