Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Three luminaries of Black avant-garde sound link up for an essential dive into post-colonial techno and noise reclamation. Trevor Mathison (of Black Audio Film Collective renown), Gary Stewart and Nkisi present their ongoing radical sonic research practice 'Black Industrialism' via a compelling experimental essay-concert."
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A gig held at Arnolfini on Friday 21st November. The event starts at 19:30.
A radical ‘essay-concert’ reclaiming a post-colonial lineage of techno and noise, within a loosely defined concept of ‘Black Industrialism’.
Black Industrial/Noise is an ongoing research project visiting Arnolfini to present a live performance by Nkisi, Trevor Mathison (Black Audio Film Collective) and Gary Stewart (Dubmorphology), following their recent epic four-hour headline set at Ormside Projects' South Bermondsey Festival in London. This event at Arnolfini announces the beginning of a tour of the former British Industrial heartlands by the Black Industrial Research Group.
Mathison has been described by The Wire magazine as 'the unheralded pioneer of Black British sound,' and is known best as composer, sound designer and founder member of the Black Audio Film Collective. Along with Stewart as Dubmorphology, he created the sound installation forming a major part of John Akomfrah's British Pavilion at the recent Venice Biennale.
The event will also be an opportunity to secure the first copies of the Black Industrial Research Group's first white label - released in an edition of just 100 to mark this event, with sibling happenings in London and Bristol - composed by Trevor Mathison and Gary Stewart, featuring the words of John Akomfrah.
About the artists:
Black Industrial/Noise is a project by the Black Industrial Research Group.
Trevor Mathison and Gary Stewart have been in search of a black avantgarde since the 1980s. As the duo Dubmorphology they make experimental audio-visual installations and performances that examine the relationship between culture, history and creativity, reworking historical, political and scientific archives.
Nkisi is a producer, live musician, DJ and curator born in Congo, raised in Belgium. Her intense sonics are influenced by ancient Kongo rhythms, noise, the planetary electromagnetic grid, and experimental improvisation.
purge.xxx is a record label that has been hailed by The Wire magazine for its ‘disregard for the music industry.’ In 2025, it will publish work by the Black Industrial Research Group, trabant, Jean Pierre-Bedoyan (for William E. Jones) and Adam Christensen. In 2026, it will - under the banner of BIRG - issue original work by Dubmorphology, Klein, Nkisi and Kodwo Eshun. purge.xxx is generously supported by PRS Foundation’s Beyond Borders.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Black Industrial/Noise is an ongoing research project visiting Arnolfini to present a live performance by Nkisi, Trevor Mathison (Black Audio Film Collective) and Gary Stewart (Dubmorphology), following their recent epic four-hour headline set at Ormside Projects' South Bermondsey Festival in London. This event at Arnolfini announces the beginning of a tour of the former British Industrial heartlands by the Black Industrial Research Group.
Mathison has been described by The Wire magazine as 'the unheralded pioneer of Black British sound,' and is known best as composer, sound designer and founder member of the Black Audio Film Collective. Along with Stewart as Dubmorphology, he created the sound installation forming a major part of John Akomfrah's British Pavilion at the recent Venice Biennale.
The event will also be an opportunity to secure the first copies of the Black Industrial Research Group's first white label - released in an edition of just 100 to mark this event, with sibling happenings in London and Bristol - composed by Trevor Mathison and Gary Stewart, featuring the words of John Akomfrah.
About the artists:
Black Industrial/Noise is a project by the Black Industrial Research Group.
Trevor Mathison and Gary Stewart have been in search of a black avantgarde since the 1980s. As the duo Dubmorphology they make experimental audio-visual installations and performances that examine the relationship between culture, history and creativity, reworking historical, political and scientific archives.
Nkisi is a producer, live musician, DJ and curator born in Congo, raised in Belgium. Her intense sonics are influenced by ancient Kongo rhythms, noise, the planetary electromagnetic grid, and experimental improvisation.
purge.xxx is a record label that has been hailed by The Wire magazine for its ‘disregard for the music industry.’ In 2025, it will publish work by the Black Industrial Research Group, trabant, Jean Pierre-Bedoyan (for William E. Jones) and Adam Christensen. In 2026, it will - under the banner of BIRG - issue original work by Dubmorphology, Klein, Nkisi and Kodwo Eshun. purge.xxx is generously supported by PRS Foundation’s Beyond Borders.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
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