BANKSIDE’S IMMERSIVE ARTS FESTIVAL 24 SEPTEMBER – 7 OCTOBER 2016

@MERGEFESTIVAL VISIT US AT MERGEFESTIVAL.CO.UK #MERGEBANKSIDE Welcome to BANKSIDE TRANSFORMED MERGE 2016 Voice of God Bompas & Parr MERGE Bankside is back in 2016 to showcase a collection of immersive Hilton London Bankside, art, theatre, and music throughout 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 0UG 04 Bankside, London SE1. Southwark / London Bridge

The festival features high profile names and 29 September – 2 October emerging talent taking over spaces in the Thursday 12pm – 5.30pm Bankside area, from Blackfriars to London Friday 4.30pm – 7.30pm Bridge from 24 September – 7 October. Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm Bompas & Parr will be connecting FREE you with the supernatural at Hilton 11 London Bankside’s swimming pool. See Food Demonstrations Gone Wrong at xperience Bompas & Parr’s supernatural Borough Market, and keep an eye out voice installation. The creative duo have Econceived an art installation which for an extraordinary spectacle around the transposes voices to infrasound to give you Blackfriars Road area as Bureau of Silly a supernatural experience at Hilton London Jo Duck Ideas finds new ways to commemorate Bankside’s swimming pool. the Zeppelin raids of WW1. “The physical installation poses but is the resonant frequency of the human Time To Be Late returns to Blackfriars eyeball. These low-frequency vibrations can questions about consciousness, our Road too, injecting humour and energy into cause the eyeball to distort activating the perception of the physical world and 15 the daily commute. rods and cones in your eyes through pressure our understanding of the supernatural” rather than light. And of course, the ever popular Riverside The soundscape itself is being created by Stage is back outside Tate Modern. Voice of God is a world first; the only time composer and sound designer Dom James MERGE Bankside is curated and that infrasound has been creatively used to based on message recordings people were produced by Illuminate Productions, give people a spectral visitation. invited to send. These voices will trigger Bompas & Parr have worked with acoustic seemingly supernatural and divine visions in collaboration with Better Bankside scientists to design and build the sound- through the medium of sound. – Bankside’s Business Improvement based installation that appears to connect District. It is supported by Tate Modern and you with the supernatural. A custom sound For more about Bompas & Parr Southwark Council. system created by TPI Sound will broadcast and the science behind infrasound at 19 Hz. This frequency is below Voice of God visit the regular hearing threshold of a human mergefestival.co.uk.

02 mergefestival.co.uk 03 getting feet dancing and faces smiling, 12pm GLENN HODGE BANNED guitar motifs, they The Riverside they’re sure to be your new favourite band. Contemporary folk singer Glenn Hodge is play melodic and often compared to Billy Bragg, a troubadour poetic songs with Stage 4pm JON KENZIE to be reckoned with. His new single ‘Perfect a soulful stripped Programmed by Sister Ray Jon Kenzie is a singer-songwriter from Gentlemen’ demonstrates this combination down feel, ranging and New Roots Manchester. His solo of thought provoking lyrics and energetic from bittersweet music provides a fresh musicianship. country soul The Riverside Stage on the river walkway take on blues, folk, balladry to groove by the Millennium Bridge is curated across soul and Americana, based, tightly wound the weekend to showcase and promote sitting somewhere SUNDAY 25 SEPTEMBER guitar epics. They are preparing to release original song writing and musical talent. between the troubadour their first full album by the end of 2016. stylings of modern day Programmed by New Roots practitioners such as 2pm GENEVIEVE River walkway outside M. Ward and the earthy New Roots is committed to promoting Genevieve is a singer songwriter originally Tate Modern, Bankside SE1 9TG edginess of Tom Waits. events that shine a light on up and from Edinburgh and now based in south- coming talent in the UK roots scene. east London. Bringing together honest lyrics newrootsevents.com Southwark / Blackfriars 3pm DANNY TOEMAN with a warmth and soulfulness reminiscent London-born soul man of Laura Marling and Ani DiFranco. 24 and 25 September Danny Toeman has 5pm SISIKA worked hard to secure A four piece from south London, Sisika play 1pm LUCAS & KING 12pm – 6pm a reputation for his energetic live shows soulful, sparsely arranged songs with close Lucas and King are a truly exciting new containing up tempo, feel good soul music. harmonies, warm melodic guitar, rhythmic young duo emerging from Southampton. FREE Danny has gone onto perform at legendary piano lines and subtle grooves. The band Songs of exceptional craft and depth pull venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the draws on a range of influences to create influence from classic folk and American O2 Arena, the Roundhouse, and appeared their sound; from old folk harmonies, to roots flavours, all delivered with the spine- alongside several US and UK soul staples triphop beats and rootsy jazz. Their debut EP tingling, unforgettable voice of Bo Lucas including Robert Cray and Betty Wright. is released this October. and perfectly judged guitar accompaniment from Hayleigh King. SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2pm WESLEY GONZALEZ 4pm LORDS OF THYME Wesley Gonzalez harks Featured by fRoots magazine as four from 12pm NED ROBERTS back to mid 70s singer- the New Folk Underground to watch. The London based acoustic singer-songwriter Programmed by Sister Ray songwriters such as Todd Lords of Thyme are Joe Woolley, Tali Trow Ned Roberts was discovered by producer Sister Ray first opened on Berwick Street Rundgren and Emmitt and Pat Kenneally, all past members of Luther Russell (Sarabeth Tucek, Richmond in Soho 30 years ago. In that time they’ve Rhodes, but with added acclaimed UK prog-folk act Circulus. They Fontaine, Noah & The Whale). The first single become an institution and seen plenty of elements of soul and share a love of esoteric folk, psych and ‘Red Sun’ featured frequently on BBC 6 musical genres delight, frustrate, annoy and – drawing upon influences progressive music, and have appeared Music, BBC Radio 2, enlighten. That’s what they sell and that’s like Sly And The Family on the ‘Shirley Collins Inspired’ album BBC Radio Scotland, what they love. Stone and Donny Hathaway. in collaboration with folk legend Bonnie and Radio 3, with Dobson, alongside Bonnie Prince Billy and the follow-up ‘Blues 5pm MIGHTY DYNAMITE 1pm COLDBOYS many others. #6’ championed by Mighty Dynamite are a joyful merging of Winners of the Berwick Street Calling Lauren Laverne, Jo musical styles. The band are formed from competition, their easy going songs are 3pm HOUSE ABOVE THE SUN Whiley, Gideon Coe, members of indie favourites Mansun and influenced by many bands from both House Above The Sun are a roots rock group and Huey Morgan Victoria. Filling venues wherever they go America and the UK. Their music faintly from south London led by singer/songwriter on BBC Radio. The with their sideways look at life, love and reminisces the guitar work of Johnny Marr Jim Moreton. Distinguished by rich male/ new album is due for escape, giving a voice to the unheard, from The Smiths. female vocal harmonies and inventive release later in 2016.

04 mergefestival.co.uk 05 “Fantastic performance, really BLACKFRIARS STORIES funny, witty and original” Sightings! Blackfriars Bureau of Silly Ideas

Blackfriars Road

Southwark

30 September and 1 October (weather dependent)

30 September from 2pm, 1 October from 4.30pm (for one hour)

FREE

s part of the Blackfriars Stories series of events, Bureau of Silly THEATRE y trying too hard, having a different A Ideas (BOSI), which has an approach to team-work, and changing international reputation for its gloriously Bthe recipe last minute by mistake, silly interpretations of heritage events, is everything is sure to go unexpectedly wrong. referencing the Zeppelin attack of 1 October Demonstration Keeping up appearances during a live 1916 when the daring flying ace Heinrich Gone Wrong food demonstration at Borough Market, Mathy’s Zeppelin was downed in a blazing whilst trying to save the dish of the day, will fireball over Blackfriars Bridge, creating Robin Linde Productions escalate into a ludicrous display of antics in a harrowing yet spectacular vision for this interactive physical slapstick comedy. Londoners. Demonstration Kitchen, Market After last year’s overwhelming success, Of course, they won’t be setting Hall, Borough Market, SE1 1TL Monsieur Ma’Mon, the world’s greatest chef, anything on fire – but they will be creating the Blackfriars Road area, in a free show is back in London with his assistant Charlotta an extraordinary diversion around the that will resonate with all members of the London Bridge to present his newest food creations in a site- Blackfriars Road area. Led peas-fully by the community, whether they’re residents or specific performance for Borough Market’s Peas-Corps (bringing Peas to the World), workers. While by no means glossing over 24 September and 1 October demonstration kitchen. local people and visitors can get trained the horror of the original story (Zeppelins At each performance a new effort is made in the Peas Corps tactics, follow the Foot were the first ever machines to drop 12pm – 4pm to create the perfect dish, Ma’Mon style. Patrol and learn the truth about rumours of bombs from the air on civilians) Sightings! (on the hour for 15 minutes) air support! Blackfriars will both educate and entertain Written, directed and Harnessing their unique take on the with a show aiming to replace the fear and FREE performed by Jonathan Peck contradictions of war and its aftermath, destruction of 100 years ago with fun and and Robin Linde. BOSI will create a localised spectacle in creativity.

