Music magazine The Wire are celebrating their 40th anniversary in Bristol

Music magazine The Wire are celebrating their 40th anniversary in Bristol

Posted on: 22 Jun 2022

To mark the anniversary of the renowned publication’s first issue in the summer of 1982, The Wire are organising a programme of diverse film screenings at The Cube Microplex.

 

The brief Bristol residency will kick off 'The Wire 40' tour with a series of talks, films and performances taking over venues all over the UK and beyond.

 

Taking place on the first weekend of July, the event will see a screening of short films by People Like Us as well as a showing of Buganda Royal Music Revival (2019) by Basile and Jules Louis Koechlin among other films.

 

'The Wire 40' will be in Bristol between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 July and weekend tickets, as well as individual event passes, can be found on The Cube’s website.

 

 

Founded primarily as a jazz and new music magazine, The Wire has established a name for itself as an essential independent print and online music publication, championing a wide range of worldwide alternative, underground, and experimental music.

 

An Evening with People Like Us

Friday 1 July, 19:00

 

This programme of short films by Vicki Bennett (AKA People Like Us) will be followed by a Q&A with Vicki and The Wire Deputy Editor, Emily Bick. The event will be accompanied by a special live film score.

Buganda Royal Music Matinee

Saturday 2 July, 13:00

 

The traditional music of the kingdom of Buganda in Uganda is on the verge of oblivion. However, this stunning documentary, directed by brothers Basile and Jules Louis Koechlin, brings together some of the remaining musicians to tell their stories and perform a concert in front of the current king.

 

Following the screening, there will be a discussion between Jules and The Wire writer Francis Gooding and a pre-recorded performance by Ugandan musician Albert Bisaso Sempeke.

 

 

Neptune Frost + Anthony Joseph & Andrew John

Saturday 2 July, 19:00

 

Beginning with a screening of multidisciplinary artist Saul Williams’ unique Afrofuturist Neptune Frost, a sci-fi punk musical that weds a plethora of themes, ideas and songs explored in the artist’s work.

 

This will be proceeded by a performance from award-winning Trinidadian poet Anthony Joseph and bass player Andrew John.

Élaine Radigue Matinee

Sunday 3 July, 13:00

 

Pioneer French composer Élaine Radigue (known for her use of synthesizer and tape) turned 90 this year and to celebrate The Wire are holding a three-part matinee as part of their The Wire 40 weekender at The Cube.

 

First, there will be a showing of the short film Échos, in which Radigue is asked a series of existential questions. Next, there will be a performance of the composer’s ‘Occam IV’ by Brussels musician Julia Eckhardt.

 

The matinee will then be rounded off with a conversation between Eckhardt and The Wire writer Louise Gray reflecting on Radigue’s impressive career.

Scratch Orchestra Revisited

Sunday 3 July, 18:30

 

An evening of film, discussion and performance close the weekend. Opening the night will be a showing of Luke Fowler’s experimental documentary Pilgrimage from Scattered Points which explores the work of avant-garde collective, The Scratch Orchestra.

 

There will then be a discussion between The Wire’s Philip Clark and one of the group’s youngest members, Stefan Szczelkun before a performance from the latter and a trio of local improvised musicians.

Much like The Wire, The Cube has a fiercely independent outlook. An entirely volunteer-staffed venue, The Cube is run by the people of Bristol for the arts in perpetuity. It is a cinema, arts venue, adult creche and independent museum all at once.

 

As well as Bristol, 'The Wire 40' will organise events at venues in London, Brighton, Manchester, Glasgow, Chicago and online. Weekend tickets are £47 and individual passes are £10, they can be booked on The Cube’s website.

 

For a comprehensive look at the tour programme, and to take a look at the magazine’s output, head to The Wire website.

 

More information about The Cube Microplex can be found on their website.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.