Jo Quail, Sieben – Deaf Institute, Manchester – Friday 12th September 2025

SIEBEN

Matt, from Sheffield, performing under the name Sieben gave us half an hour of looped violin pieces. As an ex-tutor of Jo and with a recording and live performance history of his own too, he dedicated his incantations to Jo, wishing her well for the rest of her tour which began tonight. It’s a mutual respect – check out Jo’s Why I Love on Sieben here. His pizzicato opening developed into some eerie violin. Programme Of Fact had some swirling wild music creating some musical and vocal havoc and mayhem.

POUNDING RHYTHMS

Sieben’s violin playing wavers between melodic and scratchy tones interspersed with ascending sound effects. Pounding rhythms came interspersed with a range of vocal styles, sometimes briefly assisted with a quick sip from a canned drink. He was able to combine some tribal rhythms with deep didgeridoo tones only comically put off his stride by a fraying carpet.

His final piece, Artificial Intelligent, had some accompanying tick tock percussion with more manic vocals representing the monstrous trepidation we have of an AI controlled world. It brought to an end an entertaining performance which set the tone for an evening of innovative and experimental music. It was only his second visit to Manchester in twenty years. Maybe before his next visit he’ll want to call in a carpet fitter first!

JO QUAIL

Jo’s futuristic cello took centre stage as the audience swelled. An evening of mesmerising music began with live favourite White Salt Stag. Heavy taps looped to provide a percussive backbeat, a ploy repeated by Jo, sounding like forbidding knocks on a castle door as notes which screeched like out of control traffic came to the fore. Faster beats created a tribal rhythm pattern as her cello built intoner layers which came to an abrupt end and much applause.

SUMPTUOUS LAYERS

A piece created during the ‘Stay At Home’ period followed. She rapidly piled on sumptuous layers mixing percussive loops and glorious melodies making musical Gold.

None of her pieces from latest release Notan (reviewed here) have made the live stage – yet. Nervously wondering how they would sound through a live PA system she played the mysterious Butterfly Dance. The demonic guitar sounds had one thinking she hadn’t just met the devil at the crossroads but was taking ponderous steps down to hell!

She asked the audience if the music was flowing properly. A resounding ‘yes’ was the reply as the swaying, celestial laments of Embrace followed blending some English Classical Folk reached some deeper tones too.

FERDINAND IN THE ROUND

It was time to bring out Ferdinand, her acoustic cello, which she played in the round amongst the audience. These two shorter pieces , one a piece from Supplication showed how her music is comfortably entwined with her audience and the warm connection she has with her faithful fans.

SYNCOPATED SPHERES

Rex, which has been revised regularly from her early days, was likened through all its revisions like an episode of Outback Opal Hunters in the sense that there has been a constant search to find the a successful end result. It has been a long venture to reach its current incantation. The revolving disco spheres suspended from the ceiling reflecting spots of light seemed to be in syncopation with the music which was itself full of musical gems. It was one of her more extended pieces in which those her wanted her inventive sonic effects had to be patient but by the end they came in abundance. The piece has its own reward as it now features as a t shirt design for Jo.

She asks the audience to picture her cradling her baby daughter for a melancholic lullaby. Notes repeatedly dropped gently as if encouraging eyes to close. It is dedicated to her daughter, now 13, but nobody was feeling sleepy; more utterly transfixed as they were throughout the evening.

KINGFISHER

Another piece making its live debut ended the evening. It has, she said, four elements in its composition; the initial conception, its orchestration, the studio recording and finally the one we were privileged to be the first to witness ‘ the live performance.

Half a dozen loops are built into this long piece (so long her husband recommended a packed lunch whilst listening). It will surely demand further revisions such is Jo’s level of perfectionism with her precise musical ear. The mesmerised audience listened intently with each seductive layer of luscious melodies.

A selection of photography of Jo Quail in concert by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of his work on shot_in_the_dark_photography2 on Instagram.

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