Double bill of iconic folk and classical acts at The Apex
There’s a double bill of folk music coming up at The Apex, in the next few weeks.
It includes Polish trio Kroke, (pictured above) on Tuesday, November 14, followed two days later on Thursday, November 16 by the iconic Penguin Cafe.
Kroke are known for playing klezmer music with strong Balkan influences.
Ever evolving, the artists also take inspiration from jazz, classical chamber music and ethnic music from around the world, enriching their works with their own stunning improvisations. This way they create their unique style, which floats across borders, genres and time and has attracted attention from renowned artists and audiences the world over.
An invitation to play WOMAD led to recording sessions with Peter Gabriel and Kroke’s subsequent appearance on his “Long Walk Home” album, the soundtrack for the 2002 film Rabbit-Proof Fence.
A meeting with Nigel Kennedy resulted in a joint work – the “East Meets East” album in 2003. In recent years the band have appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals.
Live, the set list can feature elements of folk, world and Eastern European music, inspired by the music of the Balkans, Romani and Gypsy people, Arabic music, klezmer and sephardic styles, and of course, traditional music from Poland, such as the polka.
Because of this mixture of different elements and traditions, the tone can switch between pensive sadness to extreme joy.
Meanwhile, Penguin Cafe (pictured above) combine folk, classical and minimalism in a vivid series of panoramic sonic landscapes.
Arthur Jeffes follows in his father Simon Jeffes’ footsteps, by performing music from the Penguin Cafe Orchestra repertoire alongside his new Penguin Cafe material.
Having been used in a number of adverts and on many film soundtracks, you will probably know several pieces of PCO music, even if you think you don’t!
Arthur brought together a talented and disparate group of musicians in 2009, initially to perform his father’s world-renowned music, 10 years after his untimely death in 1997.
A gifted composer in his own right, Arthur quickly began to create new and unique genre-defying music.
Using a variety of instrumentation – balafon, violins, cello, bass, percussion, upright and grand pianos, synthesiser, harmonium and more – Penguin Café bring an effervescent and thoughtful sound, as rich in cerebral poignancy as it is in emotional depth.
Kroke are at The Apex on Tuesday, November 14, at 7.30pm, and Penguin Café play on Thursday, November 16, at 7.30pm.
See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets.