Listen to Oubliette or The Factorye

The Oubliette Ensemble has been working their magic spell on Philadelphia since 2001 with their original music and interpretations of medieval, Renaissance, middle-eastern, and otherwise ancient music. If it sounds like it was written before 1700, they’ll play it–on voices and recorders, cello, violin, mandolin, percussion, harp and accordion. They like nothing better than to look out and see their audience put aside their courtly ways and dance around like mad faeries. Members: Melissa Santangelo, Cynthia James, Jim Kydonieus, Jessica Marcus, Tony Cesa.

Aimee Wilson is lead vocalist and guitar player for The Factorye, a band of musicians, printers and food collectors that delivers a searing fusion of old folk and eastern moans delicately woven together by the embracing vibrato of her voice. The Factorye is now a band, letterpress shop and community known for its unique gatherings (“banquets”) that serve local and international needs in Philadelphia. The band performs in various music halls, universities, churches, festivals and venues across the nation. Instrumentation includes Wilson’s delicate guitar and sitar playing, as well as darbuka, hurdy-gurdy, banjo, bass, pedal steel, accordion and drums while the Factorye Press has developed as a self-taught/researched print shop doing custom visual design from a 1931 Vandercook, 1908 Golding and MultiLith Press. There are many ways of coming together the Factorye demonstrates. It is a continual unfolding, designed to be vulnerable.

More information

On Oubliette: http://www.myspace.com/oubliettemedievalmusic
On the Factorye: http://www.myspace.com/porchfrontfactorycom.