The First Live Polymath Night

Last Thursday saw the launch of the live Polymath experience! The first Polymath night which we organised and put on. We asked THePETEBOX and Michael Wetherburn to support and they did a great job. Below is a piece written for the Nottingham Evening Post in the run up to the show as well as some photos from the night.

THePETEBOXMichael Wetherburn

THePETEBOX                           Michael Wetherburn

"Art of the matter..."

As something of a stalwart on the Nottingham music scene, Tom Walsh has seen bands come and go - many of them his own.  The former frontman of Bionics, mia and The Dead City Presidents - and one-time member of Lo-Ego - is back with a new band.

Polymath, the brainchild of Walsh and Amy Nicholson from Nottingham art-rock collective The Hellset Orchestra, play their first gig at Junktion 7 next week and plan to combine film, art, written word, performance and more with their music.

"We want something that's art-based in every aspect of what we do. " says Tom. "Whether graphics, or music or photography, we want it to be unique and clear that some thought process has gone into it.

"We want to open up the creative aspect of the band. For example, some lyrics have been torn from the pages of magazines, taken out of context and used to make something compltely fresh.

"It's quite experimental in that sense. I also like the idea of having characters and a theatrical angle to what we do without being over the top. The live show won't just be us playing, but will have live visuals and some home-made surprises - we want to give people something to remember us by."

Polymath's line-up is completed by Tom's long-term musical partner Mark Bagguley and Ali Harris who was approached after selecting DCPs debut as one of EG's albums of the year.

It followed critical acclaim for some of Tom's previous projects, although to date acclaim has come without commercial success. Not that Tom is concerned.

"Music isn't a job, it's what you are. It's a way of life." 

- James Smith