LEAH KARDOS

In Conversation with Tony Visconti at Rough Trade East (14 Sept '23)

London friends, put Thursday evening 14th Sept in your diaries!

I can't wait to chat with the living legend Tony Visconti himself about his staggering body of work, exploring the contents of his fab retrospective box set Produced By Tony Visconti.

The event will be held at Rough Trade East. Get your tickets here:
https://dice.fm/event/vy6bd-tony-visconti-in-conversation-signing-14th-sep-rough-trade-east-london-tickets


The David Bowie World Fan Convention 2024

I'm feeling chuffed to have been asked to take part in the David Bowie World Fan Convention in Liverpool next year. Look at that lineup! Ava Cherry! George Murray! Also excited at the prospect of finally meeting one of my writer heroes David Buckley!

The plan for my involvement is to help out as a moderator, and maybe host some side discussions and musical dissections of Bowie's groundbreaking 1974 album Diamond Dogs. Looking forward to seeing and hanging out with my people x

It's happening July 26 – 28, 2024, spread across a number of venues around Liverpool (UK).

Tickets available here

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Bowie Odyssey 73: Simon Goddard in Conversation with Leah Kardos

Looking forward to chatting with author Simon Goddard about the latest edition of his BOWIE ODYSSEY series, looking at Bowie's life and career in 1973 - a year jam packed with drama, debauchery, triumph, confusion, exhaustion and much more.
The event is hosted by the Walthamstow Rock n Roll Book Club, and will be happening on Tues 23 May at Walthamstow Trades Hall, E17 4RQ.

After the talk there'll be a book signing, and then a "proper Bowie/Roxy disco" with DJ Steve Proctor. Tickets are available here.
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UPDATE: What fun! Top quality Bowie chats were had. Big thanks to Omnibus and the Walthamstow Rock n Roll Book Club for inviting me (I nicked the below photo from the E17 rock book club's Facebook - cheers Mark).

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I'm doing a free talk at the 2023 Dublin Bowie Festival [Sunday Jan 15]

I'm feeling excited about attending my first ever Dublin Bowie Festival in January! Anyone who knows me knows I love a Bowie party, and I've heard the Irish Bowie parties are the best in the game.

I'll be giving a free talk/presentation/thing about Blackstar Theory: The Last Works of David Bowie at 3:30pm on Sunday the 15th January at Whelans.

I'll also be part of the Aladdin Sane Listening Party on Saturday (14th) at 3pm, on a panel with Gerry Leonard and BP Fallon.

It's going to be a fun time! Tickets available here: https://www.dublinbowiefestival.ie/

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Update: That was a lot of fun! Here's a video of my talk from the Saturday:



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[Event] David Bowie: The Gift of Sound and Vision with Tony McGee and Leah Kardos, 10-01-23 at The Century Club

Heads up, this very cool event is happening on the 10th of January at the Century Club (Soho, London). Tickets available now (at the link below)…

Bowie-McGee
On the anniversary of David Bowie’s death, join photographer & film director Tony McGee, to hear about his life and times working with David, and author Dr. Leah Kardos, who wrote Blackstar Theory. 

McGee, whose photographer career spans over four decades, had unique access to the star thanks to a close professional relationship and friendship. After meeting Bowie at a cocktail party, Tony was drafted in to shoot the publicity for Bowie’s 1983 Let’s Dance tour.  Several shoots followed and Mc Gee’s most famous images of Bowie now reside in the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection. The pair went on to have friendship of more than thirty years and we will hear about the shoots, about how the two worked together, the importance of music in the sessions and stories from their friendship down the years
Dr. Leah Kardos is a composer, musician and author. Her most recent book, Blackstar Theory takes a close look at Bowie’s ambitious last works: his surprise ‘comeback’ project The Next Day (2013), the off-Broadway musical Lazarus (2015) and the album that preceded the artist’s death in 2016 by two days, Blackstar. On the night, Leah will investigate how a man approaching his own death can create art that illuminates the immortal potential of all matter in the known universe.
The evening will be hosted by author and cultural commentator Travis Elborough.
More info and to book tickets here. 
https://centuryclub.co.uk/members-events/bowie-looks-at-us-an-in-conversation-with-tony-mcgee-and-leah-kardos/
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In Conversation with Karl Bartos: Louder than Words Fest: 12th Nov

Karl Bartos in conversation at the 10th edition of Louder Than Words Festival – 12 November 2022

I'm feeling quite excited to be hosting this event at the Louder Than Words festival in Manchester on November 12. I'll be speaking with Karl Bartos about his recently published autobiography The Sound of the Machine: My Life in Kraftwerk and Beyond.

