OCTOBER 2012: NORWICH SOUND AND VISION
The partnership between Norwich Sound and Vision Festival, Norwich Arts Centre and Escalator Music proved to be another great success in 2012. Three days of conferences and three nights of gigs provided the opportunity for twelve Escalator Music artists to perform: Mary Epworth, Bearsuit, Dingus Khan, Kamilla Lovett, Arhai, Luke Abbott, Balaclava Kid and Dad, Girl In A Thunderbolt, Horses Brawl, Transept, The Lost Levels and The Neutrinos.
The conferences provided people from the creative industries with informative panels and time to network on a level playing field with those in the know as well allowing as those already established in their field to make deals and conduct business meetings. The evening gigs presented the artists with an an opportunity to perform in front of music industry professionals including A&R, publishers, producers, journalists and radio presenters.
May 2012: NS&V SHOWCASE AT LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY
In partnership with All Sorted ?!? Records, Escalator Music presented a NS&V showcase to a packed crowd at Liverpool Sound City. Mary Epworth, The Brownies and Kamilla Lovett represented Escalator whilst Solko and Tom Cox completed the line-up. Have a look at the photos here.
March 2012: NS&V SHOWCASE AT SXSW
We took NS&V to Austin, Texas for a showcase at the British Music Embassy as part of this year’s festival. Emerging young talent Kamilla Lovett represented Escalator Music at the prestigious event. New Cassettes, Morning Parade, Spycatcher and Bitches presented Austin with some of the best musical talent that the Eastern Region has to offer. Go here to see some photographs of the show.
September 2011: NORWICH SOUND AND VISION FESTIVAL
The Escalator Showcase at Norwich Arts Centre as a part of Sound & Vision 2011 featured aCivilian, Rory McVicar, Kamilla Lovett and Unix.
Other Escalator supported artists featured over the course of the weekend were Sargasso Trio, Girl In A Thunderbolt, Balaclava Kid & Dad, Fever Fever and Cakes & Ale.
August 2011
Femi Temowo was selected to perform at the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival.
MIra Calix contributed to the Soundwaves Festival in Brighton.
July 2011
Sargasso Trio, Milly Hirst and James Christie played at the Peterborough Festival.
Bearsuit and Cakes & Ale played a set each for the BBC Introducing Showcase in Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich.
Four Escalator artists plus one potential applicant were selected to perform at the Cambridge Folk Festival. These were; Bryony Lemon, Sunday Driver (these have also been selected for Decibel Festival), Horses Brawl, Cakes & Ale, and
Milly Hirst.
Cevanne performed on the Lake Stage at the Latitude Festival.
Cakes & Ale played a set at the Secret Garden Party, Big Chill, Shambala and Bestival.
Joby Burgess was asked to perform at the Cheltenham Music Festival for the second year running.
June 2011
Fever Fever were selected to perform on the BBC Introducing Stage and Cakes & Ale also enjoyed at slot in one of the pop up performances spaces.
May 2011
Fever Fever and Bearsuit performed at a special showcase at Liverpool Sound City.
March 2011
Fever Fever were asked to play at Canadian Music Week.
Bearsuit and Fever Fever were selected to perform at SXSW in Austin Texas.
The Next Stage showcase (a part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2009)
Featured Femi Temowo, Mike Swai, Aldrin In The Eagle, Transept and Horses Brawl.
Escalator Music Lab 2009
The Escalator Music Lab aimed to build upon the work already achieved by Escalator Music by bringing together a diverse group of 8 exceptional artists based in the East of England for a 5 day residency based at the prestigious Aldeburgh Music space in Snape, Suffolk.
Artists were encouraged to bring along current musical ideas they may have wanted to share or develop, and an open mind about how their time at the Lab could unfold. Working alongside world class artist-facilitators Kuljit Bhamra and Iain Archer, participants were given the opportunity to develop skills, explore artistic ideas and develop new relationships in a creative, peer led environment.
A feature of the Escalator Music Lab was that it connected artists from across the spectrum of rock, alternative, electronic, dance and jazz music and this breadth of experience and sensibilities made for some genuinely exciting and productive exchange.
