FROM OUT A DARKER SEA

2014-2016

An evening of live music, visual art and film created for and inspired by East Durham

More than 200 people packed into St John’s Church in Seaham in August 2016 to see New York-based group Sō Percussion perform From Out A Darker Sea, a piece of music created for and inspired by the people of East Durham, commissioned by East Durham Creates and produced by Forma Arts.

Sō Percussion is a four-piece ensemble based in Brooklyn, New York, who have gained international recognition for their original compositions, percussion performances and education projects. The group spent time with local people, worked with students from East Durham College and collaborated with Amber Films on a new work, Song for Billy, which has grown out of Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen’s The Coal Coast photographs.

This unique event, inspired by the area, combined live music, visual art and film featuring personal memories of the past and hopes for the future.

Freddie Welsh, from Easington, took part in the sold-out performance and said: “I met Sō Percussion about four months back when they came to East Durham. I wasn’t nervous tonight, my wife, daughter and grandson were all here tonight and they loved it.” Freddie narrated part of the performance called Song for Billy, created in collaboration with Amber Films and which has grown out of Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen’s The Coal Coast photographs.

Adam Sliwinski from Sō Percussion said: “It was even more emotional for us than I thought it would be, mainly because of the people who were here. We were nervous about making this for a community of people and we were very moved by performing here tonight.”

Project partners:

— Commissioned by East Durham Creates and produced by Forma Arts

— Amber Film and Photography Collective

— Croftlea Care Home, Shotton

— Dawdon Youth and Community Centre

— Dene Community School

— Durham and Darlington Music Hub

— East Durham Artist Network

— East Durham College

— Greenhills Community Centre

— Heritage Coast Partnership

— Horden Youth and Community Centre

— Peterlee Youth Centre

— Rhubarb ’n’ Custard

— The Sage Gateshead

— Seaham Town Council

— Shotton Community Centre

— St John’s Church

— Wingate Cree & Gully House

— Youth Music