ACME to Perform at Ecstatic Music Festival, 3/1

ACME (American Contemporary Music Ensemble) joins vocalist Mariam Wallentin (praised for her "beyond gorgeous" voice by Prefix) and acclaimed composer and pianist Mikael Karlsson in a new collaboration presented by the Ecstatic Music Festival on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 7:30pm at Kaufman Center's Merkin Concert Hall.

The concert will feature the world premiere of a new five-song cycle, The Spirit & The Cloud, performed by Wallentin and ACME, as well as a selection of Karlsson's instrumental compositions. In addition, Wallentin and ACME will perform arrangements of the songs of Wallentin's experimental band, Wildbirds & Peacedrums. The artists have recently announced plans to record The Spirit & The Cloud for commercial release shortly after the premiere.

The Spirit & The Cloud is written for a varied chamber ensemble – bass and alto flutes, clarinets, a prepared piano, a tree trunk and loop pedals, cello, viola, gongs, tom-tom drums, and marimba. ACME musicians for this concert are Andrew Rehrig, flute; Alicia Lee, clarinet; Chihiro Shibayama, percussion; Nadia Sirota, viola; and Clarice Jensen, cello.

In March, ACME also performs at Stanford Lively Arts in California (March 4); All Tomorrow's Parties curated by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel in Minehead, UK (March 9-11); and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Vermont (March 23). ACME will be back in New York at The Kitchen this May for two performances of music by William Brittelle and metal guitarist Mick Barr (Orthrelm, Crom-tech).