Maggie Nicols

Photo by Seán Kelly

Maggie Nicols joined London’s legendary Spontaneous Music Ensemble in 1968 as a free improvisation vocalist.

She then became active running voice workshops with an involvement in local experimental theatre.

She later joined the group Centipede, led by Keith Tippets and in 1977, with musician/composer Lindsay Cooper, formed the remarkable Feminist Improvising Group.

Steve Noble

Steve Noble was a student of the Nigerian drummer Elkan Ogunde . In the early 1980s he was a member of the group Rip Rig & Panic . In 1985 he took part in the Thessaloniki Jazz Festival as a member of Derek Bailey’s band, with whom he continued to work in the following years.

Alex Paxton

Alex Paxton (1990) is an award-winning composer & jazz-trombonist. His scores are published by Ricordi (Berlin).

Eddie Prévost

Photo by Seán Kelly

Drummer Eddie Prévost was born on June 22, 1942 in England. As a teenager he played drums in Skiffle and trad jazz bands before showing signs of the creative musician that was forming. After his initial exposure to his greatest influences Max Roach and Ed Blackwell, Prévost became fascinated with the endless possibilities of improvisation. He began incorporating all sorts of non-traditional percussion with his standard drum kit. In 1965 he co-founded the English improv ensemble AMM with saxophonist Leslie Gare and guitarist Keith Rowe.

Matt Rogers

Matt Rogers is a British composer who has written for and with a host of leading instrumentalists, ensembles and technologists, creating music and installations for concert halls, theatres and galleries.

Jakub Rokita

Photo by Seán Kelly

Jakub is an audio-visual installation artist, performer and an arts-activist working out of Luton.

Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser

Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser (she/they) is a performer, improviser and composer and researcher specialising in performing and composing new works for piano (solo and chamber), live electronics and multi-disciplinary ensembles.

Notable performances, compositions and broadcasts include Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2023, BBC Radio 3’s Freeness: Circular Wanderings ‘Harbringers of Change’- Cafe Oto (One Orchestra New performance), Made at the Red House residency with Wild Plum Arts (PLASTIC BODIES), and residency and performance with experimental duo flxnflx at Kirkos Ensemble’s Unit 44.

John Russell

Photo by Seán Kelly

John Russell got his first guitar in 1965 while living in Kent and began to play in and around London from 1971 onwards.

David Ryan

David Ryan is a visual artist and musician. He has long been associated with experimental music and improvisation, having performed with many distinguished musicians including Anton Lukoszevieze, John Edwards, Ian Mitchell, Alberto Popolla, John Tilbury, Luca Venitucci, Gianni Trovalusci amongst others.

Maria Sappho

Maria Sappho is a Puerto Rican American, currently working as an improviser, artist and researcher in the UK. She is a member of the Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (GIO) and founding member of the Noisebringers ensemble (CH/UK). She is a winner of the BBC Radiophophonic Daphne Oram award (2021), Dewar awards (2018) and New Piano Stars Competition (2015). She has worked with a number of large ensembles; International Contemporary Ensemble (US), BBC Scottish symphony orchestra, Australian Art Orchestra, and the Instant Composers Pool (ND).