Bishi is joined by The Quietus’ John Doran on decks and a panel discussion with comedian Shazia Mirza, Gal-dem Arts & Culture Editor Micha Frazer-Carroll and Artistic Director Deborah Coughlin (The Guardian, BBC Radio 4).
7 pm - Doors Open
Editor of The Quietus John Doran will be DJing a set inspired by the evenings themes throughout the night.
7:45 pm - The Good Immigrant Song Cycle by Bishi, European Debut:
'Compelling' - Classical Voice North America
European debut of Bishi Bhattacharya's National Sawdust (NY, USA) commission The Good Immigrant - a song cycle response to Nikesh Shukla's book The Good Immigrant for voice looper, sitar and electronics. Co-produced with composer and sound designer Jeff Cook, this work was premiered in January 2018 in New York. This is the show's first European outing.
The music is inspired by ‘The Good Immigrant’, a collection of essays by 21 BAME writers, ruminating on race and identity in contemporary Britain edited by Nikesh Shukla. Each song is a response to a particular essay in the book, with special audio quotes sampled in from personal interviews conducted with writers Nikesh Shukla, Salena Godden and Darren Chetty, ending with a choral setting of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Where The Mind is Without Fear.’ In this work, critically acclaimed artist and composer Bishi takes a personal and intersectional journey reflecting on her experiences. As a British-Bengali daughter of immigrants, adopted by London’s community of alternative queer nightlife, she has lived through a unique cross section of London’s contemporary urban landscape.
21 pm - The Good Nationalist? Panel event, discussing whether it's possible to have a positive, inclusive nationalism, at a time of a rise in toxic nationalism:
Is it possible to have apositive, inclusive nationalism?
Join our Artistic Director Deborah Coughlin (The Guardian, BBC Radio 4) who will be chairing a discussion between comedian and writer Shazia Mirza and Gal-dem Arts & Culture Editor Micha Frazer-Carroll.
This discussion may not be suitable for under 16s.
Between each section of the evening DJs will be performing a playlist inspired by the evenings themes. The Old Church bar will be open throughout the evening.
