The leading ladies of electro and contemporary British jazz join forces as York Mediale announce their first music line up

We’re pleased to announce our first music line up, including five-time Grammy award nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist Suzanne Ciani who will open her UK tour at the festival; violinist and composer Laura Cannell who will premiere new work The Untuning of the Sky and music producer, artist and DJ Beatrice Dillon who will perform one of her celebrated live sets.

Recently signed by Gilles Peterson, Skinny Pelembe performs his unique blend of hazy afro-tipped soul with psychedelic tangents. Celebrated drummer, composer and electronic musician Moses Boyd, and ‘essence of London Underground’ Kamaal Williams will open the festival at York Theatre Royal on 27 September, with the show presented and streamed by renowned audio visual artists Just Jam. This extraordinary and eclectic lineup represents a flavour of some of the incredible musicians set to hit York this September.

Moses Boyd and Kamaal Williams will perform inside a psychedelic and full immersive audio visual experience, specially created by Just Jam, the like of which has never been seen at York Theatre Royal. Just Jam is a live audio-visual stream which has showcased some of the most progressive electronic music from around the globe straight from the underground to the internet. Live music  performances are set to a backdrop of idiosyncratic visuals mixed live with curated artefacts found online. This show is co-presented with local York live music promoters, Ouroboros.

On Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September, contemporary violinist Laura Cannell premieres a new commission for York Mediale; The Untuning of the Sky Parts 1 and 2. The piece, performed over two nights is inspired by the ancient astrological notion that the revolution of the planets generates a celestial harmony of profound and transcendent beauty, that mortals cannot hear. In collaboration with vocalist Jonathan Hering and visual artist Laura Spark, The Untuning of the Sky will showcase two strikingly different yet complementary pieces of work over two nights. The magnificent Church of St Margaret at York’s National Centre for Early Music will be brought to life through clefts of conjured light, projections and animation, enhancing the music in a stunning, immersive experience. Both performances have been made possible through the support of PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund and are presented in partnership with National Centre for Early Music.

On 4 October, Skinny Pelembe will play live at The Crescent Community Venue, a venue which is quickly establishing a reputation as the home of the best, cutting edge music offerings, not only in York, but across the whole of North Yorkshire. Pelembe, born in Johannesburg, growing up in Doncaster, is a sparkling multi-instrumentalist who blends his production, guitar playing, singing and MCing, to tap into  unique, influence-weaving sounds that have to be heard to be believed. He is hailed as one to watch in 2018.