MANU LOUIS & GUESTS

It’s hard to find a profile like Manu Louis in music….

Belgium born, now Berlin based, he studied composition with legendary composer Fréderic Rzewski, electronic music on the internet, and dancing during his concerts.

A Passionate singer, and knob agitator, he also plays the guitar in his own unique punk jazz way…

Equally at home working with electronic dance, classical or jazz musicians, Manu has performed his stuff from completely acoustic solo up to 200 wind players and everything in between.

In his music (fortunately, as is the case today for many young musicians) style doesn’t exist. He mixes things that cross his path, and creates new adventures of provocative and decontextualized juxtapositions. His general blueprint remains the same throughout, but the ingredients he uses vary; from dissident chanson française, genial dilettante, avant-garde composers, new beat, old hits, art-pop & hard bop.

Under his name, Manu has released three LP’s and several 7’’ on Igloo Records, Le Pacifique records and New Pangea. Recent years saw him perform his electronic solo shows more than 500 times in Europe and Asia (including: Bimhuis [Amsterdam], Fusion Festival [Lärz], Tremor Fest [Acores], La Casa Encendida [Madrid], PopKultur [Berlin], Tsutavo o Nest [Tokyo], DDC [Beijing] and Contrapop [Ramsgate]). Travelling with a village of electronic instruments, and video projections from pop stars to animals, he delivers passionate performances that switch gear into impromptu discotheque.

Recently, Manu has collaborated with Front de Cadeaux, Héctor Arnau, Ilan Manouach, Systaime, Escif, Dawanggang and Carl Roossens.

With Sylvain Chauveau, he co-founded Zero Carbon Records (an impossible label converted into ‘no oil/no electricity’ tours). With Mary Ocher, he has co-curated the Underground Institute Festival (Berlin). And with Adrien Lambinet, he co-directed ‘Music for Trees’, a tribute to Garrett List.

Manu also gives workshops, lectures, makes DJ sets, and has done mixes for Kiosk Radio, Hotel Radio Paris, Gonzai, Noods, Jolt Radio and Reboot FM.

If Amy Winehouse and Tom Waits had a love child with a sweet, sweet voice, that blessed infant might not sound unlike LAUREN YOUNG. An accomplished classical pianist who can turn her hand to jazz, blues and self-professed “nightmare pop”, Young creates a strikingly original sound, colouring her self-penned songs with an expansive emotional palette. But this is not painting by numbers! From big lush arrangements to whispered heart-break lullabies, the pain, the joy and the wonder are as real and tangible as Young’s Stockport roots. A rare jewel in Manchester’s grimy crown.

PSYCH LANDFILL are a brand new project. Scuzzed out, mind battered Velvet Underground demo tapes merge with the sound of Japanese psych fuzz terrorists, Les Rallizes Dénudés, spiced with a hint of Scott 4. Ones to watch!