I reviewed the book in the Wire issue 463, and I can't wait to chat with Karl about his writing, his experiences as a member of Kraftwerk's classic lineup, and his life story so far, framed in music.

Tickets and info here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/karl-bartos-in-conversation-the-sound-of-the-machine-tickets-427816018227

Karl Bartos - The Sound of The Machine [front cover]
https://www.karlbartos.com/home.html

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Update: well that was a lot of fun! What a thrill it was to spend some time with Herr Bartos and his manager Rüdiger while staying in Manchester. Isn't it great when you find out your heroes are also excellent humans too? Big thanks to Stylophone Official for gifting me the personalised S1 - I was able to gift it to Karl on stage at the event - a moment I'll never forget.
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Blackstar Theory book launch and Bowie disco - 12th Feb 2022

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To celebrate the UK release of the book, published by Bloomsbury, we’re having a launch party at London’s “private members’ club for the surrealistically distinguished” – Vout-O-Reenees! There’ll be readings and a Q&A with the author, conducted by Arsalan Mohammad (creator of the podcast David Bowie: Album to Album), a signing of the book and a Bowie disco where you can dance the rest of the night away (the venue is open til 1.30am).

The event is free, but spaces are limited so RSVP is essential. You can also purchase a book (£20) with your ticket and collect it on the night.

Tickets available here

UPDATE: Holy heck the tickets sold out in 48 hours of announcing. Wow! Thanks to everyone out there who is supporting this thing! xx
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Save the date [23rd Nov]: The Work and Legacy of Scott Walker with Peter Walsh

This event has been a dream to organise - it's going to be so amazing! Tickets are limited, so book quickly to avoid missing out!

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Kingston University's Visconti Studio and The Journal for Cultural Research present, a day exploring the art, innovative practice, cultural impact, creative musical and sonic legacy of Scott Walker, with Peter Walsh, Scott's long-term producer and collaborator.

The day focusses on Scott's late-period output from 1985's
Climate of Hunter up to his final solo LPs 2012's Bish Bosch, work with other artists such as Sunn0))) (Soused, 2014) and with filmmaker Brady Corbet. There will be a screening of Stephen Kijak's 2006 documentary 30th Century Man, and a book launch of Scott Wilson’s Scott Walker and the Song of the One-All-Alone (Bloomsbury, 2019). Listening space will be set up with sound equipment provided by Bowers & Wilkins, Chord Co. and Chord Electronics.

The evening event is an interview conversation between music critic Pete Paphides and Peter Walsh, followed by an exclusive surround mix playback by Peter Walsh of 'Duet for One Voice' from
Cocteau Voices (commissioned by the Royal Opera House, premiered in 2011).

10.30 Registration
11 am Intro (organisers’ welcome)
11.15 Rob Young
12 noon Charlie Blake and Adam Potts
1pm
2pm Matt Selway, Malte Kobel, Sabeen Chaudhry
3.30 Eimear McBride and Scott Wilson
4.30
5pm 30th Century Man – screening
7pm
7.30 Pete Paphides interview with Peter Walsh + Q&A
9pm
Duet for One Voice (multi-speaker performance of an extract from Scott Walker’s Cocteau Voices)
10pm-close.


Get tickets here: https://www.kingston.ac.uk/events/item/3481/23-nov-2019-the-work-and-legacy-of-scott-walker-with-peter-walsh
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An Evening With Tony Visconti & Woody Woodmansey

Update - this event has now sold out!

***Tickets are now available for this, and they are limited! Come along - in addition to the talk, there will be a pop-up record shop, book signing and a cash bar. Could you imagine a better Friday night than this?

