Canterbury Festival

A Canterbury Festival is happening at Augustine Hall Saturday 28 October 2017.

"The Daytime programme will include discussions with artists, cultural intermediates, and academics such as Professor Andy Bennett (Griffith University, Australia), Geoffrey Richardson (Caravan), Aymeric Leroy (Calyx/author of the book The Canterbury Sound), Brian Hopper (The Wilde Flowers, The Soup Songs), Phil Howitt (founder of Facelift magazine), Matt Watkins (Canterbury Sans Frontiers), Alan Payne and Professor Murray Smith (University of Kent), and hosts Professor Shane Blackman (Canterbury Christ Church) and Dr Asya Draganova (Birmingham City University). During the day, we will have performances by outstanding Canterbury artists Jack Hues and the Quartet and Koloto.

The Evening programme will present two key bands (SoupSongs and Lapis Lazuli), which articulate different aspects and eras of the aesthetic development of the ‘Canterbury Sound’:

The Soup Songs are a unique band assembled with the support and participation of Robert Wyatt, founding figure of the ‘Canterbury Sound’. A group of incredible musicians, led by trombonist Annie Whitehead, the band specialises in performing Wyatt's work with all its nuances and complexities for modern audiences. They return to Canterbury following last year's exceptional performance at University of Kent’s In Conversation with Robert Wyatt". (Facebook Event).

September Song

Well it´s that time of the year again, so please have a listen to Pascal Comelade and Robert Wyatt´s beautiful version of "September Song" (Anderson/Will).
It´s on the record "September Song" (Disques Du Soleil Et De L´acier/Delabel 2000), on which you will also find a cover of "Signed Curtain".

It´s on Spotify, but if you don´t have access have a listen on YouTube.

On the cover of the CD is a picture of "Marx Merry Makers", a musical toy by Louis Marx (1911).

In 2016 Because Music released a 6 CD sampler with Pascal Comelade called "Rocanrolorama 1974-2016" (2016). Take a look at the track list on our favourite Wyatt discograpy - Une Discographie De Robert Wyatt - for more interesting material.

Soft Machine - Esther's Nosejob

Info from YouTube: "Soft Machine running Esther's Nosejob at Ronnie Scott's on April 25th, 1969. Broadcast on Forum Musiques a month later".

The band:
Mike Ratledge - Organ
Hugh Hopper - Bass
Robert Wyatt - Drums, vocals

Pretty cool, heh?

The Riddle in the Middle of Nowhere

See Pop Matters for a fine piece on Anja Garbarek's "Smiling and Waving" (Virgin 2001) ("The Riddle in the Middle of Nowhere" 10 August 2017).

Listen to the beautiful song "The Diver" with Robert Wyatt over here if you don´t have it in any format.

Later Robert did a cover of "Stay Tuned" from "Smiling and Waving" on the "Comicopera" album in 2007.

Odeia: Alifib

Check out Odeia´s fine cover of Robert Wyatt´s "Alifib"!
It will appear on their new album scheduled for 2018 release.

Odeia: Elsa Birgé (voc), Lucien Alfonso (violin), Karsten Hochapfel (g) and Pierre-Yves Le Jeune (b).

Philippe Gonin: Robert Wyatt Rock Bottom

A new book in French is out: Philippe Gonin "Robert Wyatt Rock Bottom" (Densité 2017).

Some of us may have to start brushing up our French!

John Greaves Solo Concert (23 June 2017)

A full solo John Greaves concert here (Le Triton 23 June 2017)!

If you for some reason don´t want to watch all of it, jump in at around 59 min. and check out the beautiful version of "God Song" by Phil Miller and Robert Wyatt.