Byker Baithak + Fergus Quill plays Xero Slingsby + Yoshizawa (live)

¡Up Yours! Fergus Quill plays Xero Slingsby 

 A bass player, composer & band-leader in the Leeds jazz & experimental scene, award winning musician, Fergus Quill brings his incredible show to the toon. The project is a musical homage to the Leeds alt-jazz pioneer, Xero Slingsby (Matthew Coe) & his band, The Works (bass player Louis Colan, drummer Gene Velocette).  Xero was active in the local Leeds alternative and jazz music scenes from the late 1970s and formed The Works in 1983. They immediately built up a strong loyal following in Leeds and the North of England with their unique brand of “no categories” improvised music which brought together their mutual love for jazz, punk, funk, rock & roll, blues and TV soundtracks, all tied up with a huge dose of northern working class humour.

The band recorded two albums - "Shove It" (1985) and "Up Down" (1986) - and seemed to be on the cusp of reaching a wider audience when Xero was diagnosed with brain cancer. He continued playing even when undergoing treatment for the disease but sadly in 1988, he passed away. He was only 30 years old.  Fergus Quill heard about Xero Slingsby a few years ago, was fascinated by the man's story and fell in love with his music. It was in the same vein and spirit as the music Fergus was making and playing but Xero and The Works had produced their music over 30 years before. He felt a kinship with Xero and wanted to make an album of his compositions as a homage to him but also to join the dots between the original Leeds alt-jazz pioneer and the vibrant DIY jazz/improvised music scene in the city today. With the blessing of Xero's widow Sally Coe, Who kindly provided some of Xero’s original homemade instruments for the session,  this project finally came to life in spring/summer 2023.  Fergus transcribed and then arranged some of his favorite tracks from the two albums by The Works. He pulled together a band of musicians who he felt had the same fire and spirit as Xero and The Works, they had one rehearsal and then a marathon live recording session (often just 1 or 2 takes each track), and at the end of it, "Up Yours : Fergus Quill Plays Xero Slingsby" was born.  
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Yoshizawa is an eerie prog band who create refreshing musical landscapes to connect and communicate with their audiences. Through their playing they bring a new conversation to a wide range of music. Their performances deliver a whole truckload of energy, with driving drums and synth bass underpinning soaring flutes and guitars.

 ——————————————————— Byker Baithak resident DJs & friends will bring tunes to dance to on their cassettes, USBs & vinyls to keep you grooving till late. ——————————————————— General admission starting at £10. Please consider supporting us, this helps us keep the general admission tickets low priced & make our parties more sustainable.