Lore Lixenberg solo.
Not the usual sort of interior for a music venue. It’s a long hall with a gallery around 3 sides. There is a table in the centre of the room and a u-shaped arrangement of sofas at one end. There are paintings on the walls and some propped against the gallery balustrade. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling (there is also one lying on the floor) and palms in ornate pots on plinths are dotted around the room. There are various sculptures on tables, a large timber framed vitrine and numerous stuffed animals. This is clearly a ‘set’ but most strikingly it is a set in which someone lives. The racks of clothes and stacks of books are used and not just there to create an effect.
Tonight the big centre table is set up with a sitar and effect boxes but the last time I was here the audience could sit at the table as if attending a meeting. The musicians on this occasion play in the half of the room nearest the entrance. This means that the audience has to walk through the performance area to reach their seats. But in reality there is little distinction between the two spaces and the musicians and audience overlap to reflect this. There is no ideal place to perform and no ideal spot from which to listen and see the performances. It is a relatively small space with a lot of soft surfaces so there is very little decay in the sound and this suits the shifting dynamic nature of the programme. There are 6 musicians tonight who play in various combinations and alone. The evening ends with a piece performed by all the musicians. This is, in many ways, an ideal way to experience live music. It is immersive, immediate and unpredictable. Sound/music here takes on some of the characteristics of the space. Just as the performers and audience mingle so too there is a merging of the visual and aural elements of the environment.
John Butcher – saxophone
Tania Chen – piano
BJ Cole – pedal steel guitar
Poulomi Desai – prepared sitar and electronics
John Edwards – double bass
Lore Lixenberg – voice
Audience
This was the last in a series of events organised by Steve Beresford and Tania Chen for this space. More are planned for early 2013.
likeahammerinthesink 
Thanks for your great writing and beautiful drawings.
Actually, Tania Chen & I organised it together.
We gave Steve Savage – the guy who runs it – 3 dates for next year but he’s not yet confirmed. I very much want to do some more.
Best,
Steve
Miss Havisham PR
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Miss Havisham presents
freely improvised and notated music at
Old Cholmeley Boys Club
68 Boleyn Road
Dalston
London N16 8JG
on the last Sunday of the month
Sunday February the 24th
Aisha Orazbayeva – violin
Tania Chen – piano & objects
Najma Akhtar – voice
Alan Tomlinson – trombones
Rowland Sutherland – flutes
Steve Beresford – piano & objects
Sunday March the 31st
Ute Kanngiesser – cello
Tania Chen – piano & objects
David Ryan – clarinets
Terry Day – bamboo pipes
Matt Davis – trumpet
& 1 other TBC
Sunday April the 28th
Lucy Railton – cello
Aisha Orazbayeva – violin
Satoko Fukuda – violin
Poulomi Desai – prepared sitar
BJ Cole – pedal steel guitar
Steve Beresford – piano & objects
Jonathan Baker – vocals & processing
The unique Old Cholmeley Boys Club is very near the entrance to The Vortex
Doors open at 8pm
Performances start at 8 30
Admission £6 or £5 concessions
no bar but BYOB
overground trains
Dalston Junction
Dalston Kingsland
buses
30 38 56 67 76
149 236 242 243 277
N38 N149
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http://taniachen.com/blog/
I couldn’t make it to the March Miss Havisham…sounds like I missed a treat!
Hi there,
I am trying to track down some contact details for whoever runs the Dalston Old Boys Club, as I’d like to enquire about hiring it for a private event. Could you point me in the right direction? It’s proving difficult to find details online!
Many thanks,
Caoimhe McKearney
Hi…sorry, can’t really help you but maybe Steve Beresford could…
Thanks for the speedy reply – found an email for Steve and he has already been in touch with the details. Cheers!
Hi Caoimhe, sorry to step in, but I’m wondering if you could pass me the contact of the Old boys club, as I’d like to have some infos about hiring the venue, but I can’t find any number or email.
Thanks in advance for your help
Laura
oops sorry I just saw steve’s email below!!! 🙂
Hi there! I too am trying to find details of who to contact for the Old Cholmeley Boys Club, could anyone help me out? Many thanks in advance!
steve@stevesavage.co.uk is the man you want. Best of luck.
Many thanks!
Feel free to contact me if you need info on the Old Boys Club – ILana Lorraine 07886 037 970
Hi Ilana,
Are you in charge of booking the Cholmeley Boys Club?
I normally book it via Steve & Martha.
Somewhat confused.
Yours,
Steve B