Robert Stillman | Crosspiece

Event information

Robert Stillman is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from the northeast United States, currently based in Margate, UK. His music draws upon influences of Jazz, Minimalism, American Folk music, and experimental electronic music to create something that defies straightforward stylistic categorisation.

Stillman’s music takes the form of studio recordings (9 under his name), multi-media installations, and experimental radio broadcasts. His music has received praise from the Wire, Mojo, Aquarium Drunkard, Uncut, and Other Music, and has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 2, NTS, Worldwide FM, and WFMU, and included on playlists curated by Thom Yorke, Gilles Peterson, M.C. Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger), Bandcamp (Bandcamp New and Notable), and Norman Records.

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Crosspiece is the duo project of Theodora Laird and Caius Williams. Through both composed and improvised material, they examine the tensions and fragility of dualism.

Theodora Laird is a vocalist and multidisciplinary artist. Releases under her solo project feeo have received critical acclaim. Theodora's practice has involved in tandem with an interest in situating narratives within freely improvised music, specifically through frequent involvement in the GRAIN residency.

Caius Williams is a musician from London who plays the double bass, guitar, and bass guitar. He works in collaboration with others, alongside an ongoing solo project, and often works with improvisation.

Some projects include ‘Crosspiece’ (with Theodora Laird), a duo with guitarist Tara Cunningham, alongside recent performances or collaborations with Lifetones (Charles Bullen of This Heat), Steve Noble, feeo, Daniel O’Sullivan, Mark Sanders, Sachiko M, Tom Challenger, Maggie Nicols, Mark Wastell, amongst others.

Caius has been running the GRAIN series at Avalon Cafe in Bermondsey for the last 3 years, which is focussed on programming new and adventurous music and nurturing a growing community with cross-scene and cross-generational collaboration.