Sound is Now

Sound activist Charles Hayward continues to investigate the edges of possibility and creativity in music with a series of events that defy genre in search of the new. For Sound is Now, Charles curates a group of musicians from across the music spectrum, from established names to up-and-comers, all performing and improvising together on stage. Join us for a one-time only, never to be repeated experience. 

Act 1: Invisible Shrapnel

Hard edge composition, loud and quiet, sound drama, the small and the big.

Act 2: Autonomous Actions

A series of solos, duets, trios and interventions spanning song, improvisation, sonic events, time and space travel.

Act 3: We Are Telepathic

The shapes we make for the joyful future.

In March, Charles will be joined by CJ Calderwood, Yoni Silver, Caius Williams and Roberto Sassi.

Charles Hayward

Charles Hayward (drummer, songwriter, sound activist) was a founding member of the experimental rock groups This Heat and Camberwell Now. Refusing fixed identity and process Charles has developed a wide range of soundwork, spanning improvisation, song, sound as sound, using order and chaos as creative energies. Since the late 1980’s Hayward has recorded solo projects of his songs and imaginative sound worlds, performing throughout UK, Europe, North America and Japan. Recent releases include the piano centred song cycle ‘Begin Anywhere’ and the collaboration HAYWARDxDÄLEK was released 2025 to critical acclaim. New now band Abstract Concrete are currently recording their second album for release 2026.

Roberto Sassi

An active member of 90s Italian underground rock scene, throughout the years guitarist/composer Roberto Sassi has been developing a musical language at the border between experimental music, rock and improvisation alongside an interest in sound design for video and dance theatre. As an improviser he has been a regular member of the London Improvisers Orchestra and he has worked with Roland Ramanan, Charles Hayward, Pat Thomas, Alex Ward, Steve Beresford, Steve Noble, Alan Wilkinson and many others. He is currently recording and touring with the groups Abstract Concrete, Snorkel and Heckle Chamber.

CJ Calderwood

CJ Calderwood is a visual artist and musician living in SE London. Alongside their work as a member of the bands Good Sad Happy Bad and Lol K, they also released their first solo EP titled Umbra Lumen Tonos in 2024 on Glint records.

Yoni Silver

Explorative bass clarinettist, communicative keyboardist, curious violist and florid arranger/composer. He can be heard abstracting on his bass clarinet solo, or with Steve Noble, John Edwards, Angharad Davies, Sharon Gal etc.; until recently, hyper-spectralising with Dumitrescu/Avram’s Hyperion Ensemble; or, currently, playing keyboards in Abstract Concrete. 

Caius Williams

Caius Williams is a musician from London who plays the double bass, guitar, and bass guitar. He works in collaboration with others alongside various solo projects, often working with improvisation and explorations of resonance and perception. Projects include ‘Crosspiece’ (with Theodora Laird), a duo with guitarist Tara Cunningham, alongside recent performances/collaborations with Lifetones, Steve Noble, feeo, Tom Challenger, Daniel O'Sullivan, Maggie Nicols, Sachiko M, Mark Wastell, among others. Caius has been running the GRAIN series for the last 3 years, a concert series and archiving project for experimental and improvised music, largely happening within South Bermondsey, and programmed / produced with Theodora Laird.