Legendary musician and producer Matthew Herbert has announced his forthcoming Scottish tour, which will see One Pig play in venues across the country in November 2012, including Mareel in Shetland on Wednesday 7 November.

One Pig is a musical performance made entirely out of the sounds of a single pig’s life, from birth to plate. Matthew recorded the birth, the life, and the butchering of the pig – though was unable to record the slaughter due to legal restrictions. These recordings were then used to create the critically acclaimed One Pig album (2011), on which the performance is based.

The album generated controversy before it was even released, when it was condemned by PETA as making “entertainment” from animal cruelty, apparently without first checking key details about Herbert’s intention and methods.

The live show debuted at the Royal Opera House, London, in September 2011 and has since toured the world, performing at Berghain Berlin, STRP Eindhoven, Club Silencio Paris, Liquid Room Tokyo, Ancienne Belgique Brussels, headlining at Future Everything in Manchester, the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, and Palais de Tokyo in Paris.

One Pig explores and questions the life, death, and consumption of the pig. A chef cooking onstage brings the sound and smell of cooking pig, and the performance features a brand new custom instrument – the “Sty Harp”, built and performed by Edinburgh-based artist Yann Seznec. This representation of the pig’s home is used to trigger and control elements of music, forming an integral part of the 5 piece band.

Herbert and his fellow musicians will also be leading educational activities for music students in Mareel on Tuesday 6 November and a free pre-show workshop open to all at 7pm on Wednesday 7 November where they will discus the technology behind the production. The performance on Wednesday will begin with Herbert discussing the background to the piece and audience members will be invited to ask questions.

Shetland Arts Music Development Officer Bryan Peterson said: “Matthew Herbert is a true pioneer of sampling and electronic music and his body of work is astounding. The show will be quite challenging and provide a thought-provoking perspective on agriculture and food production that I’m sure will be of interest to Shetlanders.”

One Pig will take place in Mareel on Wednesday 7 November. The free pre-concert workshop will run from 7pm – 7.30pm, and the concert will begin at 8pm. Tickets for the concert cost £15 / £12 and are available from Shetland Box Office in Mareel/Islesburgh, over the phone on 01595 745 555, or online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org or www.mareel.org. This production is supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland. ENDS

Tour details

November 2012

3rd – Glasgow, Tramway

4th – Dundee, Dundee Rep Theatre

5th – Inverness, Bogbain Farm

7th – Shetland, Mareel

8th – Edinburgh, Queen’s Hall

9th – Dunfermline, Carnegie Hall

10th – Banchory, Woodend Barn (Sound Festival)

http://www.onepigscotland.com/

Source: Mareel