Modern Art Oxford and Jericho Tavern presents: You and Whose Army?
Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton St, Oxford OX2 6AE
Tuesday 6 November 2018
Modern Art Oxford and Jericho Tavern present You and Whose Army?, an evening of artist performances which use experimental sound and musical subcultures as a point of departure to interrogate the socio-political and economic factors faced in Britain today.
Taking it’s title from the politically driven song by Oxford based band Radiohead (who played their first ever live performance at Jericho Tavern in 1986 under the then name ‘On A Friday’) each performance seeks to rally our collective conscious and question the factors contributing to the increasingly difficult relationships faced in British society today. Be it the ever widening distribution of wealth, controversial economic policies or the financial instability faced after the EU referendum, through to the rising cultural tension and racial discrimination being experienced on the streets of Britain the reality facing Britain is one of palpable uncertainty and historic change.
Hardeep Pandhal delivered a live reading of rap lyrics. Pandhal’s performance forms part of his continued practice exploring cultural identity in British society today.
Benedict Drew used an arsenal of instruments, electronics and synths to produce a ritual that attempts again to bring an end to the Tory government and rock music.
Jumana Hokan used selected personal sound recordings from the streets of the Middle East to performatively address her dual identity, Syrian and British, and the perception and lived experience within a multicultural society.
Jeremy Pritchard (Everything Everything) curated a specially selected playlist in response to the themes of the evening, which was playing throughout the night. The playlist is also available through Modern Art Oxford’s Spotify profile.
‘In response to themes of the event I began to think about fragmentation, disconnection, isolation and alienation, Certain tracks immediately presented themselves, both sonically and conceptually. Simultaneously, this collection also acknowledges the need for relief and escape from these very things that music can and should provide, as much as it can and should provide a commentary.’
– Jeremy Pritchard
Images: Stu Allsopp