For one night only, artist duo Polina Medvedeva and Andreas Kühne (NL/NO) will transform The Old Market with an immersive performance and cinematic experience. Live-mixing documentary footage with sound art, the artists will perform alongside three of the city’s outstanding musicians: Phonetic, Marshall Mandiangu and Bobbie Johnson.

This 360 event is a new, re-worked presentation of the 2021 performance of The Informals II, co-commissioned by Lighthouse and Brighton Festival, and developed out of a Re-Imagined residency at Lighthouse in 2019, during which artists Polina and Andreas set out to explore and document Brighton’s sub-cultures and youth cultures.

POLINA MEDVEDEVA works within the intersection of film, installation and performance, portraying individuals or communities who exist by circumventing political prohibitions, societal stereotypes, and effects of economic crises and conflicts. Questioning linearity in storytelling, she explores formats that allow for nuance and multiplicity of narratives. Her focus on the tactics of civil disobedience and mechanisms of vernacular resilience – improvised, passed through generations as oral histories, smuggled in through migration – speaks of the (im)possibilities of existing within while being against systems of oppression. Medvedeva was a resident at Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten 2020-2022, with works exhibited i.a. at Stedelijk Museum, Bergen Kunsthall, WIELS, Al-Ma’mal, Sonic Acts and LIAF.

Sound artist ANDREAS KÜHNE utilises electroacoustic music, collaborative audiovisual performances and interactive installations to explore non-idiomatic field improvisation as a methodology for interdisciplinary and site-specific art production, presentation and participation. Kühne’s work has been exhibited and performed at HYBRID Biennale (DE), Baltic Circle Festival (FI), Sonic Acts Festival (NL), Inversia Festival (RU), Lofoten International Art Festival (NO), Lighthouse (UK). He is a research fellow at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø.

PHONETIC is an artist who is already synonymous with Brighton’s thriving hip hop scene – thanks to her skills on the mic, combined with her unwavering creative drive. That drive and talent go way beyond her 25 years and they are good signifiers as to why she has already earned support slots for a number of notable artists and acts, including Rag’N’Bone Man, Children of Zeus, Skinnyman, LEVELZ, Dr Syntax and Amy True. Phonetic continues to build her career with more live shows and collaborations, as well as her very first solo project – The Dictionary of Proverbs LP – which promises to launch into the UK scene and beyond.

BOBBIE JOHNSON is a Rapper/Producer coming out of the sunny seaside city Brighton (UK). Her work spans conscious thought and social commentary, as showcased on her latest EPs ‘You & I’ and ‘The Defier’. Over the past few years, she has been supporting the likes of Rag’N’Bone Man, Roots Manuva, The Pharcyde + many many more, and played festival stages around the UK and Europe. She has gained the nickname of ‘Rapping Adele’ – increasing her fan base with every show she commands, promoting the new age voice of hip hop.

MARSHALL MANDIANGU is a multi-talented singer, rapper, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. With his diverse skill set and immense passion for music, he has garnered recognition as a 4-time award-nominated artist. The enigmatic musical alter egos of Marshall Mandiangu (M.Kudo the singer, CM17 Sho Sho the rapper), seamlessly combine the celestial influences of astrology with the raw emotions of love and vulnerability. As a singer, Marshall effortlessly weaves introspective lyrics with infectious melodies, painting vivid portraits of human connection and the intricacies of relationships. As a rapper, Marshall delves into a mysterious and ethereal realm, captivating listeners with his enigmatic storytelling and atmospheric production. Together, these aliases create a unique musical experience that transcends genres, inviting audiences to explore the depths of their own emotions while getting lost in the cosmic melodies crafted by this extraordinary artist.

Part of TOM’s immersive gig season - live music and 360 degrees of digital projections for audiences to experience gigs in a whole new way. Find out more here.

• Tuesday, 12 December 2023
• 7:15pm - 10pm
• The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove, BN3 1AS (map)
• Age: Parental guidance, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Trigger warnings: Flashing lights, explicit language, upsetting content including mentions of suicide (Suicide prevention resources and help: https://www.prevent-suicide.org.uk/find-help-now/ | Samaritans Call 116 123)

Presented by Lighthouse, AudioActive, Progress Films and The Old Market, with support from Arts Council England, Chalk Cliff Trust and Mondriaan Fund

Funders & Sponsors