Counter Chamber was founded by musicians Samuel Sharp and Jay Chakravorty in 2022. They met up after both being featured on Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone “music of year” show on BBC 6 music, and started to formulate a plan to start a new artist-led night to better represent the music they were making. As multi-instrumentalists and composers in their own right, they wanted to shake things up and redefine what chamber music means for the modern age, with instrumental music drawing from genres such as neoclassical, electronic, soundtrack, melodic, minimalist and ambient music.
Pushing aside the often stuffy and awkward concert hall recitals of standard classical repertoire, Counter Chamber is a relaxed, intimate, welcoming and diverse club night where most of the artists perform their own original works in front of a buzzy but respectful “listening” crowd. The curation is key here too - while the music can feature edgy and experimental moments, there is always an underlying aesthetic of melody and beauty, with most acts featuring a mixture of acoustic and electronic instruments on stage. Backed up by Samuel and Jay on compering duties, artists are encouraged to talk through their inspirations and techniques, which can help bridge boundaries between performer and listener, putting the audience at ease.
This approach has led to a grassroots movement which has exceeded their initial expectations, with a loyal fan base now regularly selling out the space, Folklore in Hoxton, which holds up to 100 people. Artist-wise they have attracted high profile names alongside newcomers looking for performance opportunities, and have now hosted several tv / film composers and artists who tour with household names.
