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BIOGRAPHY

Current And Forthcoming Work |Reviews | Recordings and Publications | Full CV

Publicity Shot of Aidan

Current and forthcoming work

I am a musician, songwriter/composer and multimedia artist, taking inspiration from world wide cultural movements, and the history, identity and undocumented stories of particular communities and environments. I am involved in touring, performing, events, community plays, and multimedia production, and have released two well reviewed CDs of original songs, ‘System Fault’ (2006) and 'State Of Hysteria' (2008) (distributed by Proper music). See the diary for information on touring and events, see the commissions page for details of recent work.

I am currently a resident Musician with B-Arts in Stoke-on-Trent, on the ‘Growing Hearts and Minds’ project, creating a song cycle and a series of
performances with a variety of participants looking at the connection between mental health and the environment.

I am also working on a music project with people who have been victims of torture, in partnership with Musicians Without Borders UK and the North West branch of the Medical Foundation For The Care Of Victims Of Torture. This project is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Lankelly Chase Trust, and is leading up to a performance of original songs and music written by the participants at the Imperial War Museum North in September 2011, as well as the production of a ‘radio ballad’.

I am a core member of Virtual Migrants, a Manchester based Digital Arts Association that explores issues of race, migration and globalisation. Our current project is ‘The Centre Cannot Hold’, an installation and series of live performances and debates, exploring the links between climate change and colonial processes. This began at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol, as part of ‘CWords’, curated by Platform (October and November 2009) and continued in partnership with the Research Institute of Cosmopolitan Cultures, Manchester University, resulting in a performance and film showing as part of Manchester Science Festival in October 2010. Our previous work ‘Terminal Frontiers’, toured the UK and abroad between 2004 - 2007. For more information see For more information see www.virtualmigrants.com.

I have been freelance since 1992, and from 1993 – 2000 was a member of Banner Theatre. I act as an occasional trainer and technical advisor, most recently for St Helens MBC, for whom I have delivered training in running music workshops, and songwriting workshops.

To contact me about any of the above projects please email contact[a]aidanjolly.com



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Selected Reviews
State Of Hysteria (2008)
"This is another fine album. The sound has a more international feel than before thanks very much to the contribution of Jilah Bakhshayesh who takes lead vocal on the superb title track & plays violin & kamanche” **** Rock n Reel
"A powerhouse songwriter with a big heart and a great voice" - Birmingham Post
"With commitment and concern oozing from every word, the album undeniably hits home" - Net Rhythms
"Manchester based roots musician Aidan Jolly has crafted a fine acoustic folk album with the added spice of the Anglo/Iranian connection" - Classic Rock Society
"Aidan is a fine folk singer, and has a great gift of crafting a good song" - Maverick
"Aidan writes and sings with great passion and I found this album quite riveting. Ms Bakhshayesh's spine-chilling performance on the title track is outstanding, but that's the word I'd use to describe the whole album” - The Folk Diary
System Fault (2006)
“The focus of this album is firmly on the impact this world has on ordinary people and the lives they lead. Quite brilliantly handled - a unique piece of work” Hi Fi + 9/10
“ ‘System Fault’ is a grower album, both musically & lyrically, & well worth the listen” ROCK’n’REEL ****
"Passion, conscience, intelligence" MAVERICK MAGAZINE ***
“An immensely accomplished product, especially so for a debut singer-songwriter. Aidan's extremely capable in both departments, and his work is enviably genre-defying, covering many bases: polished” NET RHYTHMS
“A very well crafted CD with some great ideas and production by an obviously very talented individual” MUSIC MAKER
"Impassioned, community-centred - [this] powerful set will appeal to the chill-out audience and traditional folk/rockers alike" Musician Magazine
“A good line in sardonic humour & righteous anger, & he allies this to strong reggae & Asian-influenced grooves & some good tunes - an agit-folk poet for the masses” Americana UK
"Looks like the bloke running the greengrocers - sounds like world music sung by Ian Dury" Manchester Music/BBC Radio Manchester
“Fits very well into the folk scene" BBC Radio Merseyside
"Aidan Jolly's music is passionate, accessible and an absolute inspiration to listen to. Catch him when you can!" Ann Nicholls, Raise Your Banners Festival, Norwich 2005
Projects
“The community history of the town comes across – the town is a system which continues and evolves. It’s realistic, but affectionate. It’s not soppy, on occasions it’s quite hard. I can use it to differentiate the town; it’s not a corporate video. It makes us unique and that’s great’ Steve Cranmer, Ellesmere Port and Neston Regeneration Officer about “Our Town”
"Aidan worked with Middlewich Vision during the Folk and Boat Festival to record the sounds of the Festival and people's views on Middlewich as a place to live or visit. I was delighted at the CD produced, which accurately recorded the sounds and atmosphere of the Festival and contained a factual but entertaining recording of what people thought of Middlewich. The CD has been used to bring to life a long factual report on people's aspirations for our Town" Stephen Dent, Chairman of the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival and Project Manager for Middlewich Vision.
“The piece was thought provoking and engaging. The multi-layered story depicted a range of contemporary issues effecting young people within rural communities and was remarkably well told. Sprinkles of humour and bursts of song created a lighter spin on darker and more sinister moments. Indeed, the deliberative style that highlighted contemporary social issues, such as broken families, incarcerated family members and the crude stereotyping of class-based assumptions, was well executed and performed”. Claire Garrett, Arts Council England, about the Maize Field.
Terminal Frontiers
“A hybrid of sounds and voices evoking east and west, fragility and resilience…..memorable and passionate” Art Monthly (for Terminal Frontiers)

