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New European Songbook: United Kingdom / Matthew Herbert and Arian Sadr

The New European Songbook is an international creative collaboration that celebrates the new music arising from a continent in flux. Six European countries have co-produced this unique project. The second collaboration from the United Kingdom is between prolific music producer Matthew Herbert and Iranian fusion musician Arian Sadr.

Matthew Herbert, from the UK, is a prolific and accomplished musician, artist, producer and writer whose range of innovative works extends from numerous albums to Ivor Novello nominated film scores (Life in a Day) as well as music for theatre, Broadway, TV, video games and radio.

Arian Sadr from Iran plays Tonbak (Persian goblet drum) and Daf (a circular frame drum) and has performed with Music Action International at the End Sexual Violence in Conflict event (hosted by Angelina Jolie), with musicians from BBC Philharmonic and Manchester International Roots Orchestra.

Film directors: Akinola Davies Jr and Neila Czermak.

Composed by Matthew Herbert / Vocals by Heidi Vogel / Percussion by Arian Sadr / Lyrics by Azita Ghahreman

Produced and mixed by Matthew Herbert at human jerky

New European Songbook: Concerts at the EIF

At this year’s EIF, established UK artists like Karine Polwart and Matthew Herbert joined fellow European artists, and others recently arrived on the continent, for two nights of new music.

Both New European Songbook concerts, which took place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August 2017, are available to watch in full on-demand alongside individual highlights from some of the acts.

The New European Songbook