History

Music Orbit was set up in 2002 providing practitioners with platforms to showcase new work, and the chance to exchange ideas via live performances, networking evenings, professional development seminars, symposiums and workshops. Music Orbit reflects the diversity of approaches to creating new music flourishing outside of the mainstream, fostering emerging ideas and trends at the forefront of our ever-evolving musical language.

Music Orbit originated from within the iF Festival, one of London’s leading festivals dedicated to new music. From early beginnings showcasing new work at the glasshouse at Syon House (The Hothouse), the ‘Platform 21’ nights in the iF Festival, and later independently the ‘Sound-Out-Series’ at the Spitz, the network has grown gradually over the years. It now has a small management team and a growing range of partners and funders.

A cursory glance at the list of artists showcased in the last few years will give some idea of the diversity of the work of Music Orbit:

Horses Brawl, Hydrogen Jukebox, Olivia Chaney, Serafina Steer, Jest Mamo, Astrakan, Surge, NEM, North Sea Radio Orchestra, Sonver, Anomaly, Makeshift, Celinn, Juice, Curious Voice Duo, Jamie Woon, Jenny Roditi, Yumi Hara-Cawkwell, Linda Hirst, Wan Dan, Laura Moody, Elisabeth Walling, Verity Standen, Bunty, Mikhail Karakis, Harry Neve, Pete Moran, Natasha Lohan, Hereby A Scorecard, Diabolo, Anna Meredith, Cos Chapman, Jamie Smith, Misterlee, David Plans Casal, Sonia Paco-Rocchia, Mark Wingfield, Paul J Abbott, E:Laine, Roshi, Gagarin, Kin, Rory Simmons, Elisabeth Nygard, Robin Finker, Rus Pearson, James Allsopp, Julio d’Escriven, Paul Russell, Nick Sutton, Nico Bentley, Jo Thomas, Oli Mayne, Thanos Chrysakis, James O’Sullivan, Kerry Andrew, Paul Fretwell, Arco Collective, Matt McCormick, Paul Whitty, Joe Banks, Bash-O, Manu Delago, Christophe Pepe, DJ Grohs, Christian Forshaw, Tom Davis, Glistening Cogs, Paul Whitty, Ben Eshmade, Mercury Quartet, James Barralet, Gabriella Swallow, Ben Harper Quartet, Shiva Feshereki, Jo Thomas, Partial Gathering, Dan Goren, Ben Harper, Braindead Collective, Ben Crawley, Woodpecker Wooliams, Kay Grant, Oli Brice, Francesca Thompson, G Project, Dominic Murcott, Steve Beresford, Ian Harris, Simon Katan, Metapraxis, Andrew Gorman, Rarescale, Goodwin Quartet. 

Music Orbit is entering a new phase, extending its work across the UK with new partnerships, and a festival for 2012. As ever, it remains a resource for new ideas and new work and exists to be shaped by the artists creating new work.