06 mergefestival.co.uk 07 MUSIC MERGE Radio Show Resonance FM

20 September (8pm) repeated 28 September (5.30pm)

resonancefm.com

ERGE will be collaborating with Resonance FM for a show which Mwill include live music, an interview with Sam Bompas from Bompas & Parr, and Happenings interviews with the directors of Time To be Late Rumpus Room, Mondrian London and Demonstrations Gone Wrong – all part of this year’s MERGE Festival. Live music acts include Ned Roberts, Sisika, Skyline Sessions at Mondrian Wheatsheaf: Happy 185th House Above The Sun, and Jon Kenzie. See London Birthday to Young’s more about these acts on The Riverside Stage Every Wednesday from 7pm Thursday 22 September pages. 20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PD 6 Stoney Street, SE1 9AA Resonance is a groundbreaking 24/7 radio MUSIC Rumpus Room, a rooftop bar situated on As Young’s celebrates its 185th Birthday, join station which broadcasts on 104.4 FM to central the 12th floor of Mondrian London at Sea the Wheatsheaf for... spoiler alert: free beer London, DAB to Greater London, nationally on Lunchtime Gigs Containers, plays host to Skyline Sessions (and probably cake). Radioplayer and live streamed to the rest of the – a live music series every Wednesday world. Various locations, follow night. With striking views across the river The Bridge Choir Founded in 2002, Resonance encourages @MergeFestival on Twitter Thames and London’s skyline, this hidden Monday 26 September, 6.45pm – 8.45pm creativity through radio. Its resources are open gem is a modern interpretation of 1920s Kitchen @ The Bridge, 73 – 81 Southwark to a wide range of artists, art forms and diverse for live updates or visit London. Sunshine by day, skyline by Bridge Road, SE1 0NQ communities. Resonance’s expert, arts-focused mergefestival.co.uk for more night. The Bridge Choir, based in Bankside, will be programmes challenge, inspire and transform information performing a range of pop, gospel, soul and people’s creative and listening experiences. Live music at The Gladstone Arms . Check mergefestival.co.uk for dates ERGE promises to entertain 64 Lant Street, SE1 1QN Sunday Sessions at Bedales you on your lunchbreak, ‘The biggest small venue in the world’, Sunday 2 October, drink specials start at 5pm Mwhether you’re taking throughout September and October and Holloway will start at 7.30pm some time out of the office or just The Glad will showcase a variety of live 5 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL wandering through Bankside. roots, blues and folk music, as it has Join Bedales as they welcome Lottie A variety of loud, lively and done for the last decade. See soul man Holloway for a fun acoustic set. The three- theatrical music performances will Dai & the Ramblers, Dom Pipkin solo on piece, fronted by the striking blonde haired pop up in various spots so keep your the piano and ever-entertaining The Yess lead singer, is a beacon for new music in eyes and ears peeled. Mess. See more information about the London’s wave of indie-electro and alt- musicians on the website. popular bands.

08 mergefestival.co.uk 0913

BLACKFRIARS STORIES HISTORY OF BLACKFRIARS

Time To Be Late Frankenstein Written and directed by and Southwark Jonathan Peck and Robin Linde

LOOK OUT FOR Various points along Blackfriars Frankenstein introducing his wide Road SE1, including pavements and buses eyed creation to the glorious sights and people around Southwark Blackfriars Road.