"Evocative, metaphorical and at times quite poetic" Guardian
"The emotional and political truth is searing" The List, Glasgow
“A challenging work of art that’s incomparable across the city” City Life
“Compelling” Metro News
We Are Here
"A long awaited educational tool which creates a better understanding of the explosive phenomenon of people struggling to gain legal status in Britain"
- Arun Kundnani, Institute of Race Relations.
"I felt that the whole tone was straightforward and non-patronizing so I could definitely see myself using it with youth groups with which I have been associated"
- Ursula Sharma, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit.
"We Are Here is an invaluable resource for secondary schools, clearly setting out the context and the issues that face families who are seeking political asylum in the UK. The content is easily accessible for young people and could form the basis of a PSHE lesson."
- Pinaki Ghoshal, Head of Manchester Ethnic Minority Achievement Service.
Life On Earth
“A good beat coupled with catchy tunes and superb lyrics” - Making Music.
Techno Prisoners
“Commedia dell’Arte meets the space age....a dazzling production” - The Scotsman.
“Whole Thing” Schools Music Workshop
“It developed confidence and broke down preconceptions about what ‘singing’ involves” - Blackpool Collegiate High School.
Saltley Gate
“A moving, involving performance” - Folk Roots.
Sweat Shop (Touring Production)
“Sharp, aggressive, funny, moving” - Mailout.

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RECORDINGS, EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS
Recordings
(Only recordings with writing and performance credits are listed)
2008 Aidan Jolly (with Jilah Bakhshayesh, Jaydev Mistry and Martin Milner) “State Of Hysteria”
2007 Aidan Jolly “The Ghost Of A River And The Soul Of A Stone” - download
2006 Aidan Jolly and guests, with Glossopdale Community College "The War Road"
2006 Aidan Jolly "System Fault"
2004 Aidan Jolly, Jaydev Mistry, Gordon MacLellan "Time Moves On"
2003 Aidan Jolly “Contraflow”
2000 Voices “Expressions”
1998 Banner Theatre “Songs From Fortress Europe”
1995 Banner Theatre “Sweat Shop”
1994 The Iron Clowns “Colour Of Danger”
1993 Stockport Health Authority “Relaxation Tape”
1993 Banner Theatre “Saltley Gate”
1991 The Iron Clowns “Tidings”
1991 Life On Earth “Whose Idea Was It Anyway?”
1989 Life on Earth “You Are Here”
1986 Quirk Of Fate “Behind Bars”
DVDs/Videos
2008 “Ridge Hill – A People’s History” – an interactive DVD and book looking at a working class estate in Stalybridge, Cheshire
2007 Virtual Migrants "Exhale"
2007 Aidan Jolly, Heather James, Dave Dove "Dandelion"
2006 “Our Town” – Ellesmere Port tells its own story (with John Lindley)
2004 “Spotlight On Kelsall” (With John Lindley and Heather James)
2004 "Oh no - not another heritage film!" - young people in Chapel En Le Frith examine their past present and future
2002 Virtual Migrants “Dust Rising” - refugees speak about the impact of September 11th 2001
2000 High Peak Community Arts “One Way Out”
2000 Threads “Old ‘n’ New ‘n’ Mekkin’ Do”
1999 High Peak Community Arts “Something For Us”
1998 Community Arts North West “Frihydey Night”
1997 Banner Theatre “In Black and White”
Exhibitions (with virtual migrants)
2009 Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol – “The Centre Cannot Hold” – installation, debates and performances
2007 Siggraph 2007 - University of San Diego, California - "Terminal Frontiers" and live music collaborations with Discos Invisibles, James Ilgrenfritz and Fabio Oliveira
2005 Plymouth Arts Centre – “What If I’m Not Real” interactive installation
2005 Watermans Arts Centre London – “What If I’m Not Real” interactive installation
2004 Street Level Gallery Glasgow – “What If I’m Not Real” interactive installation
2004 Q Gallery Derby – “What If I’m Not Real” interactive installation
2002 The ICA London (New Media Centre) – “What If I’m Not Real” interactive installation (for Virtual Migrants’ “Terminal Frontiers” exhibition)
2002 Castlefield Gallery Manchester – “What If I’m Not Real” multi-screen installation (for Virtual Migrants’ “Terminal Frontiers” exhibition)
This whole programme also involved live interpretations of the soundtrack, composed by Aidan Jolly with Jilah Bakhshayesh, involving musicians from a number of different backgrounds. This is fully documented (with live recordings) on the ‘Exhale’ audio CD.
CD-ROMs
2004 "Gamesley 1968 - 2004" - an interactive history of a Manchester overspill estate
2003 “We Are Here Because You We There” - an educational CD-ROM for schools about issues of asylum and immigration (published by Virtual Migrants and Banner Theatre, revised from 2001).
2002 “Open House” - an interactive report commissioned by Arts About Manchester concerning accessibility in ten major Greater Manchester Arts Venues.
Publications
2000 Dangerous Wallpaper: Pop Culture, Popular Cultures and Community Music.
Published in “Community Music and New Technology” Ed: Lee Higgins, LIPA

I am a very occassional contributor to magazines such as Mailout

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FULL CV


Selected Projects

Recent Work
‘Born Into A Different Age’ (2010)
, a commissioned piece of music (based on workshops) exploring the connections between young and old people for
Staffordshire County Council Arts Service and Age Concern Stafford and District (performed with an intergenerational choir of almost 100 people at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre in May 2010).
Songwriter, Unknown Discoveries, (2010)
– an exploration of the legacy of Joy Division, as part of the Unknown Pleasures festival. Three community groups were involved in writing their own music as a response to tracks from Joy Division’s album ‘Unknown Pleasures’. The groups involved were the Wishing Well after school club, Crewe, Members of the Mayfield Day Centre, and Members of Macclesfield Eye Society. The tracks will shortly be available to listen to on www.joydivisionexhibition.com
In 2008 I toured as the Musical Director, Song Writer/Composer and Musician for ‘Cross Your Heart', by Janys Chambers. This play used the same techniques as ‘The Maize Field’ (below) to portray the lives and concerns of young people living in the less glamourous parts of Cheshire. A group of young people were fully involved in developing all aspects of the production. The process was documented by film maker Lucia Cuevas, and will soon be available on DVD.
In 2007 I wrote the music and songs and was the Musical Director the performance project 'On Common Ground', a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout in 1932. Working with local people and writer Caroline Small and Director Phil Coggins, we produced and performed a play about land issues. The play was featured on BBC One and Radio 4.
I also wrote a musical and documentary ‘audio trail’, ‘The Ghost Of A River’, which examined settlement, industry and the environment around Nether Padley Gorge, Grindleford, commissioned by Moors for the Future, which can be downloaded free and was recommended by the Guardian newspaper’s ‘Great Outdoors’ supplement in Summer 2007.
I have been working with Wear Purple (Age Concern’s arts project) in Cheshire and video artist Heather James, to create a music and video DVD, ‘Dandelion’, that looks at how elders reflect on their lives, based on conversations with elders throughout the county.
In 2006 I worked with young people at Glossopdale College in Glossop, Derbyshire. They have been investigating the causes and consequences of war, by interviewing veterans and refugees from wars since World War Two. The resulting CD of songs, called ‘The War Road’, based on documentary material, was launched in September 2006. This project was part of the 'Their Past, Your Future' project, and was managed by High Peak Community Arts.
In autumn 2006 I toured as the Musical Director, Composer and Musician for 'The Maize Field', by Peter Southcott. This was a play for audiences 13 years old and above based on extensive collaborative work with young people from Malpas in Cheshire. It took a dramatic look at the lives of young people in very rural areas. The music comprised both songs and a ‘filmic’ score, developed in collaboration with young people.
In 2005 I carried out a large-scale commission for Ellesmere Port Borough Council, in collaboration with writer John Lindley. Called 'Our Town', it used songs, video and documentary material, and poetry to tell the story of the town in the words of the people who live there. It was premiered on 9th December 2005, performed in Ellesmere Port's new Civic Square. It is now available as a DVD.
In 2005 I visited the community of Nueva Esperanza, in El Salvador, where in collaboration with Music For Hope, I recorded local Cumbia and Andino bands.

Other Projects
Salford Start 2005 - 2006 - Starting Point CD - Salford,
working with members of Salford Start to produce a CD of songs written and performed by them, based on their experiences and stories of life in Salford.
Young Travellers' Music Project 2005 - Middlewich,
working with young travellers to produce two CDs of songs (in very different styles)- funded by Congleton Borough Council, with support from the Travellers' Education Service and Microchips.
ID project 2004 - 2005 - musician-in-residence for Burnley Youth Theatre
, working with a wide range of young people to enable them to write and produce a recording of songs and music about the area. The resulting CD was launched at the Burnley Mechanics in May 2005. Available on request.
'WalkingTo The Future' 2004 - two residencies in rural Cheshire
in collaboration with videomaker Heather James and poet John Lindley (Poet Laureate of Cheshire 2004). Culminated in site-specific multimedia performances involving songs, video projection and poetry. A DVD and CD of these projects is now available on request.
Director, "Oh no..not another heritage film!"
- young people in Chapel look at their past, present and future", for High Peak Community Arts. 2004
Artist, Gamesley 1968 - 2004 - an interactive CD-ROM oral history of a Manchester overspill estate. Includes a video made by young people, 3 Quick Halves, about alcohol use and abuse. For High Peak Community Arts, 2003 - 2004
Resident musician at the Mulberry Centre for adults with Learning Difficulties in Chester. 2003 - 2004
Musician-in-Residence Imprints project, for Congleton Borough, Cheshire, 2002 - 2003, working with a wide range of people, wrote, produced and performed a recording of songs and music (“Contraflow”) about the area.
Buxton Art Gallery and Museum, 2003, commissioned to write and produce a sound interpretation of their permanent exhibition “The Wonders Of The Peak”.
Cherwell Centre for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Heywood, Rochdale. From January 2002 to June 2003. As part of a New Audiences project with Cartwheel Community Arts, I was musician-in -residence helping adults with learning disabilities create and record a CD. The project also involved developing a training programme for staff. This project built on work begun in 1992.
Virtual Migrants, ‘Terminal Frontiers’, a multimedia exploration of issues of asylum and immigration, which involved collaborations with schools, asylum seekers and refugees, and a group of artists. I composed the score for this Installation, which premiered at the Castlefield Gallery, Manchester in September and October 2002. It will be touring the UK in 2004.
Greater Manchester Music Action Zone. From 2001 - 2002 I was joint co-ordinator of the Tameside part of this large scale music project, which culminated in the production of a CD, Rising Songs.
Community Arts NorthWest/Big Issue In The North, ‘Broken Planet’ performance project - multimedia worker and technical director working with vendors to produce a play with music and video and animations, performed at the Contact Space 1 in September 2001, then toured to the Unity Theatre, Liverpool and Merlin Theatre, Sheffield.
Threads, large scale Millennium project centred around the Youth Base in Mossley. Artistic Director. Oral history workshops, video, sound and music production with young people led to community play (‘Old ‘n’ New ‘n’ Mekkin’ Do) based around recorded experiences of elders. Performed at Mossley Hollins High School in November 2000. Employed by CAN, collaborated with Tameside Youth Service and All Saints Church.
Community Arts NorthWest/Big Issue In The North, ‘Nightmare On Oldham Street’ performance project - drama worker and technical director working with vendors to produce a play with music and video, performed at the Contact Space 2 in January 2000
Connected, Oldham, lead artist in the Training Together programme with groups of mental health workers, artists and service users. Resulted in a live performance in December 1999 and subsequent release of a CD (Voices) in May 2000.
Banner Theatre, Birmingham and Virtual Migrants, Manchester, “We Are Here Because You Were There” Educational CD-ROM dealing with issues of Asylum and Immigration. Completed in 1999, revised with Virtual Migrants 2001, revised again 2003.
City College Manchester, Tutor in New Technology and Community Arts, HND/HNC Module in Community Arts 1st Diploma Course. 1998 - 2000.
High Peak Community Arts, New Mills, Advocacy and Arts project for Rural Community Council and Derbyshire Youth Service, culminating in a video “Something For Us?”, about needs of young people in Rural Areas, January to December 1998.
Banner Theatre, Birmingham, Producer, Engineer, Songwriter, Arranger and Performer on “Songs From Fortress Europe”, Summer 1998
Banner Theatre, Birmingham, Project Manager, Researcher, Songwriter, Tour Manager and Performer for “Redemption Song” (National Tour January to November 1997).


SKILLS
Digital
Computer Literate (WP and DTP) and Audio Visual skills, including Word, Photoshop, In-Design, Director, Sibelius, Logic, Cubase, Reason. I am familiar with both Macs and PCs.
Technical
PA Systems/Sound Engineering/Production and Recording
Small Scale Theatre Lighting and Projection Systems (Slide and Video)
Music
Vocals, Guitar, Symphonie, Bazouki, Mandolin, Bass, Keyboards
Administrative
Chairing meetings, Preparing reports, Managing budgets, Fundraising, Tour organising, Basic accounting and book-keeping
Other
Some group work skills, Driving Licence
Professional Bodies
I am a member of the Musician’s Union.
I am a member of Sound Sense, The National Association For Community Music
Member, Performing Rights Society
Member, PPL

Education
Certificate in Community Arts from Manchester Polytechnic.
2;1 Degree in Politics and Philosophy from Oxford University.
4 ‘A’ Levels.
12 ‘O’ Levels.

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