The Spolkestra

LATEST NEWS

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:05:15 +0000

13/07/09

THE SPOLKESTRA
We plan to tour in April 2010, but watch out for lots of London shows before then!

In other news, we plan to make and release our first video in the Autumn.

Until then we are spending a lot of time in the studio…

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:38 +0000

Live Bookings:
Mark Lewis
mark@elasticartists.net

General Enquiries:
Sam Gunn
Manager
samgunn@transgressivenorth.com

www.myspace.com/scotlandpagans
www.transgressivenorth.com/heretical

Coming Soon…

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:30:57 +0000

The Spolkestra

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:28:13 +0000

The Spolkestra are a multicolour art-pop explosion; A punk orchestra patched together from instruments and genres all over by pomo magpies Jamie Chambers and Duncan Strachan, to make a towering musical Frankenstein with a thunderous beating heart…

The Spolkestra emerged in 2007 from the fertile soil of Scotland’s Transgressive North (TN) community; a group of young filmmakers, writers, poets, fine artists and musicians set on doing things their own way. Their debut EP, Open Arms – a joyous celebration of community and collective endeavour – will be released on the TN’s netlabel Heretical records on May 4th.

At the bloody core of both TN and Spolkestra is a two-handed yet tightly held commitment to both a progressive art which refuses to alienate its audience and the need to channel art energies into social engagement and outreach.

The Spolkestra are currently curating ‘Everything is New’, the TN’s latest multimedia arts project performed with and in aid of Dalit ‘untouchable’ children in South-East India. ‘Everything is New’ will take both album and film form and will see the Spolkestra collaborate with musicians such as Jarvis Cocker, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu), Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound/Deerhunter) and Margaret Bennett, alongside Scottish writers such as Irvine Welsh, Valerie Gillies and Tom Leonard.

‘Everything is New’ (the album) will be released in early 2010, and the film (starring Dalit children and narrated by Irvine Welsh) will be released in late 2009.

Live, the Spolkestra are a musical fireworks display; a deafening circus of energies and enthusiasms spilling literally off the stage if it can’t hold them. They are currently with Elastic Artists.

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:24:12 +0000

L-R: Jack/Mike/Cara/James/Duncan

THE SPOLKESTRA: OPEN ARMS EP

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:16:57 +0000

04/05/09

The Spolkestra
Open Arms EP
Now Available on Heretical Records

Free Download at
www.transgressivenorth.com/heretical

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:05:18 +0000

02/07/09   Bishopsgate Institute, London (w/El Perro del mar)
21/05/09    Last Days of Decadence (Stag and Dagger), London
09/05/09   The Oakford, Reading (w/ Bishop Allen)
08/05/09   Jericho Tavern, Oxford
29/11/08    The Macbeth, London

thespolkestra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:58:30 +0000

THE SPOLKESTRA

13/07/09

release date April 2010

We’re currently working on our first full-length album. It is due to feature lots of our favourite artists who have agreed to support the cause of SCOTTISH LOVE IN ACTION – a charity which houses and educates Dalit children in south-east India. The album will feature the voices of the children alongside iconic figures such as Jarvis Cocker, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), and Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu), with lyrics by Irvine Welsh and Alexander McCall-Smith, amongst others. It is destined to be a glorious celebration of independent art and the value of collaboration.

The album will also feature two re-workings: of Comfy In Nautica by Panda Bear, and of Running the World by Jarvis Cocker.

Watch this space for more info on release dates etc. For the time being, expect to hear from us soon about a pre-album single release around October.