£5 tickets available for those who need them - no questions asked
Do you like cinematic music? Vangelis? Synth epics? Philip Glass? This is the event for you!
Experimental musicians Son Zept and Xenia Pestova Bennett transform Portico's church into an immersive multi-sensory dome, blurring past, present and future by combining the venue’s iconic pipe organ with surround-sound live electronics, video projections and spectacular pro laser lighting in a mind-opening and body-tingling experience like no other!
“A brilliantly free-thinking and fearless pianist” VERITY SHARP, BBC RADIO 3
“Dynamic energy but also crystalline precision… brilliant playing” BERNARD CLARKE, RTE NOVA (IRELAND)
“…my heartfelt thanks for the beautiful, thoughtful and subtle performance of those two pieces. Red Mesa sounded so resonant, and meditative, spacious. RCSC full of energy and surprises. I feel so lucky to have them under your very sensitive hands, channeled through your mind.” ANNEA LOCKWOOD, COMPOSER
“Xenia Pestova is a concert pianist with a difference, an uncompromising artist resolutely committed to bringing the music of living composers to life and who enthusiastically embraces the potential new technologies offer to her particular realm of activity…” TEXTURA
Described as “a powerhouse of contemporary keyboard repertoire” (Tempo), pianist and composer Xenia Pestova Bennett has earned an international reputation as a leading proponent of uncompromising music. Her work spans a wide range of sound worlds, styles and genres from classical to contemporary art music, free improvisation, experimental electronica and avant-pop.
Since receiving the unanimous First Prize at the Xavier Montsalvatge International Piano Competition in Girona, Spain and prizes at the Messiaen International Piano Competition in Paris and the KeriKeri Piano Competition of New Zealand, Xenia has performed in over 20 countries - at international festivals, in concert halls, tropical rainforests, caves, ponds and countless weird and wonderful venues and spaces. She explores classical music boundaries with electronics, toy pianos, synthesizers and the magical and mysterious Magnetic Resonator Piano.
Find out more at XeniaPestovaBennett.com
Son Zept, also known as Dr Liam McCartan, having gained his PhD in Composition in Sonic Arts in 2022, has been gaining a reputation as Belfast’s Aphex Twin for some years now. He is an electronic compositional polymath, displaying a melting pot of influences assembled from deconstructing multiple electro genres including hardcore, house, minimalism and grunge and then reconfiguring and transforming works into his own personal reassembling into what he describes as ‘Post-Club’ music.
Son Zept has released a mini-album trilogy, the first of which, ‘A’ was heralded with much admiration: “Immense and rewarding with more than enough delicacy and emotional poise to ensure it stands out” (DJ MAG).
For this gig, Son Zept has created a visual as well as audio composition, combining electronic and organ(ic) sounds with the natural reverberation of Portico's heritage venue.
10% off in selected local hospitality when you attend any event at Portaferry's Feel Good Festival 1-10 March.
Just show your ticket to claim:
10% off accommodation at The Schoolhouse, Portaferry
10% off the Pre-Theatre menu on Fridays and Saturdays at The Bull and Claw, Portaferry
10% off your first drink at Dumigan's Bar - just a 5 minute walk from the Portico of Ards where all the events and activities take place.
If there are enough people requiring transport we can put on a bus or two... get in touch with paula@porticoards.com and tell us where you need transport from!
Supported by Lottery Project Funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Supporting arts and heritage across the borough
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