New album: Mouthful of Silence
Limited Edition Double CD (w/bonus track)
Mouthful of Silence is a Limited Edition Double CD release featuring solo, single take performances using Moog guitar, live electronics and found objects. Each CD presents a different performance of the same work. Due to the emergent nature of the instrument, however, and the long duration of the piece, they manifest in subtly different ways, reflecting each other while also being pulled toward different realizations.
Mouthful of Silence is based on the live performance Live at the Brunswick (2017) written and performed by Bill Thompson and released on Touch Radio [131]. It was recorded at Wee House Studios in Aberdeen and mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye mastering.
The release also comes with a bonus digital download, Shifting Currents Installation. This is a realization of the installation portion of the work Shifting Currents. It was only ever offered as a promo CD during the tour with Keith Rowe and Rick Reed in 2009 and has been newly remastered for this release. This bonus track anticipates next year’s 10 year anniversary of that work.
Phil Durant + Bill Thompson, SET, Dec 12th
Performing a live electronics duet with Phil Durrant at SET, Dec 12th.
SET: A constantly evolving and explorative private club night with rotating DJ’s, VJ’s and daring improvisers, including live percussion and horns. Closed-curtain non-stop electronica/free improv/rhythm/groove/movement.
More info: SET
Mercury Over Maps 8, Hundred Years Gallery, Dec 1st
The 8th installment of the extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature three sets: Phil Durrant and Ian Stonehouse (modular synths), Lisa Busby and Sharon Gal (voice and electronics), and Bill Thompson (live electronics).
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps-8
The Seen, ONCA Gallery, Nov 7th
Performing with Mark Wastell’s THE SEEN at the ONCA Gallery, Brighton, Wednesday, Nov 7th 8pm.
More info: http://www.confrontrecordings.com/
Mercury Over Maps 7, Hundred Years Gallery, Oct 20th
The 7th installment of the extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature three sets: a solo by John Bowers (modular electronics), a duet by Sylvia Hallet and Chris Dowding and a solo by Bill Thompson (live electronics).
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps-7
Intraspect – Guildford, Oct 18th
Intraspect is a concert series featuring experimental music and live electronics with artist from around the world.
October 18th presents premiere modular synthesist Christine Webster from France performing a solo set. This will be followed by a quartet of veteran improvisers from the UK: Phil Durrant, Phil Julian, Mark Wastell and Bill Thompson playing an assortment of electronic devices, modular synths, Moog guitar and percussion. And the evening opens with performances by students of the University of Surrey’s Creative Music Technology program.
University of Surrey, PATS Building, Studio One, Oct 18th, 7pm – free
The Seen – Cafe Oto, Oct 1st
Playing with Mark Wastell’s The Seen at Cafe Oto, Oct 1st. Also performing: Feral Concord.
Others playing in The Seen this evening include: Phil Durrant : modular synth, objects, Phil Julian : electronics, Clive Bell : woodwinds, Mandhira de Saram : violin, Chris Burn : piano, Jennifer Allum : violin, Otto Willberg : double bass, Graham MacKeachan : double bass, Henry Bowers-Broadbent : electric piano, Mark Wastell : tam tam, gongs, cymbal
More info: Cafe Oto, Oct 1st, 7:30pm
The Third Rail, Austin Tx, Sept 26th
Performing with Brent Fariss at the opening of The Third Rail concert series curated by sound artist Thomas Bailey.
Sept 26th, Cherrywood Coffee House, free
zerospace, Cafe Oto -London, Sept 23rd
叁乘叁:3 X 3 features 3 trios sets from zerospace (Bill Thompson / Ian Stonehouse / Lucia H Chung), Phil Maguire / David Bloor / Steph Horak, and rare appearance of Fujui Wang, TZU NI and LTY from Taiwan.
More info: Cafe Oto, Sept 23rd, 2pm
Sonic Arts Festival, Great Yarmouth, Aug 31st
Performing with Ed Perkins at opening night of Sonic Arts Festival in Great Yarmouth. Aug 31st, details forthcoming.
Messages Deleted, Dancebase – Edinburgh, Aug 18th
5 Star review by British Theatre Guide
Performing as part of Airfield in Edinburgh Fringe 2018 at Dancebase.
Utilising a collection of re-purposed objects, live projection, vibrating devices, bursts of dance, found text, broken instruments and circuit bent toys: air field collective creates a meticulous, surreal and sometimes threatening landscape of strange activity.
