Preview: Denovali Swingfest London

We're pleased to announce The Arts Desk is a media partner of the Denovali Swingfest London on 20 and 21 April at London's The Scala. It's a good match, as Swingfest and the Denovali label, like The Arts Desk refuse to acknowledge artificial boundaries between “high” culture, the avant-garde and grassroots electronic and club music.

Denovali Swingfest has taken place annually since 2007 in Essen, Germany but 2013 sees it expanding to take in weekends in Berlin and London. The Scala event is headlined by Andy Stott, the Mancunian techno powerhouse who in recent years has tended towards a slower, high-tech gothic sound of dizzying scale, and William Basinski, whose Disintegration Loops recordings remain an experimental music landmark.

Elsewhere there is pianist / violinist Poppy Ackroyd, soundscape composer Bersarinn Quartet, post-My Bloody Valentine builder of layered guitar and electronic textures Fennesz, and darkly witty post-rock band Pirate Ship Quintet. A free 22-track sampler is available to stream or download for free from Denovali's site. 

Listen to the Swingfest sampler featuring all artists on the lineup: