Dani Kirby (piano/keyboards/voice) and Mat Ward (bass) perform improvised

multi-genre soundscapes that incorporate elements of post-classicism, noise-art,

minimalism and polyrhythmic experimentation. Their practice includes

site-specific response, expanded cinema, field recording manipulation and

collaboration with percussion and custom-designed instrument ensembles. 

Kirby/Ward have been performing regularly across Australia

at festivals, museums and events since 2016. 

Us at the Rat Palace just playing

Mill Lane residency Warehouse Drone Dec 23

In early 2023 Dani and I set up residency at Mill Lane, a massive warehouse that was being emptied in preparation for sale. Each week the sound changed as the shelves and plant equipment was shifted out until we were left with a massive empty space with fascinating acoustics. This video was recorded on the final evening on the space.

Some recordings and video from gigs and jams from the first half of 2023

Aporia - A new collaboration project featuring Kirby/Ward with Dane Renshaw - Drums and Bruce Musser - Guitar. A slow burn across the web ( Dane is in Japan, Bruce in the USA)

Some new material filmed @Proofspace in Hobart Tasmania 2022

A couple of grabs from mid 2022

Discontinued Space -The Cinema of Maya Deren

Dani Kirby      Piano/Voice

Mat Ward       Bass/Intonarumori/Percussion     

Dylan Banks   Intonarumori

A live Expand Cinema event as part of The Clarence City Council’s Winter Concert Series held in august 2021. Live at The Rosny Barn 26/08/21

For more of Discontinued Space - The Cinema of Maya Deren please visit the Expanded Cinema page

The Smiling Madame Beudet

A live expanded cinema performance at MONA FOMA, January 2021. For more information please follow the link to my expanded cinema page.

 

A Trip to the Moon

As part of the 2020 Unconformity Festival based in Queenstown Tasmania Dani Kirby and I, along with 8 artists from around the globe were asked to re-score a collection of old Sci-Fi movies as part of Unconformity's UNTV live night. Naturally enough all festival activities were via the Internet this year and the show was broadcast on October 17th 2020 There is almost no info about the 1926 film Dani and I were given other than the year it was made. I cant even find any info on the production company etc. Its called Trip to the Moon and is an animated/ modelled 12 minute movie that goes through a fictional history of people’s attempts over the centuries to reach the moon culminating in a successful 1999 voyage. The unconformity festival is a wonderful arts festival held in the remote town of Queenstown on Tasmania’s west coast every two years. You can find out more about the festival below.

 

Snippet from First Jam back after Australian lockdown June 2020

Well we are a little rusty... been the longest time since Dani and I simply did some improvisation.. so here is a rough few minutes recorded even rougher the other night after a session at the wonderful Hobart artspace 'Proofspace' where we have been fortunate to use as we write a new score for the beautiful and poignant silent movie " The Smiling Madame Beudet"... With luck we will get to perform the movie at sometime in the future! Felt great just to make some shit up for the first time in ages : )

 

Our Latest Album - Joy As A Threat

Joy As A Threat is the latest full length album by Dani Kirby ( Piano/Keyboards/Voice ) and Mat Ward ( Bass Guitar ). The album was recorded live at MONA in the cathedral like space of the Nolan Gallery and incorporates the unique sonic atmosphere of the venue. The room acts as an omnipresent third voice in the recording, shaping the musicians playing as the sounds bounce and decay in unpredictable ways back and forth across the space. The six improvised tracks cover endless musical territory ranging from the ultra minimal vocal driven opening piece 1620 Faces through the post- classical eclecticism of And There We Were all the way to the feedback drenched dronescape of Entrails On The Floor.

Credits

released September 27, 2019

Dani Kirby - Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
Mat Ward - Bass Guitar
Ivan Johnston - Engineering, Mixing and Mastering
David Campbell - Design

 

Live @ Altar 2020

 
 
 

Live @ Moonah Arts Centre

 

Soundcloud links

A real pleasure to be part of the 2020 Unconformity Festival based in Queenstown Tasmania This year Dani and I, along with 8 artists from around the globe were asked to re-score an old Sci-Fi movie as part of Unconformity's UNTV live night. Naturally enough all activities were via the Internet this year and the show was broadcast on October 17th 2020 There is almost no info about the 1926 film Dani and I were given other than the year it was made. I cant even find any info on the production company etc... If you would like to see the film I have it here on Vimeo. So thrilled to be involved in festivals re-inventing themselves in these strange times https://vimeo.com/469587954

Well we are a little rusty... been the longest time since Dani and I simply did some improvisation.. so here is a rough few minutes recorded even rougher the other night after a session at the wonderful Hobart artspace 'Proofspace' where we have been fortunate to use as we write a new score for the beautiful and poignant silent movie " The Smiling Madame Beudet"... With luck we will get to perform the movie at sometime in the future! Felt great just to make some shit up for the first time in ages : )

Live at Proofspace sept 2019

Live at Soundklub 17 studio 365 Dec 2018

Video by Peter Pit

Other Projects

Dani and I also work on a number of different projects beyond our duo including Expanded Cinema, Site Specific Response and as 2/3rds of an Intonarumori trio as part of my research into Luigi Russolo.

 

Intonarumori Trio Mat Ward,Dylan Bank, Dani Kirby