6 – 7 October espite being set in locations 8.30am – 9.30am, 12.30pm – 1.30pm all over the world, there are and 5.30pm – 6.30pm Dnumerous connections between the novel Frankenstein and the FREE London Borough of Southwark. Mary Wollenscroft, mother of Mary Shelley, lived in the Blackfriars area from 1788- 1791: a time when the area was seeing ‘Imagination is the only weapon great change due to the opening of the in the war against reality.’ new Blackfriars Bridge. Lewis Carroll “A famous ménage à trois existed roviding commuters with some on Blackfriars Road where Mary much needed comedy on their Shelley, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley Pjourney to and from work, Time To and partner of Lord Byron, Claire Be Late delivers immersive pop-up art, Clairmont made a liberal home in music and theatre experiences at various Fantastic to be greeted by Nelson Square just off Blackfriars points along Blackfriars Road. After its success in MERGE 2015, in @MergeFestival artists this morning Road in 1814” partnership with Southwark Council, on leaving Southwark @jubileeline this year we will draw upon infamous station- I’m still smiling! Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein Southwark was also the birthplace of characters from the area and the rich @alisonleary1 (published 1818) was born in 1797. She William Henry Pratt, better known as Boris history of Southwark to inject energy and married romantic poet Percy Bysshe Karloff. Karloff is notable as the actor humour into the daily commute. Hilarious! Performers from Shelley in 1816. Two years later, she who portrays Frankenstein’s Monster in A series of weekday early morning, Time To Be Late, part of published her most famous novel, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and lunchtime and early evening ‘happenings’ @mergefestival #mergebankside in Frankenstein. Son of Frankenstein. will take place in unexpected places – at #southwark A famous ménage à trois existed on Shelley’s Frankenstein depicts a world bus stops, outside Southwark tube station, Blackfriars Road where Mary Shelley, of instability and uncertainty, parallels @bakerpictures and in local businesses. poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and partner which can be drawn with the area of Time To Be Late will bring a smile to of Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont made a Southwark which was undergoing huge your commute and encourage you to look liberal home in Nelson Square just off change at the beginning of the 19th at the world in a slightly different way. Blackfriars Road in 1814. century.

10 mergefestival.co.uk 11 HISTORY OF BLACKFRIARS HISTORY OF BLACKFRIARS

Pilgrims and The Ring on Blackfriars Blackfriars Road

LOOK OUT FOR LOOK OUT FOR Two tiny adventurers with a lot The big fight, so big that these two boxers have on their minds and even more on taken it out of the ring and onto the streets. their backs. Hodman and Sally by Both undefeated and proclaiming they should Flying Buttresses will walk the be reigning champion of the world… although length of Blackfriars Road. it’s their first ever fight.

n celebration of Pilgrims and Blackfriars, nspired by ‘The Ring’, a boxing stadium champion. The Ring opened in 1910, quickly join these elderly amblers as they set out which once stood on Blackfriars Road. attracting keen crowds and staging events Ito comprehend the modern world, meet IAlthough established as a boxing venue four to five times a week. It became a strange and exciting new people and search in 1910, the actual building dated all the bare knuckle boxing venue for decades, for a decent place to camp! way back to 1783; originally designed as a during which time Bella Burge (aka Bella An interactive street theatre act, be chapel by the Reverend Rowland Hill – who of Blackfriars) broke the taboo of women enchanted by the witty, adorable characters known as Black Friars due to the black reportedly opted for the unusual, circular attending fights and she later took over the of Hodman and Sally and the unique illusion caps that the Friars wore. Three Friars design so that there would be no corners in running of the site – often ejecting drunks the act creates. A heart-warming and magical came to London setting up a monastery which the devil could hide. herself. Dick and Bella also set up a soup walkabout show. in Holborn. Fifty years later such was their Decades later, the man responsible for kitchen which they ran from the Blackfriars has a long standing link with patronage that they obtained land on the overseeing the chapel’s conversion was building during the quieter daytime the historical pilgrimage from London to north side of the Thames near the river Fleet, Dick Burge, a former English Middleweight hours to help London’s homeless. Canterbury, famous today through Chaucer’s consequently giving rise to the area we call Canterbury Tales. The link lies in the history Blackfriars today. Remnants of the friary can of the name Blackfriars itself, named after still be seen today, for example the Blackfriar the Dominican Friars who first came to pub and the Apothecaries Hall which is now Canterbury in 1221. The Dominicans were on the site of their guesthouse.