Artists participating in the 2009 Lab are:
James Booth / Aldrin The Eagle
Singer, songwriter, producer
www.myspace.com/aldrinintheeagle
Daphne Sadeh
Composer, double bass
www.daphnasadeh.com/
Dilip Harris / Demus
Producer, programmer
www.2bo4.com/
Eric Lau
Producer, mix engineer
www.myspace.com/ericlaumusic
Maria Uzor / Girl In a Thunderbolt
Singer, songwriter
www.myspace.com/girlinathunderbolt
Iain Lowery
Singer, songwriter
www.myspace.com/lowerymusic
Karen Reilly
Singer
www.myspace.com/theneutrinosinspace
Adam Nicholas / Paradox
Singer, songwriter, producer, guitar
www.myspace.com/themusicofparadox
Artist Facilitators
Kuljit Bhamra
A virtuosic instrumentalist and highly skilled improviser, composer and producer, Kuljit is one of the most inspiring and influential figures on the British Asian music scene. He was a pioneer of the worldwide Bhangra phenomenon, combining traditional Indian rhythms with western instruments and recording techniques. He has scored and worked on many films (Bhaji on the Beach, Bend it like Beckham, Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom), and has worked extensively on theatre productions. Kuljit works increasingly as a composer and instrumentalist for his own projects (duos with Shan Chana, Alwynne Pritchard) and also with a bevy of internationally acclaimed musicians from a variety of genres including Mike Lindup, Riccardo Del Fra, John McCoy, Andy Sheppard and Bobby McFerrin. Kuljit is an esteemed and lively educator and facilitator, and has worked with institutions around the country including Royal Academy of Music, Middlesex University and Theatre Royal Stratford.
Iain Archer 
Iain is an experienced songwriter and music educator as well as seasoned artist in his own right. Although his latest solo material has a pared back folk sound, his collaborations over the years have taken in a broad range of artists and styles of music. These range from being invited to tour with the legendary John Martyn as a support act (a relationship that lead to Iain accompanying John on vocals), to a stint with Snow Patrol that lead to Iain picking up a prestigious Ivor Novello Award as part of the song writing team behind their breakthrough album, Final Straw. More recently he has taken a foray into electro-pop with Kylie. Iain has spent this summer promoting his most recent solo album, To The Pine Roots and supporting Athlete on their UK dates.
www.iainarcher.co.uk/
www.myspace.com/iainarcher
Producers
Kate Theophilus 
Kate is an independent consultant and creative producer with 15 years experience working with music in the commercial music industry and the public arts sector. She has a strong track record of working with innovative artists and organisations and a proven ability to produce quality work through creative approaches to projects and partnerships. A key strength is an excellent understanding of the interests and language of both the commercial industry and the public sector, as well as artists themselves. As a producer she has developed projects such as the recent India Soundpad with the British Council and legendary producer John Leckie – designed to generate a creative dialogue between the UK and the emerging alternative scene in India. Industry experience includes A&R, event promotions and programming, such as work with Brownswood Recordings on live events and music releases. Consultancy includes organisational development, research and report-writing for arts organisations such as the Exhibition Road Cultural Group (representing the V&A, Serpentine, Goethe Institute and others).
Tabitha Timothy
Tabitha began her working life as a DJ – cutting her musical teeth in Manchester clubs in the early 1990’s, including the infamous Hacienda. She also worked as an events producer and promoter, bringing the best home-grown DJ’s and live music to audiences in the north. Tabitha possesses a firm belief in the power of art and creativity to transform lives and overcome barriers, hence a strong track record teaching and producing youth music projects. She currently works as a freelance producer and consultant, developing individual artists and cultural organisations, with a specific focus on music. Artists and organisations she works with include: Icebox/Freeness, Chris Ofili, CDR/Burntprogress, Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, Cargo, Karen P, Metal, Delfina Foundation, Ramallah Underground, Jazz Reloaded, The Mighty Jeddo, Arun Ghosh, David Powell Associates, BBC Drama, BBH Ad Agency, Contact Theatre, Greater Manchester Music Action Zone, Black Whole Soul, Arts Council England.