I've had a blast researching for this event, reading Tony and Woody's biographies as well as listening to The Man Who Sold The World A LOT (such hardship!).

Was pleased to see my face made it into Woody's book! That grey smudge is definitely Liz, Charly and I getting our Bowie jush...

Spiderbookspotted
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-tony-viscont…

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R. Andrew Lee performs Three Preludes in New York City (June 18)

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New York people: Pianist R. Andrew Lee will be performing at Spectrum on Thursday, June 18 at 8:30pm. Nestled amongst a diverse and lovely looking program is the North American premiere of my Three Preludes.

Pasticcio per meno è più (2014) by Michael Vincent Waller (b. 1985)
Three Preludes (2013) by Leah Kardos (b. 1979)
Piano Sonata in G Major, D894, Mvt. I (1826) by Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Abide with Me (2007/2012) by Adrian Knight (b. 1987)
God is a Killer* (2006) by Galen H. Brown (b. 1979)
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From the Servant Jazz Quarters, Oct 23 2014

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Last few tickets for Shhh! are going fast

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I have been reliably informed that tickets are selling quick for this thing, so if you haven't booked yours yet, you can via these links:

http://billetto.co.uk/shhhfestival-london
and here:
http://www.wegottickets.com/thelocal/event/267199
(Apparently Billetto has lower booking fee)

Vital Info:
HEATH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, HAMPSTEAD
SAT 24TH MAY, 2014 Doors 12.00pm
We're on at 2.30 upstairs

See you there :)


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Jim Perkins & Leah Kardos play the Shhh Festival

I haven't performed my music since the Feather Hammer shows in 2012, so this is a bit of a big deal for me!

Bigo & Twigetti label-mate
Jim Perkins and I will be collaborating on a show that will include re-arrangements and new interpretations of our original work for live ensemble. Laura Wolk-Lewanowicz will be singing some of my songs from Machines as well as a few new things.

I'm excited! If you're in London that weekend come out and say hi!



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A month in photos

Photos from the Ruthless Jabiru concert at Australia House (9th May), by Elly Mac

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Photos from the Soundtracks Festival playing with Lonesound (11th May), photos by Alexander Short

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Again with Lonesound at the Sofar Sounds Festival (26th May), photo by Steve Nelson

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(photo by James Houghton)
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"Kick" World Premiere, 09/05/13

Ruthless Jabiru is to give a public concert next month at Australia House, London. Conducted by Kelly Lovelady, the programme includes works by Brett Dean and John Adams and will feature the world premiere of 'Kick', my new piece for string orchestra, commissioned for this very event.

The performance, to be held on 9 May, will be hosted by the Government of Western Australia, alongside a reception of West Australian fine wines.

Click here for ticket & RSVP info


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Vortex gig announcement

I regret to announce that due to circumstances out of my control, I cannot perform at the Bigo & Twigetti label night at the Vortex this Thursday night.

I'm gutted about having to miss it; fortunately my label mate
Microseq has stepped up to fill the gap left in my wake. Anyone who was intending on going, should still definitely go because it's going to be an awesome night & I wish I could be there too. To see Jim Perkins' "Emergence" live with the animations will be worth the ticket price alone x

RSVP here


Feather Hammer put to bed, (and did you know I quite like kickass beats?)

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What a lovely send off for the Feather Hammer live project, I had such a great night! Felt honoured to be surrounded by so many friends from Bedford, not forgetting the hardcore group who travelled from London only to become stranded here due to rail replacement shenanigans and had to get a CAB back. For such efforts I hope it was worth it.

At the end of the Feather Hammer show, I performed some tracks from
You Can't Hide Beat, my Bowie covers EP from last year. I dedicated the songs - Sunday, Lady Grinning Soul and a new version of Heathen - to my dear departed friend Jim Hyde, whom I met on a Bowie fan site back in the late 90s. One of our last conversations was about how much he enjoyed the Bowie covers EP, so it seemed a fitting gesture to make although I very nearly dropped the idea the morning of the show; I wasn't feeling brave at all having not sung in public for years. Liz talked me back into it, and I'm glad I did it. I miss you Jim.

