SPECTRUM Brian Irvine Ensemble

Brian Irvine's visceral, boundary busting 13 piece ensemble create a special type of music - music that effortlessly mutates elements of contemporary classical, improvisation, theatre, thrash, cartoonary and ensemble playing in manner that screams irreverence, joy and virtuosity!

Think a mutant cocktail of Zappa and Icebreaker, Han Bennink and the Instant Composers Pool, with a heavy dollop of Beefheart, Ornette Coleman and John Zorn. They have performed all over the world to widespread critical acclaim headlining at some of the world’s leading festivals.

Composer/conductor Brian Irvine was born in Belfast. His huge body of work includes operas, orchestral works, large-scale participatory work, films, multi-media installations, dance works as well as ensemble, solo, and chamber pieces. He has won two BSACA British Composers Awards as well as the Radio 3 Jazz Award for best new work.

"Brian Irvine’s body of work is an example of the musical treasures half hidden in the cracks between the categories” - The Guardian

Not having performed in Dublin for over a decade, the ensemble reformed in 2018 for Belfast’s Brilliant Corners festival, premiering a new commission ‘Not Gods But Animals’, marking the beginning of a reinvented era for the group. 2019 will see the band take another step forward with more brand new work alongside some older repertoire.

This is a rare opportunity to hear a band that truly “scares the bejabers out of the diehards” (Sunday Times). Truly, not to be missed!

"The Brian Irvine Ensemble isn't an orchestra, really. It's more of a traveling explosion -- a kinetic, freewheeling circus where the musicians dance, blow bubbles, cluck at one another like chickens, fall over "drunk" and watch imaginary notes float through the air, all while making some of the most exhilarating and imaginative music you'll ever hope to hear" - The Washington Post

Please Note: In this venue seating will be free on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a mix of cabaret-style seating on the floor, theatre seating in the balcony with some room for standing audience on the floor.

SPECTRUM Creative Music for Curious Ears 7-10th March

IMC present 3 nights of diverse programming at SPECTRUM 2018 with an eclectic mix of acts at the intersection where jazz and creative music collide, with focus on the live and the improvised. Read about the Full Programme