Set Yourself Free

By Sara Pergola
20.12.2009

"Set Yourself Free" is an event series organized by a Steevo singer and bass player of the London based band Les Figurines, last happening was held at the Proud Gallery in Camden Town, on December, 2.

The principal aim of these happenings is presenting good music with fresh art, giving the opportunity to creatives coming from different backgrounds to express freely their thought through their art.
Last ninth edition has been amazing combination of good bands, psychedelic Djs, smiling people, and a taste of visual art, it was worthy to be part of the resulting atmosphere, really  an enjoyable evening.
The evening lineup included the folk-blues notes of Beggar Joe, indie-rock tunes noised by Les Figurines, the brit-pop guitar sound of Remodel, the scenic performance of the electro rock band the Maleficent, and The Duel´s "punk-rock´n roll" wave, and the trance vibe of Dj Funghi and Maya from The Soho Dolls dying.

I asked Steevo few questions about "Set Yourself Free" series, to understand how this idea developed, and how it was born. As he said "I was djing for wirelessfm.net and my friend Nick diesel told me about The Foundry in Old Street, and the chance to have a show there, I met them and I asked  if I could organize an art exhibition accompanied by some Djs, and they gave me the ok ."

"Set Yourself Free" is at its 9th edition it started as Steevo said at the Foundry where they held few nights, after it took place at the The bull and Gate in Kentish Town with the collaboration of Roger O´donnell (ex- The Cure keyboard´s player!). That particular night as Steevo said: "It was a dream came true. Meeting one member of The Cure my favourite band was surreal,  we turned the venue into an amazing place with wonderful installations from a Japanese artist called Satoshi Date. And other great artworks from very talented artists," indeed he continues: "Set Yourself Free" is a great gathering of emergent artists who show their amazing talents all at the same time creating unusual evening, thanks to the atmosphere created by the combination of different artworks and medias"
Since the first edition more people take part to the happening, helping out collaborating actively, and there is an evident increase of the audience attention.

I asked him how he contact the venues and which kind of partnership they develop with them he told me that´s depend on the venues, and "it is really hard to find a place where all the artists can freely show their works. most of the places are restricting the artists in what they can do."

Last "Set yourself free" at the Proud Gallery as been second Stevo "A great night but it could have been so much better if i had more chances to show more artwork." Unfortunately this time only a small part of the Proud Gallery could be used as exhibition space (a bit of paradox in this, as the venue is a Gallery!) because a photographic exhibition was already on, and it couldn´t be taken down, indeed only 2 artworks of the Portuguese visual artist Teresa Paiva had been showed.

Anyway the night as been a success as matter of the fact the Proud Gallery team liked the event and proposed to host another "Set Yourself Free" on Thursday April, 29, 2010.
I´ll see you all there, next edition can´t be missed!