Student News

Fringe Arts Bath: Tse Tse Fly Middle East need sound artists and musicians

April 15, 2018

The Fringe Arts Bath festival is back this year for two-weeks of art exhibitions, events and workshops. Performing at the festival is Tse Tse Fly Middle East, a non-profit organisation that creates live experimental art events. Tse Tse Fly Middle East invites locally-based sound artists and experimental musicians to get involved with a live performance at Fringe Arts Bath 2018.

The organisation was founded in 2015 and was the United Arab Emirates first ever ‘sound art and experiments-in-noise platform’. Today Tse Tse Fly Middle East is based in London and uses live experimental arts events, workshops and interventions to highlight censorship, human rights and social issues. Past and present performers include Nour Sokhon (pictured above), DushumeJonny Farrow, Mandhira de Saram and more.

Tse Tse Fly Middle East will be putting together a very special live event for this years’ Fringe Arts Bath Festival. The evening will take place at the Walcot Chapel on 2nd June and will feature curated short films from artists based in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent followed by three live experimental music performances.

Founder of the organisation Simon Coates has invited Bath-based sound artists and/or experimental musicians to apply for this unique opportunity. If you have roots in the Middle East, Africa or the Indian subcontinent, or have strong socio-political threads to your work then Simon wants to hear from you!

Speaking to milk about this invaluable opportunity for live performance experience, Simon said: “Tse Tse Fly Middle East is unique in that we’re looking to bring experimental music to an audience that exists outside the usual echo chambers. We’re working hard to show people that this is a vital, important artform. Add in the socio-political side of what we do, how we partner with human rights and freedom of speech non-profit organisations, and I think people can see that this is a rare opportunity to get involved with something that’s very new in the UK arts scene. And who knows? We’re always looking for new members for the collective, so this could lead to other things too.”

Dushume performs with Tse Tse Fly Middle East

Three local acts will be chosen for Simon to work with in the run-up to the event  He’ll help them prepare for their live performance set, although applicants must have at least some live performance experience. Applications from solo performers and collectives of up to four members are welcome to apply.

If you fit the criteria and would like to be considered please send Simon an email before 10th May 2018. In the email please include links (not attachments) to your audio work, any video or photos you think relevant, your website or social media accounts, plus a line or two about why you’d like to get involved. Please bear in mind that each live set will be around thirty minutes in length and Simon expects you to have a clear idea about the work you’d like to perform on the night.

Fringe Arts Bath runs in from 25th May until 10th June 2018. Check out what’s on here.

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