Elliot Galvin's The Ruin

Release tour for Elliot Galvin’s new album The Ruin, with Mandhira de Saram, Ruth Goller and Sebastian Rochford.

"This album is the most personal I’ve made to date. Named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon poem from the 9th century AD about the former glory of an unnamed ruined city, “The Ruin” is inspired by the feeling of living in England (“a country that feels like a living ruin”), the bleak landscape of where I grew up (Medway towns), and a kind of self-portrait reflecting how we all live amongst the ruins of our past selves both collectively and individually. All the musical material on “The Ruin” is taken from iPhone recordings of improvisations that I played on my first-ever piano – bought using money left by my late grandfather. The whole album is structured cyclically so that it gradually builds up and crumbles away, starting and finishing with solo piano. To this end, the very beginning of the album starts with a reversed iPhone recording of me improvising a melody on this piano and ends with this same recording playing forwards."

"The musicians who recorded this music with me have all had a big impact on my voice over the years, featuring Ruth Goller on bass and voice, Sebastian Rochford on Drums, the Ligeti String Quartet, who I have been working with since the very first album I was on.

It is the start of a new chapter musically and one that feels the truest to my musical voice that I’ve ever made."

An artist with little need for introductions, Elliot Galvin is a long-time trailblazer in the UK jazz firmament with four solo albums that have seen him top album of the year lists at the likes of Downbeat and Jazzwise, as well as being a member of the Mercury nominated Dinosaur, and collaborating with Shabaka Hutchings, Emma-Jean Thackray, Norma Winstone, Marius Neset and Mark Lockheart. Galvin has also earned a fierce reputation as a borderless improvisor having released records with the likes of Mark Sanders and his now labelmate Binker Golding. His latest solo release was an entirely improvised piano album and was named The Guardian’s album of the month and BBC Music magazine’s album of the year. Outside of this, Galvin is a composer, commissioned by a multitude of groups like the London Sinfonietta, and an audio artist with works exhibited at the likes of Turner Contemporary Gallery, and more.

The Cooler is located upstairs at The Complex Arts Centre, 12 Mary's Abbey Dublin 7. The entrance to The Cooler is through the same door as The Depot at The Complex, on the Mary's Abbey side of the building, where the LUAS tracks run. The building has a red wall on the left hand side of a front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex', and a blue wall facing the front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex - Art Lives Here'.

The plaza in front of The Complex is used by the surrounding businesses and is often full of fruits, vegetables or delivery vehicles. You can still access The Cooler at these times.

Above the blue door, you'll see a painted sign for The Depot. The Cooler is marked by a small sign between the main glass doors (sometimes covered by blue shutters) and a blue artist's door. The glass doors will be open for performances from door times (usually 7:30pm).

The Cooler cannot be accessed from the Arran St East side of The Complex - this is the entry for the Gallery and artist studios only. If you have any trouble locating the Cooler please give Caitriona a call on 087 783 3391.

To find the Cooler Google Maps, search for The Cooler or The Depot at The Complex (the main performance space downstairs at The Complex). If you find the address for just The Complex, it will generally will bring you to the gallery on Arran St East.

The performance space is up two flights of stairs and may be difficult to access for patrons with additional mobility needs. The space is fully seated. Gender-neutral toilet facilities are available upstairs (a few steps up from the level of The Cooler). Baby-changing facilities are available at The Gallery, downstairs at The Complex (using the Arran St entrance).

If you have any other queries regarding accessibility or require any accommodations for seating etc, please contact us at admin @ improvisedmusic . ie and we will do our best to assist you.

The red line of the LUAS runs very close to The Cooler, taking the stop at Jervis St or at Four Courts. Many different bus lines run to Ormond Quay, Inns Quay, or Church Street, which are all a couple of streets away from The Cooler.

There is unfortunately no customer parking available at The Complex. During the day, a small gated Dublin City Council car park can be accessed on Marys' Lane around the corner, at standard rates. Jervis Shopping Centre Car Park is also close by, with varying opening hours. Some street parking is available nearby - days and rates vary, please check signs.

More About this Artist

Elliot Galvin is an award-winning composer, pianist, and improvisor. His work is predominantly concerned with the incorporation of improvisation and the use of eclectic juxtapositions of sound in a variety of environments and contexts.

His critically acclaimed trio have released 4 albums to date being named one of the 2018 albums of the year in both Downbeat and Jazzwise Magazines and winning the prestigious European Young Musician of the year Award in 2014.

Elliot is a prolific sideman touring internationally and recording with Shabaka Hutchings, Norma Winstone, Marius Neset, Mark Lockheart, Emma Jean Thackray and the Mercury Nominated band Dinosaur, amongst many others.

As an improvisor he has released albums with Mark Sanders, Binker Golding and his entirely improvised solo piano album recorded in concert at Fondation Louis Vuiton in Paris, which was named The Guardian’s album of the month and BBC Music magazine’s album of the year.

As a composer he has been commissioned by several prestigious ensembles and festivals including the London Sinfonietta, Ligeti Quartet, Aldeburgh Festival, John’s Smith Square and the London Jazz Festival. He also works as an audio artist displaying installations at the Turner Contemporary Gallery and recently in Oxford as part of the Oxford Ideas Festival and Oxford Contemporary Music 2022.