PROJECT ARCHIVE
The archives contain some examples of collaborations with a number of different artists and organisations to produce multimedia installations, performances and CD-ROM works - for current and recent projects see Projects and Commissions
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 and earlier
The Maize Field - Rural Touring Theatre for young people (2006)
The Maize Field was a collaboration between the Cheshire Rural Touring Network, writer and director Pete Southcott, and Aidan as Composer/Musical Director. The play portrayed the lives of young people in a very rural part of Cheshire. It was developed in collaboration with a small group of young people and adults in Malpas, and toured all round Cheshire in the autumn of 2006. A second project is in development.
"Thought provoking and engaging" - Arts Council of England (North West)
Starting Point (2006)
A CD of ten songs created between 2005 - 2006 by members of Salford Start (an arts centre for people with mental health problems) - none of whom had recorded or performed before.
play excerpt of "Sunshine (Remix)" (1Mb)
2005Our Town (2005)
A large scale commission for Ellesmere Port Borough Council, in collaboration with John Lindley. 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, performed live in Ellesmere Port's new Civic Square.
play excerpt of "We Came To Work" (1.2Mb)
Musician in Residence, ID Project - Burnley (2004 - 2005)
Burnley is not high on the list of tourist destinations and recently its image has taken a downturn. The ID music project sought to reclaim the image of youth in Burnley from the racists, by developing the musical skills of young people from all sections of the community, and providing a safe venue for performance of new and original music of all styles at regular club nights at Burnley Mechanics'.
An enhanced audio CD was produced, featuring 12 songs and remixes and a music video (Every Street).
play "Every Street" (excerpt) (1.6Mb)
Collaborative Songwriting workshops with Visyon (2005)
Visyon, in Congleton, Cheshire is a mental health project that supports young people.
As part of a commission for World Mental Health Day 2004 this song was written in a day, and then performed in public. It was later recorded with members of Visyon
play "Head's Too Full" (excerpt) (572K)
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2004
Virtual Migrants (2004 and continuing)
A Manchester based association of digital artists who create work that examines race, migration and globalisation. We recently toured a set of works called 'Terminal Frontiers' to galleries in the UK (Glasgow, Derby, London and Plymouth). 'Exhale', a DVD and audio CD based on this tour will be available in the autumn of 2006. Full information on www.virtualmigrants.com/exhaleplay excerpt from soundtrack to "What If I'm Not Real"(456k)
Walking To The Future (2004)
Two residencies in the villages of Goostrey and Kelsall in Cheshire, with poet John Lindley and videomaker Heather James. A week was spent in each village interviewing residents and finding out what they thought the future of the village might be. From this site specific performances were produced, using songs, poetry and video projection.
play excerpt of "Swallows" (568K)
Time Moves On (2004)
A soundtrack album commissioned by Buxton Museum and Art Gallery to accompany their "Wonders of the Peak" exhibition. With story tellers, script by Gordon MacLellan, and additional music by Jaydev Mistry.play music from Time Moves On(556k)
Gamesley 1968 - 2004 (2004)
An interactive CD-ROM popular history of this Manchester overspill estate. It took a year to research and create, and contains over 50 video interviews, video and animation work by young people, and a 'Build Your Own Estate' game. With High Peak Community Arts.
Oh No...not another heritage film! (2004)
What does the idea of 'heritage' mean if you're young? What is the point of all those boring history lessons? Young people in Chapel En Le Frith in Derbyshire set about reclaiming the way the 'heritage industry' packages history. Winner of Best Community Project, Market Towns Awards, 2005
St James' Church (2004) An installation in New Mills with High Peak Community Arts that looked at the transition from winter to spring - it involved a performance timed to sunrise at the equinox. play soundtrack from St James' Church Installation (628k)
Cherwell Day Centre, Rochdale (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 at the Cherwell Centre for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Heywood, Rochdale. The project also involved developing a training programme for staff. This project built on work begun in 1992
play music from Cherwell Day Centre(600k)
GMMAZ, Tameside (2001 - 2002)
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
Open House
(2002)
Commissioned by Arts About Manchester as a report into access in ten of Manchester's
leading arts venues.
We Are Here (2002)
An educational interactive CD-ROM that looks at issues of asylum and immigration. Produced by Banner Theatre and Virtual Migrants. For more info contact www.virtualmigrants.com
Training Together, Connected (2002)
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.
play music from the Voices group(504k)
for more information contact www.connectedarts.co.uk
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Response (2002)
An installation in Wheelock School, Sandbach with artists John Lindley, Simone Cobbold, Sarah Nicholson and Tony Boddinar.
Produced as part of the Imprints project
play excerpt of soundtrack from Response(1.4Mb)
Dust Rising (2002)
Part of the Terminal Frontiers series of works with Virtual Migrants, this video was made in collaboration with groups of people seeking asylum and their allies. It looks at the use of the attack on the World Trade Centre on 11/9/01 to justify increasingly harsh treatment of asylum seekers.
play an excerpt from the Dust Rising soundtrack(468k)
Threads (2000)
Artistic Director for The Millenium Play for Mossley, Greater Manchester. The play used a variety of different media to look at the connections between the town's industrial heritage as a cotton town, and its present. In particular it looked at how the young and old people of the town see each other.
Something For Us (1998)
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.
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