(Pictured – Yaz Shafi)
THE PROSPECTORS LIVE
Wednesday 31st October 2012
Band on the Wall, Swan Street, Manchester
Free admission
The Prospectors are a 12-strong group of disabled musicians who have been playing and gigging in and around Manchester for over eight years. Led by All FM DJ Vicky Richardson and Drake Music Associates Fil Hill and Andy Boothman, the group uses a cutting edge combination of assistive music technology, live instruments, synths, switches and percussion to create reworks of pop, dance and soul classics. The Prospectors are also well known for their use of Soundbeam – a Theramin-like instrument developed for musicians with minimal physical movement that uses ultrasonic beams to control sound – always exciting to watch!
Live favourites at Stockport Beer Festival and Stockport FC, the Prospectors place a strong emphasis on improvisation, guaranteeing a different experience for their audience every time they play. They have also recently added some original material to their live set, which draws on some of the sample-heavy dance grooves present in their covers.
Yaz Shafi (vocoder and synths) said “I look forward to playing with The Prospectors every week. We’ve been together longer than The Beatles. We’re gonna rock your socks off at Band on the Wall!”
The Prospectors are supported by Stockport Cerebral Palsy Society – a charity that promotes independence for children and adults with physical and/or learning disabilities and Drake Music, a charity that removes disabling barriers to music.
Abigail Ward – Regional Programme Manager for Drake Music said:
‘“This gig is a brilliant opportunity for people to see how musicians with significant impairments approach live performance, and for the band themselves to cut loose in one of Manchester’s best venues. The Prospectors have a uniquely engaging sound – it’s impossible not to get caught up in it!”
Vicky Richardson, who presents All FM’s Access all Areas show, highlighting the skills, talents and health issues of disabled communities in Greater Manchester, will DJ after the performance.