And here is a very cool thing; I've been sampled! During the DJ set after my show, Matt Greasley played this track and it took me a while to register it was even me. Mrs Properly from Uncle Bob's Records pillaged that hour-long ResonanceFM show I did back in September 2011 and found all the various words needed to proclaim my love of kickass beats. Who hasn't wanted to be sampled in a daft dance track? I love it!


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Home town show: 16th June, Bedford Esquires

leahposter


Finally, after an amazing run of performances in London, Matt Greasley and I are wheeling our Feather Hammer show into Bedford for one last go. This is it, the very last and final show and I'm so glad it's going to be a home-town gig... not least because I can party with everyone afterwards and stay out late and not have to worry about transporting my heavy piano and kit about on the London underground.

I've never played a show in Bedford before, I hope I can get the locals interested enough to come out for it. If you want to attend, you can RSVP here on the
Facebook event page here. I'm even thinking of dropping some My Lithium & Me tracks into the setlist, just for the sheer hell of it! Afterwards, Matt Greasley will be DJ/VJ extraordinaire spinning tracks and projecting weird video art throughout the wee hours. I can already feel this is going to be a super fun gig. The support acts are great too.

Entry is a fiver, pay on the door. x

http://www.electronica.org.uk
http://tomcopson.com
http://www.elizashaddad.com

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Verklempt

I had such a lovely night at the National Portrait Gallery; it was the last London performance of my Feather Hammer show with Matthew Greasley and I must admit I was feeling a bit emotional by the end of it. The place was simply packed with beautiful people and wonderful artworks, I felt so blessed to be in the room and allowed to make such a racket. As I said to everyone on the night, my heart is full.

We were told by the NPG staff that we weren't allowed to take pictures in the space, but here are some sneaky ones taken by some audience members before they got told off for doing so.


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Sound check (photo by Liz Tray)

NPG1Sam Grinsell
During the show, taken by S
am Grinsell before getting scolded

NPG2Charlotte Noon
From the front row (photo by Charlotte Noon)

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National Portrait Gallery, 20th April 2012

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Friday 20th April 2012 @ National Portrait Gallery, Friday Night Music / Late Shift Doors: 18.30pm Entry: FREE
RSVP HERE


Ok I'm really excited about this one! It's happening on my 33rd birthday*!

Once again I'm going to be performing with amazing video artist Matthew Greasley, and we'll be changing up the set, throwing in a few new additions. Best bit, it's free! Head over to the Facebook event page and RSVP, and pencil it in your diaries. :)


*I was born on the 21st, but it will be my birthday in Australia, where I was born, so that counts right?


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Stuff from Shhh! Festival show

Some photos from the Shhh! Festival performance with Matthew Greasley from earlier in the month, taken by the lovely Magda Wrzeszcz (click here to see more photos and larger versions and you should also check out her amazing blog while you're at it):

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And here's a video (a bootleg! I've always wanted to say that!) shot by Charlotte Noon, in which I try and manage/remember all the bits flying around in Repeater, and occasionally stand about looking confused.



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Rumour Cubes Album Launch 18.2.12

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I'm very happy to announce I will be supporting Rumour Cubes for their free album launch event in London on the 18th of Feb!

This info was taken from the Rumour Cubes' Facebook event page:

"We've just finished our album! It's called The Narrow State, and we're quite chuffed with it! It's not getting released til the 27th February 2012 (you can pre-order from http://rumourcubes.bandcamp.com/) but we're far too impatient to wait til then to play some of it live!

We will be supported by the simply wonderful Leah Kardos with second support to be confirmed: with free entry and a lovely venue, this is pretty much guaranteed be a great night! Hope to see you there!"



