CONCERTS 2020/2021
Louis Tillett could play anywhere, at any time, and still stop you in your tracks" OLLY SHARWOOD Livid Festival, Brisbane, Oct 5, 1996
HISTORICAL & RECENT CONCERTS
LOUIS TILLETT
& THE LT3
Louis brings the core of his band The Art of Darkness to light in a new and exciting combo, as we premiere the LT3, and it’s combined experience of 100 years of live playing, right here in Marrickville. This is something you are unlikely to see on a regular basis.
Louis, with his trademark baritone vocals and blues/rock piano style, combines with John Maddox’ unique virtuosity on Bass and Colin Watson’s thoroughbred Guitar expertise and feel, to bring Louis’ repertoire into a dangerous new place. You may remember Louis from his dozen “solo” albums and pioneering improv ensembles like Paris Green, or his thunderous big bands, such as The Aspersion Caste. He has also been a featured pianist on recordings of such legendary Australian acts as Died Pretty, Beasts of Bourbon, Laughing Clowns, and Tex, Don & Charlie, and many others. In International circuits he is billed as the Rockpoet of The Night, and he is held in the same high esteem and written and filmed in the same publications and TV specials as his peers John Cale, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Tom Waits. UK Rolling Stone called him The Dark Giant.
He rarely plays in Australia, preferring to “ride on the tide and the wings of the wind”, as so much of his music alludes to, him being a full time sailor. After more than 2 years since The Art of Darkness last played, which filled The Factory Theatre in 2017 and 2015, this night will present a rare opportunity to catch Louis in an intimate and dynamic environment, where, keeping the band small and tight, each performance takes on it’s own life and direction, leaving all three players to leave the script, to allow them to take the music where it needs to go at that particular time. Louis Tillett, as a musician and a bandleader is synonymous with the Sydney Live and Underground music of the 80s, 90s and 00s. Come and find out why he is often touted as a National Living Treasure.
Louis, with his trademark baritone vocals and blues/rock piano style, combines with John Maddox’ unique virtuosity on Bass and Colin Watson’s thoroughbred Guitar expertise and feel, to bring Louis’ repertoire into a dangerous new place. You may remember Louis from his dozen “solo” albums and pioneering improv ensembles like Paris Green, or his thunderous big bands, such as The Aspersion Caste. He has also been a featured pianist on recordings of such legendary Australian acts as Died Pretty, Beasts of Bourbon, Laughing Clowns, and Tex, Don & Charlie, and many others. In International circuits he is billed as the Rockpoet of The Night, and he is held in the same high esteem and written and filmed in the same publications and TV specials as his peers John Cale, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Tom Waits. UK Rolling Stone called him The Dark Giant.
He rarely plays in Australia, preferring to “ride on the tide and the wings of the wind”, as so much of his music alludes to, him being a full time sailor. After more than 2 years since The Art of Darkness last played, which filled The Factory Theatre in 2017 and 2015, this night will present a rare opportunity to catch Louis in an intimate and dynamic environment, where, keeping the band small and tight, each performance takes on it’s own life and direction, leaving all three players to leave the script, to allow them to take the music where it needs to go at that particular time. Louis Tillett, as a musician and a bandleader is synonymous with the Sydney Live and Underground music of the 80s, 90s and 00s. Come and find out why he is often touted as a National Living Treasure.
March 2020 Concert Posters
Portrait of Louis Tillett by Chris McGirr. "The Other Shore".
"The Art Of Darkness"
The Art of Darkness
DEBUT Concert
@ The Factory Theatre
Sydney, Australia
Friday 13th March 2015
Louis Tillett and The Art Of Darkness (Photo: Nick Andrews)
James Greening. (Photo: Nick Andrews)
Matt Keegan, Andy Bickers, Stewart Kirwin, James Greening
Vertical Divider
John Maddox
|
Stewart Kirwin
|
Stewart Kirwin
|
John Maddox
|
Define "The Art Of Darkness"
Well, that's a difficult task, since it represents the meaning and the magic of Louis, the man, the music, and the people
with whom he has created his entire body of work, in recordings, and the Live experience.
But an attempt has been made to do just this at the bottom of the page.
with whom he has created his entire body of work, in recordings, and the Live experience.
But an attempt has been made to do just this at the bottom of the page.
Rachael Slattery
|
Jade Da Silva
|
Colin Watson
Louis Tillett and Rachael Slattery
L to R: Matt Keegan, Andy Bickers, Stewart Kirwin, James Greening, John Maddox, Nick Fisher, Sunil De Silva, Louis Tillett, Colin Watson, Rachael Slattery, Jade Da Silva (Sidestage).
