Award-winning composer and accordionist Martin Green (Lau) brings his critically acclaimed performance of Lighting the Dark to Oxford this December.
Lighting the Dark delves into the darker corners of Christmas through live storytelling and music from three of the UK and Ireland’s most pioneering performers. The accordion and electronics of Martin Green (Lau) are joined by the fiddle and storytelling of Ultan O'Brien (Slow Moving Clouds) and jazz tones of Mercury-nominated Laura Jurd (trumpet). Traditional folk tunes, a hint of festive melodies, new compositions and improvisations score a journey beyond the fairy lights and tinsel, to rediscover our ancient need for ritual and renewal.
Green tells the story of a modern day Christmas, exploring the new traditions that help us bring joy to what can be a difficult time of year. Whilst O’Brien reflects on his childhood traditions with the story of the Wrenboys, the Irish folk music that surrounds the tradition, and how those (often quite dark) traditions have been assimilated into modern festivities.Green's music is known for its beauty, complexity, and emotional depth. He is a master of the accordion, and his playing is both technically dazzling and deeply expressive. In Lighting the Dark, Green's music is perfectly complemented by his storytelling, and the skills of his fellow musicians.O'Brien's fiddle playing is both virtuosic and lyrical whilst Mercury nominated Laura Jurd's brass brings a stunning richness and power to the sound. The result is a performance that is both exhilarating and moving.Lighting the Dark is a must-see for fans of folk music, classical music, and jazz alike. It is a truly unique and unforgettable experience that was initially developed with Opera North, and performing to sold out audiences during a short tour in 2022.“a transformative journey that is captured in his skilful, insightful, and wry narrative, theatrical representations, and an accompanying soundtrack of dramatic folk tunes, festive songs, and seasonal carols – adorned by the occasional avant-garde jazz flourishes of this most impressive brass trio – which reflect the potency of music and its unerring ability to unite people in a shared experience.“ Simon Godley, God is in the TV.
Saturday 16 Dec, 8pm, Wesley Memorial Church, Oxford
