Josh Pyke to appear with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Shane | 27 May 2015 | Reply

Josh Pyke to appear with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra

8pm, Friday 24 July at the Perth Concert Hall

After making his orchestral debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in April, Aria Award-winning singer-songwriter Josh Pyke will join forces with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for one night only at the Perth Concert Hall. Under the baton of WASO Assistant Conductor Christopher Dragon, WASO and Pyke will perform a selection of songs from his four studio albums, arranged for full symphony orchestra.

Since releasing his breakthrough single ‘Middle of the Hill’ in 2005, Pyke has completed 22 national tours performing to sold-out venues across the country and is a regular on the festival scene, from Homebake and Bluesfest to Big Day Out and Splendour in the Grass. Described as a modern-day storyteller, Pyke’s unique and intelligent lyrics weave warm melodies that place him in a league of his own.

Ten emerging composers from across Australia were selected by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to arrange Pyke’s songs for orchestra. Among the ten composers are two Western Australians, Lachlan Skipworth and Jared Yapp. Both composers have participated in WASO’s Composition Project, with Skipworth completing an early career residency in composition with WASO in 2014.

Pyke has given the composers wide creative license to re-work his songs, allowing them to change even structures and time signatures for his orchestral debut.

“I believe songs are there to be experimented with, and that any version is just that, a version amongst many,” Pyke said. “My recorded versions of the songs are only moments in time, and I’m hoping the emerging composers will bring their own moments to these songs.”

“I’ve wanted to hear my music with this type of treatment for a long time. It’s literally a dream come true for me,” Pyke added.

Pyke has received four ARIA Awards, with a further nine nominations, and has had nine songs appear in triple j’s Hottest 100 countdowns. Don’t miss this chance to hear hits like ‘Leeward Side’, ‘The Lighthouse Song’ and ‘Middle of the Hill’ like you’ve never heard before; performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Tickets on-sale from WASO on 9326 0000 or www.waso.com.au