abel selaocoe + the bantu ensemble
5 november 2023 / 8.30pm / koko, camden
100% funded (sold out)
Fronted by genre-defying virtuoso cellist Abel Selaocoe, The Bantu Ensemble bring their African, jazz and classical-inspired music to Camden’s iconic KOKO
7pm: doors open
8pm: last entry
8.30pm: abel selaocoe + the bantu ensemble set
what are noisenights?
noisenights are our vision for the future of classical music: informal crowdfunded events featuring international soloists in bars, converted warehouses, and nightclubs.
read more
Most noisenights feature two short classical sets, one early evening, one late. All tickets to the late set include live music or DJs for the rest of the night, including jazz, latin, afrobeat, swing and funk acts.
This noisenight currently only has one set - but we're ready to add another, dependent on demand.
Live music needs your backing more than ever. Becoming a noisenight backer means getting tickets to hear the world's best performers up close while becoming part of a community working for a positive future for live music.
After a noisenight reaches its funding target, we'll e-mail all backers to confirm it and a small amount of extra tickets will be made available. These tickets are released in three stages, which increase in price the closer to the event they're purchased. Book early to get the best price.
Please note that due to the venue's license, this noisenight is strictly 14+ (under 16s to be accompanied by an adult).
The KOKO venue has limited space for accessibility. Accessibility tickets are only purchasable through the KOKO website and once these tickets have been sold, we cannot accept any further accessibility requests. If you require Accessibility tickets and these are no longer available, please do not purchase a General Admission ticket and expect to be accommodated as these will be refused. This is a strict policy to make sure the venue is safe for all customers. Pick up Accessibilty tickets here.
the venue:
KOKO began life as The Camden Theatre, which was opened on Boxing Day 1900 by Ellen Terry, a leading actor of the day. Over the following 120 years some of the world’s biggest artists have graced KOKO's stage, including Kanye West, Childish Gambino, Dua Lipa, Stormzy, Janelle Monae and Coldplay in just the last few years.
Prior to 2004 the venue was known as the Camden Palace, which hosted Madonna's first UK performance, as well as The Pretenders, The Clash, The Jam, and many more. Prince played the Palace on numerous occasions throughout his career, including for his last ever London show.
the music:
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is redefining the parameters of the cello. He moves seamlessly across genres and styles and combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing and body percussion.
Abel is devoted to composing works and curating programmes that highlight the links between Western and non-Western musical traditions, broadening the horizons of classical music to reach a more diverse audience.
After sold-out noisenights performing solo and with his trio Chesaba, Abel is joined by The Bantu Ensemble to present music from his debut Warner Classics album ‘Where is Home’ (‘Hae Ke Kae’), which explores the African traditions and Western Baroque music that have shaped him.
abel selaocoe (cello and voice):
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is a rapidly rising star who is redefining the parameters of the cello. He moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from collaborations with world musicians and beatboxers, to concertos and solo performances.
read more
Selaocoe combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing and body percussion, and is devoted to composing works and curating programmes that highlight the links between Western and non-Western musical traditions, broadening the horizons of classical music to reach a more diverse audience. In 2023 he received the RPS Instrumentalist Award for his performances and collaborations which "blaze with creation, sending audiences home on a high".
In April 2022, following his hugely successful debut, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra announced Selaocoe as Artistic Partner for an initial three seasons from 2022/23. He is also Artist in Association with the BBC Singers and Artist in Residence at London's Southbank Centre for the 2022/23 season with performances there throughout the season, including an exclusive performance of his debut album Where is Home? (Hae Ke Kae - Warner Classics), which was released in September 2022. Further tour performances included Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Berliner Philharmonie, Kolner Philharmonie and Antwerp deSingel, among others.
Selaocoe premieres two new concerti in the 22/23 season; he gives the world premiere of a new double concerto for kora and cello with Seckou Keita and the Ulster Orchestra in March 2023, co-commissioned by Orchestre national de Bretagne, Ulster Orchestra and Southbank Centre, and the world premiere of his solo cello concerto, Four Spirits, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in March 2023, with subsequent US premiere with Seattle Symphony in April ‘23.
In 2016, Selaocoe formed Chesaba – a trio specializing in music from the African continent, including many of his own compositions. He enjoys close collaborations with musicians from a medley of genres, including Bernhard Schimpelsberger, Tim Garland, Seckou Keita, Giovanni Sollima, Dudu Kouaté, Famoudou Don Moye and Gwilym Simcock. He has a close partnership with Manchester Collective, with whom he devised the hugely successful Sirocco which has been enjoyed both live and digitally by audiences since 2019 and The Oracle, which toured the UK in 2022.
Selaocoe completed his International Artist Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music in July 2018. In May 2021, he was announced as an inaugural Power Up Music Creator participant in PRS Foundation’s new initiative to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector and in July 2021, he received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation award for his compositional work.
Abel Selaocoe is an exclusive recording artist with Warner Classics.
Rewards: standing tickets to noisenight43 at 8.30pm on Sunday 5 November 2023 in KOKO, London. First-come, first-served for the best views.
support us
Can't attend any of our upcoming noisenights but still want to support live music and be part of our crowdfunding community?
Your donation means that we can continue to attract the UK's best musicians to our noisenights series and push the boundaries of live classical music. It also means that we can keep our events guide independently curated and expand our mindmusic programme which promotes mental health and wellbeing in our local communities.
