We are back at Dalston Eastern Curve Garden for the rest of the summer, with troubadour James Riley, Swedish vocalist Emilia Martensson and Scottish folk artist Adam Beattie.
This event will be operating with reduced capacity, and a host of measures to ensure that social distancing is observed and government guidelines are followed. For our full COVID-19 safety precautions, please click here.
JAMES RILEY
With a disarmingly candid folk voice and a songwriting sensibility drawn straight from the golden era of pop music, beatnik troubadour James Riley has spent the past few months hard at work, even amongst the tumult and inertia of lockdown.
After a 2-year stint in Nashville James Riley released his debut album “Transatlantica” in early March this year. With an entire summer of touring wiped off the calendar, James took to the roof of his house in Tottenham, and began live streaming concerts for his online audience, which soon drew attention from his neighbours and the wider community. Soon the rooftop shows were racking up hundreds of thousands of views, drawing coverage from the BBC & The Guardian, whilst also helping to contribute to a campaign that has raised more than 50K for food banks since March.
After 17 weeks of consecutive rooftop shows, James is delighted bringing his full band to Dalston Curve Garden, playing his first show on solid ground since March. Expect folk stylings in the vein of JOHN MARTYN, RY COODER and NINA SIMONE, and few extra surprises to boot.
“A bit of a folk genius” - Janice Long, BBC RADIO WALES
“Fantastic” – Robert Elms BBC RADIO LONDON
“It hooked us on first listen…from the harmonies to the guitar work there’s nothing to not like” - FOLK RADIO UK
EMILIA MARTENSSON
Emilia Mårtensson is a London-based Swedish vocalist and composer of considerable repute. After her three latest album releases, Emilia has built a well- deserved reputation as one of the most exciting vocalists on the UK Jazz scene, and was awarded ‘Vocalist of the Year-2016′ at The Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Her gently expressive voice and highly personal compositions are firmly rooted within the folklore and countryside of her native southern Sweden, adding to the mystique and allure of a distinctive and truly original artist.
Her NEW project ‘Loredana‘ was released on the 3rd of November 2019 on BABEL LABEL, (UK).
‘Loredana’ explores the adversity and the wilderness of the term mother, celebrating the infinite observations about the ‘mother – child relationship’, and how this can shape us throughout our lives. Initially inspired through four specific questions that Emilia asked her audience about their relationship to their mothers, her boundary pushing and original music crosses borders between Scandinavian folk, jazz and art.pop. The new album features guitarist Luca Boscagin, percussionist Adriano Adewale, trumpeter Fulvio Sigurta and bassist Sam Lasserson.
Emilia is supported by PRS for music foundation and was awarded the ‘Women make music’ funding scheme for her latest project ‘ELDA Trio’. She was selected for the ‘Made in The Uk’ Scheme in 2019, which took her and her ELDA Trio to Rochester Jazz Festival in New York where she performed two sold out shows at Christ Church. Elda trio features Brazilian percussion player Adriano Adewale and Slovenian Accordion player Janez Dovc. Their debut album ‘ELDA’ celebrates the beauty and importance of exploring and merging cultures.
Emilia is the featured vocalist in several projects and has been collaborating, both as singer and as a composer, with artists such as Iain Ballamy(Uk), Kit Downs(Uk), Eric Legnini(Fr), Jasper Hoiby (Uk) and Monocled Man, (UK). Her most acclaimed collaboration led to a MOBO Award with the British group ‘Kairos 4tet’.
In the past Emilia has also received recognition from The Observer as ‘The new face of British jazz’ in 2012, and in 2013 she was chosen by ‘Svensk Jazz’ for Pulsslags Turnen, which took her on a two week long tour around Sweden to promote her album ‘Ana’. Her success as a band leader also led her to be chosen to partake in ‘The Take Five’ Artist Program delivered by national music producers Serious in 2015.
Emilia is a regular performer at some of Europe’s leading venues and festivals and has appeared at The London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Bimhuis in Amsterdam, Sunset Sunside in Paris, Fasching in Stockholm, Ljubljana Jazz Festival and The Love Supreme Jazz Festival in UK to name just a few.
Both of her solo albums ‘And so it goes’ (Babel Label-2012’) and ‘Ana’ (Babel Label-2014) were listed in the ‘top ten best albums’ by JazzWise.
ADAM BEATTIE
Scottish Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Beattie lives in London. He has been active since 2003 and has release 4 albums of his own songs. Having roots in Scottish folk music, as well as a lifelong interest in old time jazz, blues and other folk styles, his music spans many genres, but is all held together by Adam's distinctive voice and narrative lyrics. He tours regularly and plays solo and full-band shows frequently in London. He has played opening shows for many of his musical heroes; Bert Jansch, Jolie Holland and Sean Hayes. Collaborated on guitar and bass with Scott Hirsch and Micheal Chapman.
Adam is one fourth of the band PicaPica which is signed to Rough Trade Records. He is also part of Band of Burns, a 12-piece band of singers and instrumentalists, which the press have described as “A shimmering collection … that does full justice to the poet’s humane vision” - The Times and “Nourishing stuff beyond its times, another warm, welcoming stew to feed the bones” - The Guardian. Adam contributes interpretations of Robert Burns songs as well as original compositions, in 2018 they played Celtic Connections in Glasgow on burns night at The Old Fruitmarket as part of a UK wide tour. Adam is recording a new album of original songs as we speak.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Since our first season in 2013, our event at Dalston Eastern Curve Garden has always inspired audiences in a unique and thrilling way. This season of events captures the essence of a weekend rural festival in the centre of Dalston on a Tuesday evening.
The phenomenal surrounds of the garden combine with delicious pizzas from David Latto, and a supreme and ever-evolving roster of acts, to create a magical atmosphere which brings people together in a friendly and welcoming space.
It's a community of music-lovers joined to celebrate the warm months in a carefree and supportive atmosphere, with a compelling live soundtrack.
TICKETS
Limited seats are available in the auditorium, with a separation of at least 1m between each chair.
Tables can also be booked as a single block for groups which are cohabiting or in a 'bubble' together.
COVID-19
A full document regarding Covid-19 safety measures can be found here.
PLEASE NOTE that this is an outdoor concert which will go ahead regardless of the weather. Please bring appropriate clothing, including waterproofs if rain is forecast.