Their music offered a sonic palette more prismatic than their understated setup would suggest, spurred on by the duo’s obvious musical affinity.'
James Cardie - Now Then Magazine October 2021
Balo are Sheffield based harpist Manon McCoy and drummer Will Shaw.
The duo create expansive works for harp, drums and live electronics. Their sound is a dynamic balance of driving rhythmic phrasing, ambient textures, intricate prepared techniques and experimental electronic layers.
Their recent work has developed into site-specific live-sound installations. In 2022 balo toured a series of installation performances of spatialised live sound and live projections, in collaboration with sound engineer Emmy Lambert and visual artist Luca Shaw.
As a duo they have performed extensively across the north at venues such as Jazz at the Lescar, Theatre Deli, 1853 studios and festival including Lancaster Jazz Festival and Newcastle festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. Balo were artists in residence at Theatre Deli Sheffield 2023. In 2022 they received a commission from Lancaster Jazz. They released their debut album renders in 2021 followed by a collaborative album with Whale Detective called baleine in 2023.
They will be releasing their second studio album in 2025.
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' Their music offered a sonic palette more prismatic than their understated setup would suggest, spurred on by the duo’s obvious musical affinity.'
James Cardie - Now Then Magazine October 2021
'Their music is thoughtful, atmospheric, delicately balanced and interactive, mixing improvisation and composition with an approach and instrumentation that’s original, beautiful and evocative'
Jez Matthews, Director of Jazz at the Lescar
Collaboration with visual artist Luca Shaw
Pictures show performance at Lancaster Jazz Fesitval 2023, Jazz at the Lescar and installation at 1853 Studios Oldham.