abel selaocoe
abel selaocoe
📅 Date: 14 October 2025
🕰️ Time: doors open 7pm
📍 Location: New Century (M4 4AH)
100% funded (sold out)
Genre-defying virtuoso cellist Abel Selaocoe brings his African, jazz and classical-inspired music to Manchester’s iconic New Century Hall.
timings
7pm: doors open
7.30pm: shunya's set starts
8:30pm: abel selaocoe's set starts
10pm: estimated finish time
noisenights
noisenights are our vision for extraordinary, personal, and community-centred live classical music: crowdfunded gigs bringing world-leading artists to iconic independent venues.
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At the centre of every noisenight is a 60-80 minute classical set. We platform international soloists and ensembles while also giving opportunities to outstanding new artists. All noisenights take place in gig venues where you get to experience classical music up close.
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After a noisenight reaches its funding target, we e-mail all backers to confirm that it’s going ahead and a small amount of extra tickets will be made available. Tickets are released in four stages, which increase in price the closer to the event they're purchased. Book early to get the best price.
Please note that all tickets to this noisenight are standing by default. If you have specific access requirements please follow the venue's guide here. Due to the venue's license, this event is strictly 14+.
abel selaocoe
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is redefining the parameters of the cello. He moves seamlessly across genres and styles and combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing, and body percussion.
Abel is devoted to composing works and curating programmes that highlight the links between Western and non-Western musical traditions, broadening the horizons of classical music to reach a more diverse audience.
Accompanied by the languages of Bambara, Zulu, Sotho, and Tswana, this solo show will be full of improvisations influenced by African, jazz and classical music, placed alongside brand new commissions made by through the noise, including pieces by Ben Nobuto, Michel van der Aa, and Abel himself.
new century
New Century Hall is one of Manchester’s hidden gems, yet a cornerstone in its musical heritage. In the 60s Jimi Hendrix and Jerry Lee Lewis rocked the stage as part of the army of US exports finding fame in the UK. Home grown talent such as The Hollies, The Kinks, Herman’s Hermits and Procol Harum all crafted their acts playing here before going on to worldwide fame.
In the 80s the hall was a venue for the legendary all-night Acid House parties of the MADchester era. The likes of 808 state and A Guy Called Gerald swapped guitars for electronic instruments and channeled the spirit of Chicago House music into Manchester’s emerging underground scene. The hall has been recently restored with its vintage wood wall panelling, sprung dance floor and psychedelic illuminated ceiling fully intact.
tickets
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