Sloth Racket / Evan Parker (Tickets now only available on the door)

Sloth Racket is a band of UK improvisers led by baritone saxophonist Cath Roberts, with Sam Andreae on alto saxophone, Anton Hunter on guitar, Seth Bennett on bass and Johnny Hunter on drums. They play Roberts’ compositions, combining written fragments with graphic notation to explore the balance between freedom and structure. The results are always different, and so far have ranged across musical territories taking in fiery free jazz, minimal improv textures and heavy riffs. 

Extra Normal first worked with Roberts in 2016 when she played a magnificent duo with Tullis Rennie at Canterbury’s Free Range.

While he has worked extensively in both large and small ensembles, Evan Parker is perhaps best known for his solo soprano saxophone music, a singular body of work that, in recent years, has centred around his continuing exploration of techniques such as circular breathing, split tonguing, overblowing, multiphonics and cross-pattern fingering. These are technical devices, yet Parker’s use of them is, he says, less analytical than intuitive; he has likened performing his solo work to entering a kind of trance-state. The resulting music is certainly hypnotic, an uninterrupted flow of snaky, densely-textured sound that Parker has described as “the illusion of polyphony”. Many listeners have indeed found it hard to credit that one man can create such intricate, complex music in real time. 

Extra Normal first hosted Parker in Ramsgate in 2015 when he performed Trance Map with turntablist Matt Wright at the inaugural Contra Pop Festival on Ramsgate beach. 

PLEASE NOTE: 

Arco Barco is located within a second floor maritime arch and the only access is via a steep external staircase. We’ve extensively looked into options to amend this staircase but unfortunately, given the historical nature of the building, we've been unable to come to a solution. We'd like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest apologies to anyone who might be restricted by this.

By purchasing a ticket(s) you accept that the premises has restricted entry which, is limited to a steep and high external staircase. You agree that you and your guests able to access the building safely and responsibly. When leaving the premises, you agree to descend the staircase backwards with both hands on the hand rails and that only one person must be on the staircase at any time.