8 Jun 2025
Mercury Songs
Emily Levy and Matthew Bourne
3pm: Loading Bay
Enjoy an experimental piece by a five-piece ensemble that recasts British folk traditions for today
Performer-composers Emily Levy and Matthew Bourne present a new work that recasts British folk traditions for today.
Award-winning performer-composers Emily Levy and Matthew Bourne’s new work for five-piece ensemble, with experimental orchestration and rich vocal textures.
Mercury Songs is inspired by Bradford-born Julia Varley, a 20th-century activist for women’s and worker’s rights. It is a subversive reimagining of British folk traditions in a post-#MeToo world.
About this event
This New Music Biennial 2025 event is free, but ticketed. Seating is unallocated and tickets don’t guarantee entry: admission is on a first-come, first-served basis for those with tickets. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
This event includes two performances of the same work and a short interview with the creative team in between the two, enabling audiences to experience the second performance with greater insight into the creative process.
About New Music Biennial
New Music Biennial is a three-day festival celebrating the best new music across all genres from the country’s most exciting composers – and in 2025, for the first time, it’s coming to venues around Bradford.
Partners
Past event
Were you at this event?
Complete our feedback form and let us know what you thought.
Share your feedback
Related Events
18 Sep 2025
BBC Introducing Showcase
See the best emerging spoken word musical talent from the Bradford area.
19 Sep 2025
CSL Poetry Shorts: Music & Lyrics
Explore the blurred lines between lyrics and spoken word, musicality and metre
19 Sep 2025
Antony Szmierek
Join critically acclaimed spoken-word artist and musician Antony Szmierek for an evening of infectious lyrics.
19 & 20 Sep 2025
RIDE!
Rap, dance and theatre combine in this powerful new work created with Gypsy and Traveller communities and the people of BD4.
20 Sep 2025
BBC Introducing Panel
Come and get involved in the BBC's platform for emerging talent, meet fellow artists and get advice on submitting your own music.
20 Sep 2025
