Match&Fuse, the trailblazing network championing daring, original and underground music, is going to release two compilations of live music recorded at their festival and tours. The eclectic selections, featuring acclaimed artists from across Europe, will be released digitally on Bandcamp Friday on 7 August and 4 September 2020. While majority of the profits will be distributed to the artists, a share of 15% will be donated to the Vortex Jazz Club to support creative scenes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alongside tracks by bands such as Snorkel and Brass Mask, there will be fuses of Alice Zawadzki with Alex Roth and Kalevi Louhivuori, Leafcutter John with Isabel Sörling, Rachel Musson with The Jist and Troyka with Pulcinella amongst others. Also featured are tracks from Match&Fuse founders Dave Morecroft (WorldService Project) and Matthew Jacobson (ReDiviDeR) and our close counterparts from Toulouse, Alfie Ryner. Genre-wise… if you can find a word for it, let us know. Expect piano trio sounds next to raw free improv, hard-hitting punk, pristine floating melodies, experimental electronics and ambient soundscapes.

These compilations are prompted by the impact COVID-19 pandemic has had on Live music performance and the many creative souls involved in it. Venues like the Vortex needing help was another spur, it meant so much to us at Match&Fuse - we had most of our UK events there (and our after-parties).

Carlos Boix, one of Match&Fuse's treasured sound engineers, suggested releasing live recordings taken from our previous UK festivals and tours as a way of drawing attention to the impact. “I thought there were some really good recordings that I felt we could distill and use,” says Carlos, “Lockdown meant I had the time to go through them and send to artists for approval.” Match&Fuse producer Daniela Gerstmann and founder Dave Morecroft set about contacting musicians and making it all happen.

The artists featured played a vital role by carefully selecting their own tracks from recordings of their gigs. Without these musicians, the music they create and the risks they take, our events would not exist. As Bandcamp showed its support for artists by waiving their fees on the first Friday of each month since the pandemic started, we decided to release the albums on Bandcamp Fridays in August and September.

We hope you enjoy these selections, unheard since the concerts took place, as they are unique examples of live music and European collaborative spirt at its best.