Art meets noise, chaos and clarity.
Dancebase, Edinburgh. Aug 18th, 8pm, £11
More information here.
Mercury Over Maps 6, Hundred Years Gallery, July 14th
The 6th installment of the extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature three sets: a solo by Steve Beresford (live electronics), a duo between Ingrid Plum and Ian Stonehouse (voice and live electronics) and a duo between Phil Durrant (modular electronics) and Bill Thompson (live electronics).
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps-6
Music and Sonic Arts Conference, Karlsruhe, June 28-July 1
Giving a presentation (and performance) on how engaging with Rheinberger’s theory of the ‘Epistemic Thing (Rheinberger, 1997) and Deleuze’s theory of the ‘Encounter’ (Deleuze and Patton, 2013), has enriched my own practice as an improviser and composer.
MuSA 2018 – Karlsruhe (IMWI), 28 June – 1 July 2018.
Performing with Moog guitar and speaking on Saturday 30th, details here.
Mercury Over Maps 5, Hundred Years Gallery, June 23rd
The 5th installment of the extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature 4 solo sets: Tom Richards, Dawn Scarfe, Thomas Eisl, and Bill Thompson.
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps-5/
The Old Hairdresser’s, Glasgow, June 14th
Performing solo Moog guitar set at The Old Hairdresser’s. Also performing: Judith Hamann, Noma and Barrets Dottled Beauty. The Old Hairdresser’s, Glasgow. June 14th, 7:00pm.
TRIBUTE TO PAULINE OLIVEROS, Cafe Oto, May 27th
A TRIBUTE TO PAULINE OLIVEROS: Drone-based improvise music with Rhodri Davies, Phil Durrant, Bill Thompson and Mark Wastell. Part of an entire day’s tribute to the wonderful Pauline Oliveros. Sunday, May 27th, Cafe Oto, 2pm. Details here.
And here’s a post I wrote in honor of Pauline.
SOLO:DUO:TRIO, Cafe Oto, May 23rd
Performing Moog guitar solo as part of SOLO:DUO:TRIO at Cafe Oto Project Space. Also performing are Viv Corringham & Alex Ward (duo) and Adrian Northover, Daniel Kordik & other (trio). May 23rd, 7:30pm. Cafe Oto Project Space.
Corpora Aliena, Iklectic, May 5th
Performing solo Moog guitar & electronics for the Corpora Aliena series at Iklectic on May 5th. Details here.
Mercury Over Maps 4, Hundred Years Gallery, April 21st
The 4th installment event of the extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature three performances: a trio between Lucia H Chung (live electronics), Ian Stonehouse (modular synth) and myself (Moog guitar and objects); a solo by Richard Sanderson (amplified melodeon), and the duet Bubo Bubo (Xenia Pestova & Ed Bennett – Indian harmonium, desk bells, music boxes and live electronics).
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps-4/
Happened Radio Appearance, Tues 8-10pm, April 17th
Appearing on We Are Happened: with Ian Stonehouse and Lucia H Chung on music/art education & improvisation practices. 20:00 BST. 17.04.2018. @199radio
Solo Moog guitar, Cove Park Residency (2017)
Solo Moog guitar set performed and filmed at Cove Park (2017). Video by Alan Paterson.
Intraspect, Guildford Performance Series, March 23rd
INTRASPECT: an evening of live electronic improvisation featuring Bill Thompson (Moog guitar and found object) with Phil Durrant (Modular Synth and electronics). Opening set by live electronics group, DIG.
Guildford University, Studio 2. March 23rd, 7pm. Email for more information.
Mercury Over Maps 3, Hundred Years Gallery, March 17th
The 3rd event of my extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature two duets – Jennifer Allum, & David Toop, Phil Durrant & Bill Thompson, and Nicolas Collins.
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps
Mercury Over Maps 2, Hundred Years Gallery, Feb 17th
I’m pleased to announce the 2nd event of my extended residency at Hundred Years Gallery –Mercury Over Maps
The evening will feature a solo by Blanca Regina (live electronics and found objects) and a trio with Tom Mudd (computer), Jan Hendrickse (flute and electronics) and myself (Moog guitar and objects).
More information: http://billthompson.org/aka_prof_lofi/mercury-over-maps-2/
Solo Moog guitar, The Anatomy Rooms, Jan 20th
Performing a solo Moog guitar set at The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen. Jan 20th, 7pm. More information here.