COMPETITION: Werkha EP Launch @ Band On The Wall

We first encountered Werkha’s Tom Leah as one half of Bug & Leaf, an ambient electronic duo in the Mount Kimbie mould formed with his fellow University of Salford music student Rick Hartley, who now performs under the moniker of (murmur). But his first real taste of musical recognition arrived when Gilles Peterson picked up Cube & Puzzle, Leah's debut EP as Werkha, to play two of its exquisite tracks on his BBC Radio 6Music show towards the end of 2012.

Since then things have moved quickly for Werkha. Peterson asked him to feature a track on the tenth edition of the DJ’s Brownswood label compilation series, and on the live front he recently joined Bonobo on the mainland European legs of his tour as well as DJing at popular club nights such as Hit&Run and So Flute.

Now signed to the Brighton-based Tru Thoughts label – home of Quantic, Alice Russell and Hidden Orchestra – Werkha is set to perform at Band On The Wall on 17 April to mark the launch of his first EP on the imprint, named Beacons. On 5 May this will be available on wax, but for the time being we’d advise you to listen here and read the review in our latest magazine (online here if you haven't picked up your copy yet).


The video for 'Lapwing' by Werkha, taken from the Beacons EP.

At the Band On The Wall show, Leah will perform his compositions live with a cellist and vocalist – Alan Keary, who also performs with Shunya, and Bryony Jarman-Pinto respectively.

In support on the night will be Werkha’s label mate Harleighblu performing her soulful songs live, as well as Gonwana Records founder Matthew Halsall spinning jazzy numbers on the ones and twos. Further tune selections will be provided by Mind On Fire Collective and Tru Thoughts.

We’ve teamed up with Mind On Fire and Band On The Wall to secure a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky Now Then Manchester reader. All you have to do to enter the competition is like and share the image via this link (making sure it’s set to ‘public’ so we can see that you’ve entered).

We’ll notify the winner on Wednesday 16 April. Good luck!