The Plank is an open community group where we explore many aspects of free improvisation and group playing. The sessions consist of some structured activity and some free play. We welcome artists of other mediums to respond within the space, or those that want to be passive within the space.

The 2023 programme has been supported by The Ranworth Trust and as a result we have been able to invite a number of guest artists to lead sessions, and make use of a variety of different venues.

This session will be led by Cath Roberts, focussing on improvisation.

Cath Roberts is a musician, artist and organiser whose work explores free improvisation, composition and the music at their meeting point. The primary outlet for this is the band Sloth Racket, formed in 2015 by Cath on baritone saxophone and compositions, which has toured widely and released several albums. Improvisation using live electronics and objects is a new interest and has led to a solo release plus the beginning of several new collaborations.

As an organiser, Cath co-runs LUME with Dee Byrne, producing concerts, tours and festivals since 2013 and releasing music on their offshoot label Luminous. Tom Ward, Colin Webster and Cath organise BRÅK, an improvised music series taking place in Brockley, South East London. Cath’s visual work can be seen on many Luminous releases, Sloth Racket tour flyers and LUME publicity materials, and recently in the form of a giant, fragmented graphic score created for a 2021 hcmf// commission, And then the next thing you know.

Educational work has included improvisation workshops and courses for Aldeburgh Young Musicians (Britten Pears Arts), Trinity Laban, and various festivals, as well as guest lecturing on improvisation and composition. Cath currently leads the Experimental Ensemble at City, University of London.

Cath has a long-standing duo with guitarist Anton Hunter (Ripsaw Catfish), as well as regular collaborations with Tullis Rennie, Benedict Taylor, Graham Dunning, Bill Thompson and others, and bandmate duties in several groups including Alex Ward’s Items 10 and 7, Madwort Sax Quartet, Article XI and MoonMot.

Visit The Plank page for full details.

Please note: You may bring anything you like; instruments, objects, devices….
Please bring your own amplification if required, there is no PA.
You are welcome to observe, we welcome anyone who wants to form an audience.
The Plank is an entirely open platform, it will be curated and facilitated by Eastern Ear where appropriate but we welcome suggestions of any nature.
If you have a personal objective from attending ‘The Plank’ (such as to work with a drummer) then please make that clear to us at the beginning of the session.