LANKUM PLAYS FALSE LANKUM IN FULL

Leading British newspaper The Guardian recently described Lankum as ‘overwhelming radical Irish folk’ and situated him between “late-period Portishead and Sunn O))) as much as their Irish ancestors Planxty.” So it’s no wonder that they appear at festivals like Roadburn (NL) or even curate festivals that they invite Mogwai or Mercury Rev to. Their latest album False Lankum was described by Mojo as “modern folk music’s own OK Computer”. And both The Guardian and Uncut rightly(!) torpedoed False Lankum to Album of the Year 2023. De Volkskrant in a *****-review: “Antique Irish music takes on a horror-like aura on masterpiece ‘False Lankum’.” In AB, Lankum will play their tour de force in full.

#2: LANKUM CURATED NIGHT W/ MOHAMMAD SYFKHAN + LANDLESS + HARRY GÓRSKI-BROWN + NATALIA BEYLIS

This past year, Lankum curated an album for monthly mag Uncut entitled The Planet That You’re On. Lankum frontman Ian Lynch: “There’s loads of great Irish artists making a name right now. This is stuff that hasn’t poked its head above the parapet.” That inspired AB and we immediately asked Lankum to curate and evening with (mainly) Irish up-and-coming acts. THEY SAID YES! Their realised wishlist contains:

6:00 pm > NATALIA BEYLIS (IE): THE SOUND OF SEWING MACHINES

On pretty much all her (40+) releases, Irish sound artist Natalia Beylis reflects her surroundings (think: birdsong, creaking trees, farm animals and the rain (lots and lots of rain!). Non-musical sounds are also often to be heard in her compositions. On her recently released ‘Variations on a Sewing Machine’ she shows us, and has us hear, how she pushed a domestic sewing machine beyond its sonic limits until the motor burned out and the machine catches fire. In AB, she will present the non-flammable version.

7:00 pm > HARRY GÓRSKI-BROWN (SCH): THE SOUND OF FISHER PRICE PIPES

Glasgow resident multi-instrumentalist Harry Górski-Brown studied violin at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before he turned to experimental composition, often incorporating elements of electro-acoustic and traditional music into his work. On this Lankum curated night he presents his ‘Fisher Price Pipes’, a singular interpretation of old Gàidhlig – read: Scottish-Gaelic – songs for vocals, pipes, and electronica. We’re fans!

8:00 pm > LANDLESS (IE): THE SOUND OF SUPERB A CAPELLA

A Capella quartet recently lauded by Uncut for their “Stunning four-part harmonies.” Moreover, a personal Lankum favourite. Cormac Mac Diarmada (Lankum): “Their harmonies are just super haunting.” Daragh Lynch (Lankum): “Their ethereal harmonies are pretty unparalleled. Essential listening for anyone interested in the weirder side of traditional Irish singing.”

22u30 > MOHAMMAD SYFKHAN (IE): THE SOUND OF THE BOUZOUKI

Syrian Kurd Mohammad Syfkhan (IE) was once a surgical nurse but was forced to flee to Ireland after IS killed one of his sons. In Ireland, this bouzouki player was soon picked up by alternative folk sensation Lankum. His debut I am Kurdish was released via the super-interesting Nyahh Records (see also: One Leg One Eye, the project of Lankum frontman Ian Lynch). Boomkat on this: "Remarkable stuff." The Quietus: "'I Am Kurdish' takes his domestic influences and fuses them with music from beyond those regions, from North African folk rhythms to Turkish psychedelia. Immensely impressive!"

A Liveurope concert:
The first pan-European initiative supporting concert venues in their efforts to promote emerging European music.