‘the closest thing America has to a prophet’ Noisey

‘MITH, a staggering work of unbridled ambition, intelligent improvisation and, above all, profound soul.’ (9/10) Loud and Quiet 

‘his staggeringly beautiful new album MITH is one of the ultimate jazz and blues records.’  Guardian

Lonnie Holley returns to London following sold-out shows at Cafe Oto in 2016. With him he brings songs from his eagerly anticipated first album in five years, MITH. The expansive American experience Holley quilts together across this astounding new album is both multitudinous and finely detailed. His self-taught piano improvisations and stream-of-consciousness lyrical approach have only gained purpose and power since he introduced the musical side of his art in 2012 with Just Before Music, followed by 2013’s Keeping a Record of It. But whereas Holley’s previous material seemed to dwell in the Eternal-Internal, MITH lives very much in our world – the one of concrete and tears; of dirt and blood; of injustice and hope.

Across these songs, in an impressionistic poetry all his own, Holley touches on Black Lives Matter (I’m a Suspect), Standing Rock (Copying the Rock) and contemporary American politics (I Woke Up in a Fucked-Up America). A storyteller of the highest order, he commands a personal and universal mythology in his songs of which few songwriters are capable – names like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joanna Newsom and Gil Scott-Heron come to mind.

MITH was recorded over five years in locations such as Porto, Portugal; Cottage Grove, Oregon; New York City and Holley’s adopted hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. These 10 songs feature contributions from fellow cosmic musician Laraaji, jazz duo Nelson Patton, visionary producer Richard Swift, saxophonist Sam Gendel and producer/musician Shahzad Ismaily.

Lucinda Chua is a London based artist and composer. Her debut single Somebody Who was accompanied by the release of Strings Mixtape, a 30 minute mix, seamlessly weaving together ambient pop, introverted hip hop and iconic classical works, underscored by her own string arrangements, instrumental compositions and collaborative sessions.

‘Lucinda Chua’s spellbinding songwriting will leave you hooked.’  Dazed & Confused

This event is part of Luminate, a new contemporary music series at Kings Place.

In this new monthly series, we shine a light into the crucible of new music creation today, revealing exhilarating cross-currents in sound and style. From contemporary orchestral composition to shimmering electronic sound worlds, musical expression is becoming less defined by genre, more framed by its emotional and cultural contexts. Luminate taps into this bold, exploratory landscape in a series of shows that will provoke and inspire.