Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Cuculi returns with pianist-composer Laurie Torres’ uniformly gorgeous post-minimalist piano pieces, shoulder-to-shoulder with multi-instrumentalist James Gow’s flickering cello, bass, and brass shapes. Seductive, intimate and mysterious FFO: Harold Budd, Duval Timothy, Ben Seretan."
Join the Headfirst mailing list for our unbiased recommendations.
A gig on Sunday 14th December. The event starts at 19:30.
On Sunday 14th December, Cuculi Presents an evening of subtle experimentalism with pianist/composer Laurie Torres (Canada), in the intimate space above The Greenbank. Support from local sonic explorer James Gow on a rare solo outing, trying out new sounds on tenor guitar & electronics. Expect hypnotic semi-improvised sonic world-building from both of these quietly masterful artists.
FFO: Rachel’s, Steve Reich, Daniel Inzani, JOW, Erland Cooper
Tickets available at three levels:
General - £13
Community supporter - £16
Low income - £10
Unfortunately, this venue is upstairs with no lift access, so there is no wheelchair access. We're really sorry about this.
***
LAURIE TORRES
Laurie Torres is a Canadian musician and composer raised in Montréal, Québec by
Haitian parents. Since 2008, she has been a trusted stage and studio performer for Julia Jacklin, Pomme, and Land of Talk, with live tours spanning across Canada, the United States, Europe, the UK, and Australia. She was also a founding member of Folly & The Hunter, with whom she recorded four studio albums and toured Canada, Europe and the UK.
Growing up in South Shore, an eclectic love for music bloomed, traversing hip-hop (Nas, Missy Elliott), Motown, household rotations of 70s-80s Haitian music and pop before deep diving into post-rock local royalty Godspeed You! Black Emperor. As a child, Torres began classical piano lessons which continued into her teenage years, where she went on to pick up drums, playing high school bands and jazz ensembles, embedding herself in Montréal’s enriching community.
Centering around piano, drums and synthesizer with interweaving field recordings, her debut album 'Après coup’ (2025) follows the precursor ep ‘Correspondances’ (2023). Translating directly from French - afterwards, after the event - its title subliminally points at something deeper between the lines. Recorded in 2023 between tours in a small window of time where ‘normal’ life hadn't quite recommenced, Torres meticulously crafted her debut solo material in view of surrounding nature, all providing the perfect nourishment for long streams of improvisation. Built right up to the edge of a lake, Studio Wild in St-Zénon, Québec offered an unparalleled location and set up for her freeform creativity.
@laurie_torres
https://www.laurietorres.com/
***
JAMES GOW
Multi-instrumentalist James Gow is perhaps best known as cellist with JOW, Eleven Magpies and Terra Collective but this will be the second outing of his new solo project featuring the tenor guitar. Expect beauty, wit and invention. Moments of magic from the mundane.
“somehow doing so much with so little” (Jazz Stroud)
"there is no ego to this, just musicians playing organic music." (Bristol 24/7)
https://www.instagram.com/gamesjow/
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
FFO: Rachel’s, Steve Reich, Daniel Inzani, JOW, Erland Cooper
Tickets available at three levels:
General - £13
Community supporter - £16
Low income - £10
Unfortunately, this venue is upstairs with no lift access, so there is no wheelchair access. We're really sorry about this.
***
LAURIE TORRES
Laurie Torres is a Canadian musician and composer raised in Montréal, Québec by
Haitian parents. Since 2008, she has been a trusted stage and studio performer for Julia Jacklin, Pomme, and Land of Talk, with live tours spanning across Canada, the United States, Europe, the UK, and Australia. She was also a founding member of Folly & The Hunter, with whom she recorded four studio albums and toured Canada, Europe and the UK.
Growing up in South Shore, an eclectic love for music bloomed, traversing hip-hop (Nas, Missy Elliott), Motown, household rotations of 70s-80s Haitian music and pop before deep diving into post-rock local royalty Godspeed You! Black Emperor. As a child, Torres began classical piano lessons which continued into her teenage years, where she went on to pick up drums, playing high school bands and jazz ensembles, embedding herself in Montréal’s enriching community.
Centering around piano, drums and synthesizer with interweaving field recordings, her debut album 'Après coup’ (2025) follows the precursor ep ‘Correspondances’ (2023). Translating directly from French - afterwards, after the event - its title subliminally points at something deeper between the lines. Recorded in 2023 between tours in a small window of time where ‘normal’ life hadn't quite recommenced, Torres meticulously crafted her debut solo material in view of surrounding nature, all providing the perfect nourishment for long streams of improvisation. Built right up to the edge of a lake, Studio Wild in St-Zénon, Québec offered an unparalleled location and set up for her freeform creativity.
@laurie_torres
https://www.laurietorres.com/
***
JAMES GOW
Multi-instrumentalist James Gow is perhaps best known as cellist with JOW, Eleven Magpies and Terra Collective but this will be the second outing of his new solo project featuring the tenor guitar. Expect beauty, wit and invention. Moments of magic from the mundane.
“somehow doing so much with so little” (Jazz Stroud)
"there is no ego to this, just musicians playing organic music." (Bristol 24/7)
https://www.instagram.com/gamesjow/
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Other neoclassical gigs
— Exchange
experimental
metal
noise
industrial
death metal
— Outer Town Festival
alternative rock
experimental
art rock
noise rock
festival