Noise War

What is it?
Fight Club for improvised noise musicians.

When is it?
Once a month. Thursday 7-10, performances 7.30-9.30

Where is it?
The ArtSpace at the Islington Arts Factory, 2 Parkhurst Rd, Holloway, London N7 0SF - Holloway tube, 29, 253 buses.

What is it really?
At Noise War we set up a series of short-lived musical collaborations, explore them for a single performance, then take them apart again. We record everything, in the hope that beautiful and frightening work emerges.

Noise War will feel like Jools Holland’s TV show, but with challenging tunes that have never been played before. And without the studio audience or the smug pianist.

Noise War combines an open workshop, a songwriting session, and a gig without an audience. If the Overdrive Orchestra proved that you can have a band without a lineup or songs, Noise War will prove that you can have a gig without an audience, and can remove writing and rehearsal from the life of a band.

Here’s how it goes:

7pm – Organisers turn up and set up a whole pile of amplifiers. Performers set up pedalboards, tune guitars, power-up laptops, set up drums and so on.

7.30-9.30 – 8 ‘Fights’ take place, each featuring at least two
musicians or groups of musicians who don’t normally play together.
Each Fight is an improvised musical collaboration, and lasts 10
minutes (or 15 if extra musicians are invited to join in partway
through). Everyone taking part in Noise War watches every Fight. They can bring their own drinks and consume them. All Fights are recorded, and the recordings made available to the musicians who took part.
9.30 – Pack up.

What are Fights Like?
Fights can take any form you like. In early workshops we anticipate
drone/noise guitars, heavily distorted drum machines, analog synths,
avant-garde jazz bassists and horns, improvised spoken-word, dissonant choirs, tape loops and more. Each Fight will combine at least two elements.
Some Fights are pre-booked – you might know that your three-piece horn section will be taking on two DJs. Some are arranged on the night as shared interests and musical directions emerge.

Who is Involved?
Every month at least eight musicians or groups are involved. We limit participation to about 20 people. Musicians are asked to donate about £4 to help pay for the room. Recording will be free.