A rare chance to experience a true icon of global experimental sound.
In a coup for Melbourne’s experimental music scene, Japanese guitar virtuoso, composer and sound artist Otomo Yoshihide is set to unleash his singular sonic approach in a rare solo performance.
The boundary-demolishing Yoshihide – fresh from his stint as Artistic Director of Sapporo International Arts Festival – stands as one of contemporary music’s genuine revolutionaries, a creative force whose work spans countless genres while remaining utterly distinctive. His performances invite listeners into immersive sound worlds that challenge and delight in equal measure.
Otomo Yoshihide
- Thursday, 13 March 2025 7:30pm
- Northcote Social Club
- with Uminari Trio, Tomomi Adachi and Noise Scavengers
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Sharing the bill are two collaborative projects that bridge Japanese and Australian experimental traditions, creating a night of cross-cultural sonic exploration that’s not to be missed by serious sound enthusiasts.
The evening also features Uminari Trio, a mesmerising collaborative project touching down in Australia after performances in Taipei and Japan. This improvising ensemble brings together Morishige Yasumune (bass/cello), Cal Lyall (guitar/banjo) and James Hulllick (prepared piano) in a hypnotic musical conversation that defies easy categorisation.
While entirely improvised, Uminari’s performances occupy consistent sonic territories that evolve across multiple shows – each piece having distinct beginnings and endings yet feeling like chapters in an ongoing musical dialogue.
Their approach blends acoustic instrumentation with subtle electronic manipulations, creating textural landscapes of remarkable depth. The trio will be launching their new album if only the stone on this tour.
Rounding out this unmissable lineup is Noise Scavengers, a groundbreaking sound art ensemble featuring neurodiverse artists mentored through JOLT Arts.
For this special performance, they’ll collaborate with renowned Japanese vocalist, composer and artistic director Tomomi Adachi on Teliovox, a structured improvisation that will also be released as an album. This innovative work was developed and recorded in Japan with support from the Australia Japan Foundation.
This rare convergence of Japanese and Australian experimental music traditions represents a genuine calendar highlight for anyone interested in adventurous sound art and improvisation. Yoshihide’s solo guitar explorations alone would be worth the price of admission, but with two fascinating collaborative projects completing the bill, this promises to be one of the year’s most stimulating sonic experiences.
Grab your tickets here.
