PREVIEWS
Grove by Khali Ackford
MUSIC
LONE TAXIDERMIST TAKE-OVER @ COBALT STUDIOS
Words: Claire Dupree Described as a relentless and brave experimental artist, Cumbrian musician Natalie Sharp (aka Lone Taxidermist) blends performance, theatre, film, music, make-up, costume and more to create a kind of electro-art-noise insanity which is instantly thrilling. A doyen of the avant garde and underground, she has her finger on the pulse of the UK’s cutting edge experimental scene,
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which is why it’ll come as no surprise that the similarly trailblazing Cobalt Studios have invited her to curate a weekend of weird and wonderful sounds. Kicking off on Friday 11th February, Natalie explains her thoughts behind the event: “The feeling for this is all about queering ecologies and the voices of indigenous and intersections not being included in the climate crisis.” She’ll be bringing a selection of embodied themes to the front; queer, BIPOC, neurodivergent, disability positive, intersectional environmentalist, ecosex conscious and Afrofuturism. Taking part will be autodidactic Bristol-based producer Grove, whose sound fuses punky dancehall, jungle, bass and pop, with lyrics which are inspired by political angst and queer euphoria; Igbo Nigerian-Scottish
audiovisual artist Chizu Nnamdi, who blends lo-fi rhythms with R&B and indie rock; and the exalted experimental electronic pop of CURRENTMOODGIRL. On Saturday 12th, it’s all about the dancefloor, with DJ sets from inspirational and eclectic artists including Manchester-based Hesska, whose innovative mixing sees her gel seemingly disparate genres into floor-filling anthems. Truly a weekend for those seeking sublime and unusual pleasures. Lone Taxidermist Takeover Weekend featuring Grove, Chizu Nnamdi, CURRENTMOODGIRL, Hesska and more takes place on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th February. www.cobaltstudios.co.uk