Saturday 18th February @ T
he Horatia, 98-102 Holloway Rd, N7 8JE
Doors: 7.00pm
Entry: FREE

Click here to RSVP

These guys are one of my favourite new bands at the moment. You should do yourself a favour and grab their EP from bandcamp, it's a free download and it's excellent. Also, check out this track from the forthcoming release 'The Narrow State', I just love it:
The Gove Curve by Rumour Cubes


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The Local presents Shhh! - A celebration of quiet music, art and film

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The Local in association with The Line of Best Fit presents:
Shhh – A celebration of quiet music, art and film

Saturday, February 4 The Gallery Cafe – Bethnall Green, London E2

RSVP via Facebook | Buy Tickets

from
The Line of Best Fit:

For the third year running The Local and The Line Of Best Fit are teaming up to present Shhh – an all day celebration of quiet music, art and film. Moving from our regular North London home of Cecil Sharp House to the more intimate surroundings of The Gallery Cafe in East London’s Bethnall Green, this year sees performances from Tiny Ruins, Tom Rogerson (Three Trapped Tigers), Mirel Wagner and the debut UK performance from Swedish troubadour The Tarantula Waltz.

Other acts include Felix, The Singing Adams, Anna Meredith, Rob St John, Leah Kardos, Hyperpotamus, Dog Ears, Fierce And The Dead, Alex Haynes, Stranded Horse and Our Feathered Embers.

In addition to this fabulous lineup, other attractions include a screening of a new film about David Thomas Broughton, plus various acts soundtracking silent movies by the artist Luke Drozd and an arts and music stall.

A limited number of early bird tickets are on sale now priced at £7.50. The event will take place on Saturday, February 4 at The Gallery Cafe which is located on 21 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL.

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I feel completely honoured to be sharing a bill with such an amazing line up! Like the premiere, I'll be working with video artist Matt Greasley again to present the music from Feather Hammer, and I think we might be performing our set from a little cinema space in the venue. Can't wait!

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Photos from the premiere

The gig happened! We sold out of tickets! It was a wonderful night! Phew!

Here are some photos from the event, taken by
Justin Hannaford.

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www.justinhannaford.com (the whole photo set can be found on Justin's website, if you're feeling extra nosey)
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Feather Hammer premiere performance tickets are on sale

Tickets are on sale for £5, you can buy them here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/135477

If you're on Facebook, you can RSVP to the event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=276449095715751

It's going to be kickarse, I promise!

Here's a write up about the event, stolen from the
Chaos Theory website:

Time: Friday 25th November 7.30pm
Venue:
The Wilmington Arms, 69 Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4RL

Chaos Theory are proud to present three fiercely inventive talents premièring their contemporary works during this one-off event. All of the musicians tonight combine various disciplines, technology and defy tradition. In the true spirit of what Chaos Theory wishes to promote, we invite all of you who wish to experience challenging new music and art.
 
LEAH KARDOS: FEATHER HAMMER
Leah is a multi-talented composer, producer and pianist whose latest work will be showcased tonight. Her breathtaking new album Feather Hammer (released on 19th September) combines tonal and ambient soundscapes which fuse contemporary classical and electronica styles.
The recorded version of Feather Hammer uses the sounds of acoustic pianos, making use of the hammer, strings and wood percussion of the piano as well as playing them conventionally.
Tonight, we will witness a special presentation of the album featuring digital piano, electronics and video art by
Matthew Greasley.
 
LIGETI QUARTET
A brilliantly innovative quartet who we’ve had the pleasure of hosting at our monthly night
Candied Nonsense. Continually looking to promote the music of established and emerging 20th and 21st Century composers, these graduates from the Royal Academy Of Music, Royal College Of Music and Oxford University never shy away from the new and the experimental. Over the past few months they have premièred ten new works.
Featuring Mandhira De Saram and Patrick Dawkins on violin, Valerie Welbanks on cello and Richard Jones on viola, tonight they will present short pieces by contrasting composers including John Cage, Anton Webern and Harry Partch.
 
SAM GRINSELL
Opening the evening will be this gifted soloist, who will be creating extraordinary music using his original music concept.
Gathering field-recordings within one mile of the Wilmington Arms over the course of one hour, Sam will be manipulating the sounds to forge a one-off soundscape purely for this evening, adding no new sounds whatsoever. He will accompany these recordings with his improvised slide guitar.
A unique start to a unique evening.
 
This is a rare opportunity to see such vast talent together in one evening and we invite you to come and see how limitless music can be.
 
Tickets
£5 advance
£8 on the door


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