Similarly to Canongate with Bookslam, publisher, Faber & Faber, have long been focusing on driving sales of their music biographies through the Faber Social, using performance and experience to build on their brand, and book sales, exhibiting music and literature using often fresh and dynamic means.
At the end of this month there is yet to be a lively, extended Faber Social which will see a whole plethora of prolific musicians, authors, actors and directors at the House of St. Baranbas, the chapel located near Soho Square in London. Instead of playing host to an evening in The Social, Faber Social’s regular venue, this exciting Social, curated by Andrew Weatherall, DJ and producer, will take place on Saturday 29th March over the course of the day and night, adding a taste of festival, which is not unlikely, as those that organise the young festival in Wales, Festival No. 6 are also involved.
Similar to the Hwyl gig that the Green Man Festival organisers recently brought to London for St. David’s Day, there is an element here of elevating the hype for Festival No. 6 (as well as raising the profile for Faber Social) with the focus of a day festival in the country’s capital.
With names on the line-up such as CAN’s Irmin Schmidt, Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, Alexis Taylor (renowned for his work with electronic band Hot Chip) and Bob Stanley, of St Etienne fame (but who also recently had published Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, the Story of Modern Pop), we can have high expectations for this Faber fest. It is certainly a day which caters for those that have an eclectic ear for music, but looking at those in their thirties with a line-up that includes many from bands of the ‘90s.
An artistic extravaganza, the focus will subside from music alone, as this forms part of the Faber Social’s Cultural Series, the day is the first in collaborative efforts (as aforementioned with Festival No. 6 and the House of St. Barnabas, which has seen musicians such as Slow Club play recently). And as he finishing up his year- long inaugural artist in residence post with Faber Social, it seems appropriate that Andrew Wetherall should curate this cultural line-up, showcasing the talents of an astounding horde.
Bob Stanley, Alexis Taylor, Irmin Schmidt and Green Gartside will perform alongside journalist, Emma Warren, author Michael Smith, musician Cian Nugent, conductor Joe Duddell, writer and actress Sophie Parkin and more that are still to be confirmed.
Despite the prolific musician names added to the line-up it is key to consider Michael Smith’s contribution to this day of cultural happenings as Weatherall and Smith recently worked together in 2013 with Weatherall composing the soundtrack to Faber novel Unreal City at a previous Social. Fused and compacted into a special edition, juxtaposing the prose with the art, film work and music of DJ Weatherall, the pages of this special ‘Weatheralled’ edition were unbound and held in a sleeve, embracing an innovative, quirky level of synergising.
Obviously, this artful juxtaposition will be rife on 29th March at the St. Barnabas but it intrigues me on how they decide to package this day, should you step into the chapel in the book, or read between the lines underneath the sheet music. Well, well, well, as Faber are presently publishing books such as Bob Stanley’s (@rocking_bob on Twitter) Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, the Story of Modern Pop, it is notable that they themselves are desperate for a mention, as they appear to be flexing their creative autonomy and imaginatively coalescing the creative industries together, in one timely package. I will not be short of disappointed if they do not at least endeavour to put the same spin on this curated day of acclaimed and credible artists representing the various nooks and crannies of the creative industries.
Tickets are priced at £30 for the day and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/andrew-weatheralls-social-tickets-10673579965
And here is Andrew’s exclusive mix for the event
http://fabersocial.co.uk/2014/02/andrew-weatheralls-mixtape/