Our thanks go to: Neil Stevenson, Christine Burrows, David Swain, Nick Andrews, and Serge Malev and his wife for most of the photos posted, of the Debut performance. Special thanks to Serge for the Video footage. And speaking of "footage"..thanks too to Caroline Burston
for her iPhone footage, featuring her beautiful shoe.
for her iPhone footage, featuring her beautiful shoe.
Videos and more pictures of this concert can be viewed on The Art of Darkness Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Art-of-Darkness-907347702622931/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Art-of-Darkness-907347702622931/
The Art of Darkness in Concert
And The Art of Darkness in Concert is....
Louis is a maestro of directing his impish spirit through the veil, and through these players who he seems to direct and channel into a swirling spatial and temporal sphere for the performance. With an expectant thrall, the band is magnetised.
The band is tight and focused, in the groove, listening, and feeling every bar, while they await the opportunity to explore new moments, where there is potential to go off-script and bring their own meaning to a cue to solo.
This is the magic known only by the true masters of Jazz and improvisation.
And these players ARE the greats, who have been humble enough to accept Louis' invitation to participate.
As they mind his cues with intensity and excitement, they find their powers melding, and the audience are given
an exponential push into that meeting place between two worlds.
The Art of Darkness IS that.
The edge of the seen and the unseen worlds.
Where you must FEEL your way...
Louis is a maestro of directing his impish spirit through the veil, and through these players who he seems to direct and channel into a swirling spatial and temporal sphere for the performance. With an expectant thrall, the band is magnetised.
The band is tight and focused, in the groove, listening, and feeling every bar, while they await the opportunity to explore new moments, where there is potential to go off-script and bring their own meaning to a cue to solo.
This is the magic known only by the true masters of Jazz and improvisation.
And these players ARE the greats, who have been humble enough to accept Louis' invitation to participate.
As they mind his cues with intensity and excitement, they find their powers melding, and the audience are given
an exponential push into that meeting place between two worlds.
The Art of Darkness IS that.
The edge of the seen and the unseen worlds.
Where you must FEEL your way...
The Art of Darkness players
Over a 3 hour concert, The Art of Darkness take the audience on a journey through parts of Louis' entire repertoire...from
Wet Taxis, Paris Green, and his Many Original Albums. In the debut concert in 2015, original players from these albums included James Greening,Stewart Kirwin, Jade Da Silva, Nick Fisher and Sunil de Silva. There were also players who you may have seen in previous lineups including Colin Watson, John Maddox, and Rachael Slattery.
And we welcomed Matt Keegan and Andy Bickers onboard.
Wet Taxis, Paris Green, and his Many Original Albums. In the debut concert in 2015, original players from these albums included James Greening,Stewart Kirwin, Jade Da Silva, Nick Fisher and Sunil de Silva. There were also players who you may have seen in previous lineups including Colin Watson, John Maddox, and Rachael Slattery.
And we welcomed Matt Keegan and Andy Bickers onboard.
In the most recent concert, (September 2017) the following musicians appeared.
Louis Tillett, Rachael Slattery, Colin Watson, John Maddox, James Greening,
Matt Keegan, Andy Bickers, Angus Gomm, Sunil de Silva, and Nick Fisher.
Louis Tillett, Rachael Slattery, Colin Watson, John Maddox, James Greening,
Matt Keegan, Andy Bickers, Angus Gomm, Sunil de Silva, and Nick Fisher.
RECENT CONCERTS
The Art of Darkness
in Concert
@The Factory Theatre
Friday 29th September 2017
Gallery
More photos and videos at The Art Of Darkness Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheARTofDarkness1/?ref=br_rs
https://www.facebook.com/TheARTofDarkness1/?ref=br_rs
What is the Art of Darkness?
It is everything Louis has been expressing all these years.
Through his music, his words, and his actions.
He walks on the edge of the shadows, balancing on the razor's edge of the dark and the light.
The saturated darkness is tantalising when light is refracted beneath the surface.
His images of watery, boundless worlds are appealing to the authentic self, engaging us due to our inherent fears
of drowning in life, and the great relief of drawing a life giving breath, when all seems lost.
He has undoubtedly been, at times, a deeply sad and complex character.
But his fearlessness and darkest humor always bring the listener relief, and a guilty pleasure,
by being able to revel in a shared, melancholic dance.
His ultimate need and his finest expression seems to be to pull us into his maelstrom,
so as to be able to throw us around and out the other side, thrust upwards from the edge of
'near death' and despair into another mood and state of mind.
A lifetime of pain as the outsider is the price he seems more than willing to pay,
for a genuine joy in feeling his audience is transformed.
Concerts
Counter from 22 July 2018
