Manchester Collective explore rhythm and musical embodiment with ‘Patterns in Repeat’ at Aviva Studios

On Tue 30 Jun, Manchester Collective return to Aviva Studios with an evening of contemporary experimental music that imagines the physical body at the core of sound, uniting three titans of sonic innovation whose work reshapes the boundaries of genre and form.

Rooted in rhythm, breath and physical presence, the programme explores music as a visceral, grounding phenomenon that draws on the body as both instrument and creative source, from the vibrations of vocal cords to the pulse of a heartbeat.

Renowned for her staggering vocal techniques, wide-ranging influence and groundbreaking interdisciplinary practice spanning choreography, film and theatre, genre-busting pioneer Meredith Monk boasts a musical catalogue that defies categorisation. For Patterns in Repeat, Manchester Collective perform her rare instrumental Backlight, a beguiling piece that flickers with Monk’s unique sense of movement and texture.

The evening also features a new commission for mixed ensemble by composer and saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, whose oeuvre is shaped by improvisation, collaboration and a deep engagement with Black cultural expression, flitting effortlessly between London’s jazz scene and Berlin’s experimental spaces, as well as composing for stages including Shakespeare’s Globe.

Written in the throes of illness, Cassandra Miller’s Perfect Offering brings a gently transformative exploration of the passage of time while the physical body remains inert, drawing audiences into a realm of stillness and introspection using meditative singing.

Together, these works comprise a lucid yet untethered listening experience, where sound becomes a corporeal and expressive force for human connection.

Book tickets to Patterns in Repeat below.