LOOK OUT FOR Now it’s Musical Ruth’s turn to spread her harmonious message to Blackfriars Road, this will be one to remember!

usical Ruth is a humorous mix and mingle comedy act performed on an extravagantly Mdecorated baby grand piano built on to an electrically powered vehicle. Visually stunning, once witnessed Musical Ruth is never forgotten. Image: Leonard Bentley Image: Leonard

12 mergefestival.co.uk 13 HISTORY OF BLACKFRIARS THEATRE

LOOK OUT FOR ON THE LINE Bert Hardy, his camera and his muse United we stand capturing London’s beauty in black and oin us for boogie, bingo and banter. white… only to discover the streets of This theatre piece, part of Time To Be Southwark are filled with new fashions JLate in partnership with Southwark Council, will celebrate a shared strength and distractions galore. and dignity in unity. Stand up against the injustice that threatens to destroy our hotographer Bert Hardy homes, history and identity all while dancing was born into a working the night away. Pclass family in Blackfriars It is 1985 and a group of proactive miners’ in 1913. Hardy left school at wives are hosting a festive fundraising party the age of 14 to begin earning to collect for the hungry families in their money working in a chemist’s community – and we’re all invited. Babs and shop which also processed in a carriage. He later served as scene. The resulting images her best friend Jackie are putting on a night photographs. A self-taught a military photographer from are today considered classics to remember. photographer, Hardy’s first 1942-46, taking part in the 1944 showing the strength of the ON THE LINE draws parallels between break came when he managed D-Day landings. After the war human spirit despite the dire Thatcher’s “Divide and Rule” tactics and to photograph King George V Hardy worked in poor districts poverty found there. Hardy today’s political agenda, opening up a and Queen Mary as they such as Elephant and Castle, received substantial critical moment in recent history and making it passed through his borough documenting their social acclaim for these photographs. more immediate today. Our audience is encouraged to bring a Platform Southwark, food donation to the party which will then go LOOK OUT FOR LOOK OUT FOR 1 Joan Street, SE1 8BS directly to those Londoners most in need. Partnered Stop and Go… where would London Using the Cycle Super Southwark / Waterloo with a London food bank, be without its much loved lollipop lady Highway? Late for work? we are supporting parts Life is so much easier on Friday 7 October of our own community shining in the streets and helping us that are forced to live on all on our merry way. your bike with supporting fans cheering you along 7pm – 60 minute play followed the line. The 7pm performance at Platform by 80s disco Southwark will be followed by an 80s disco! ollipop men and women, known elsewhere your way. Written by Aled Pedrick, directed by as crossing guards, have a history that can FREE – booking required. Yasmeen Arden. Music composed and L be traced back to 1920s America. The term ycle Superhighways are Purchase tickets online from performed by Kevin Potton. Brought to you lollipop man/woman is only used in Britain and cycle routes running mergefestival.co.uk by Robyn Bennett in collaboration with Australia and originates from the Cfrom outer London into Robin Linde Productions. circular signs carried on a stick. and across central London. Britain did not have its first They give safer, faster and “It’s hard to tell if it’s improvised or lollipop person until 1937 when more direct journeys into the skilfully scripted to seem improvised, a Mrs Hunt took up the role. city. Four Superhighways The longest serving lollipop have already launched. The either way, there’s a freshness to lady in the UK was Eunice Southwark Spine cycle route is their performance which is hugely Robinson who worked for at an important new addition to engaging for the duration” least 40 years. the cycle network in Southwark. @AmieAmieTay

14 mergefestival.co.uk 15 6 – 7 OCTOBER 2016

Image, The Naturals, Time To Be Late, MERGE 2015 MERGE Be Late, Image, The Naturals, Time To

@MERGEFESTIVAL VISIT US AT MERGEFESTIVAL.CO.UK #MERGEBANKSIDE