A household name in her native Norway we are delighted to welcome vocalist Wenche Losnegård to perform in a brand new collaboration to celebrate St Cecilia’s day. This event always crosses cultures and musical genres and is part of our ongoing support of emerging musicians from outside the uk, reflecting an ongoing link we are developing with Norway in particular.

1816 was the year without a summer. 1816 is also a collaboration between bassist Audun Ellingsen and singer Wenche Losnegård. Some years ago they met in the dim jazz clubs of Oslo and started experimenting with the instrumentation of a bass and vocal duo. Later cello and drums were added to the palette, creating a richer, but still dark and unique sound bridging the gap between jazz and alternative pop. Their first single, The Message, is due to be released internationally on the 14th of October.

Wenche Losnegård is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, arranger and conductor with a broad span of musical interests ranging from contemporary classical, improvisation and jazz. Educated at the Norwegian Music Academy and having received numerous awards including the state scholarship in 2010-11, she now sings in the Norwegian folk band Eplemøya Songlag with whom she has released two critically acclaimed albums.

Audun Ellingsen is a versatile bassplayer working within and beyond the boundaries of jazz. He spent his youth playing in local rock bands on the west coast of Norway before he discovered jazz at age 16 and picked up the double bass. After studies at Leeds College of Music he moved back to Norway and established himself on the Norwegian scene recording and performing with various acts such as Froy Aagre, Kenny Wheeler, Andy Sheppart and Nils Petter Molvaer. He has also released two critically acclaimed albums with his own compositions with the band Audun Automat. www.audunellingsen.com

Gregor Riddell plays the cello and writes music. He is a member of numerous ensembles including the Solstice Quartet, Tre Voci, Sohm, Living Room in London, BirdWorld and Odysseus Piano Trio with whom his has performed extensively across Europe. Recent commissions include the London Contemporary Orchestra, Asamisimasa Ensemble and a double cello concerto premiered in La Paz (Bolivia). Gregor curates Revolve at the Union Chapel (London) where he has featured and collaborated with a broad span of artists including a co-directed event filmed by NTS Live Radio Station alongside visuals by Haroon Mirza. He is currently developing an Oslo-based digital radio station that aims to highlight a spectrum of contemporary music taking place across Scandinavia. www.gregorriddell.com