Events
Clandestino festival: Irreversible Entaglements + Ukandanz + Blanco Teta
Irreversible Entaglements [Philadelphia/NYC/Washington]
This free jazz collective was born from the meeting of three artists who performed at Musicians Against Police Brutality – a protest organized in solidarity with Akai Gurley, a 28-year-old Caribbean immigrant who was shot dead by NYPD in Brooklyn. On stage that night were saxophonist Keir Neuringer, bassist Luke Stewart and poet Camae Ayewa, the latter also known as Moor Mother.
In their meeting, revolutionary improvisational music was created, accompanying Ayewa’s lyrics about quantum physics as well as the trauma of the African diaspora. This was the seed that would grow into one of the most important free jazz experiments of our time: Irreversible Entanglements.
Three became five when two more jazz activists were recruited in drummer Tcheser Holmes and trumpeter Aquiles Navarro. Their first ever session together was recorded and released in 2017 as Irreversible Entanglements – the band’s debut album which was featured in best-of-year lists by The Wire, The Quietus, NPR to mention a few. Since then, the quintet has been compared to greats like Sun Ra and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, while the group has developed further on two more albums.
Free jazz can be the art of spontaneous inventing – something this collective does with sensitivity and open ears. On their latest release Open the Gates, Irreversible Entanglements creates an abrasive upbeat sound poetry that aims to serve as a vehicle for black liberation: “It’s energy time!”
Ukandanz [Addis Abeba/Lyon]
Dressed in snazzy suits and black bow tie, singer Asnaké Gèbrèyès was a phenomenon back in the 80s and 90s. His ornamental tenor could be heard on radio, TV, and countless cassette releases in Ethiopia. Weyene Ajir (my mysterious brother) became a smash hit and is a classic to this day.
Outside Africa, however, Gèbrèyès’ music was difficult to find until musicologist Francis Falceto reissued it as part of his celebrated album series Éthiopiques. Falceto also introduced Gèbrèyès to French guitarist Damien Cluzel, who happened to be in Addis Ababa as part of a travelling circus company. After falling in love with the Ethiopian jazz tradition, Cluzel returned to Lyon with the idea of starting a band that combined his own heavy rock riffage with the sounds of swinging Addis. Asnaké Gèbrèyès agreed to join in on vocals, and soon uKanDanz was in the studio recording their first record. A marriage of Mulatu Astatke and Rage Against the Machine is one way to describe their debut Yetchalal.
Fast forward a few years: Following tours to all corners of the globe – including a steaming hot night at Clandestino Festival 2015 – uKanDanz is getting ready to release their new album, Kemekem. Once again, Gèbrèyèys’ voice makes breath-taking melismas, along with fiery sax and hammond organ, while the drums and bass are irresistibly danceable.
Blanco Teta [Buenos Aires]
White teat, or breast perhaps – translations vary for the name of this cello driven transfeminist noise rock quartet straight outta Buenos Aires. The group sees itself as part of a large queer and pro-democracy movement in Latin American arts and culture, which is expressed in songs like Córdoba Police Department, a kind of catharsis against oppression and authority violence.
Three of the members met at the Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires in 2017. Josefina Barreix’s vocal style set the tone from square one – alternating between screams and suppressed frustration that threatens to explode in your face at any moment. Adding Carlos E. Quebrada’s noisy bass and Violeta García’s distorted cello to the mix, it soon became apparent that this punk combo would do just fine without a guitarist. However, a drummer was needed, and they found just the right one in Carola Zelaschi: A hard hitting musician who wasn’t “brainwashed by the conservatory” to use the band’s jargon, but instead played in what might appear to be every other underground band in the Argentine metropolis.
In the same year, the quartet released their first EP Blanco Teta on cassette, which was followed up in 2020 by Incendiada. Album number three Rompegaga is predicted to be released in 2023 – hopefully in time for their concert at the Clandestino Festival.
Clandestino Festival 8–11 June 2023 – limited edition festival pass.
The four day festival pass gives you full access to all concerts during the 21st edition of Clandestino Festival 8-11 June 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. It also includes free admission to concert programs on other spring dates in Gothenburg when they are not sold out.
For line up and latest info on our news subscribe to our newsletter (currently in Swedish only) on the official site www.clandestinofestival.org
The promoters reserve the right to make changes of the lineup and performances before and during the festival, if necessary. Festival passes are only sold for the festival itself and not for the individual artists and performances, and can’t be exchanged due to cancelled or changed bookings.
Make sure to be at the venue when doors open as single tickets will be sold, and the venue may reach its maximum capacity.
In case of restrictions due to covid-19, we reserve the right to refund purchased tickets.
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Accessibility
The Cultural Center Oceanen is a Q-marked culturally historical building, which is challenging when it comes to accessibility. We do our best to have as many people as possible visit us. When visiting us with mobility aids the best-suited entrance is through the scene. This entrance is accessed via Gathenhielmska trädgården. The entrance is locked, please email us the day before your visit or the latest Friday at 16:00 if you are visiting us during the weekend. We have a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. Please note that flashing lights may occur during concerts and events.
For questions regarding accessibility email Mia Herman at mia@oceanen.com
