Guest Curator Will Gregory Leads Special Saxophone-Focused Mini-Season Alongside Major Concerts, Film Events, Visiting Ensembles and New Exhibition by Marc Bessant
Wiltshire Music Centre announces its Autumn/Winter 2026 programme, a season celebrating adventurous music-making across genres, featuring a specially curated saxophone-focused mini-season by composer, producer and Goldfrapp co-founder Will Gregory, major concerts from internationally acclaimed artists, a landmark exhibition by renowned album designer Marc Bessant, film screenings, folk legends, orchestral performances and much more.
WILL GREGORY CURATES CELEBRATION OF THE SAXOPHONE
From late September to December, guest curator Will Gregory presents a Meltdown-style mini-season dedicated to the saxophone and its extraordinary influence across contemporary music.
The season opens on 25 September with London Saxophonic performing the music of the legendary American composer Moondog. Led by Will Gregory, the 13-piece ensemble featuring nine saxophones revisits the remarkable works of the blind composer known as “The Viking of Sixth Avenue”, whose influence stretches from Leonard Bernstein to Philip Glass. The performance celebrates Moondog’s collaboration with London Saxophonic on the 1994 album Sax Pax for a Sax and brings these distinctive compositions vividly back to life. The evening concludes with a DJ set from Jake Ferguson of The Heliocentrics.
On 4 October, rising star saxophonist Emma Rawicz joins acclaimed pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock for an intimate and joyful afternoon performance showcasing two of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz.
Halloween sees the arrival of the Moog Ensemble on 30 October, joined by Robert Stillman of The Smile. Renowned for their playful approach and richly textured sound, the ensemble will reimagine John Carpenter’s iconic film scores alongside works by Bach and others in a specially devised seasonal performance. Opening the evening, Stillman will blend improvised saxophone with cassette tape symphonies in a uniquely immersive set.
A rare meeting of two saxophone giants takes place on 13 November. The Andy Sheppard Trio, featuring acclaimed bassist Michel Benita and Italian jazz icon Rita Marcotulli, will share the bill with solo pioneer Evan Parker, one of the most influential figures in free improvised music. Award-winning alto saxophonist, MC and BBC Radio 3 presenter Soweto Kinch brings his trio to the venue on 5 December, followed by celebrated saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam and her ensemble on 6 December. Gillam, the youngest-ever soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms, is renowned for her electrifying performances and award-winning BBC Radio 3 programme This Classical Life.
The saxophone season concludes on 12 December with Quercus, the acclaimed trio featuring folk legend June Tabor. Blending folk traditions with jazz improvisation, Quercus creates deeply atmospheric chamber music drawn from original compositions, traditional songs and reimagined standards.
BREAKING COVER: MARC BESSANT EXHIBITION
Running from 23 September 2026 to 3 January 2027, Breaking Cover: Graphic Design for Eyes and Ears celebrates more than 25 years of work by one of music’s most distinctive visual artists, Marc Bessant. As designer for Real World Records, Invada Records and many others, Bessant has created iconic artwork for artists including Portishead, Peter Gabriel, Beak>, Chick Corea, Béla Fleck, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Emilíana Torrini. The exhibition will showcase celebrated album covers, concert posters, unseen material and behind-the-scenes insights into a career spent creating visual worlds that amplify and enrich the music they accompany.
SPECIAL EVENTS
On 23 October, Kiioto brings together Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes, co-founder of Lamb, with songwriter and pianist Rohan Heath. They are joined by acclaimed bassist Neil Charles, with fashion presentations from Studio Ashay, support from Heka and a DJ set from Simon Arnaldi of Vinyl Gathering.
FOLK LEGENDS AND CONTEMPORARY VOICES
The season also welcomes an exceptional line-up of folk and acoustic artists, including Richard Thompson, Fairport Convention, Martin Hayes and Martin Simpson.
MUSIC FILM CLUB
The venue’s Music Film Club continues with a year-round programme of acclaimed music documentaries and accompanying events. Highlights include Broken English on 30 September, featuring a live Q&A with composers Rob Ellis and Adrian Utley following the screening.
ORCHESTRAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Sinfonia Cymru visits on 17 October with The Songs We Carry, featuring Ana Silvera and Saied Silbak. At the heart of the project is a profound artistic friendship between Palestinian and Jewish musicians, demonstrating solidarity, dialogue and creative collaboration through music. The orchestra will also collaborate with celebrated Ivorian percussionist Sidiki Dembélé and musicians from Percussions d’Abobo on 27 November, in a vibrant celebration of contemporary West African music. The season additionally welcomes Chineke! Orchestra on 30 November, Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, performing with acclaimed guitarist Plínio Fernandes.
Bringing together world-class musicians, pioneering ensembles, celebrated artists, film, design and cross-cultural collaboration, the Autumn/Winter 2026 season reflects Wiltshire Music Centre’s commitment to presenting adventurous and inspiring work for musically curious audiences
Key Dates:
13 Sept – Richard Thompson
25 Sept – London Saxophonic play Moondog
4 Oct – Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock
10 Oct – Martin Simpson trio
17 Oct – Sinfonia Cymru: The Songs We Carry
20 Oct – Fairport Convention
23 Oct – Kiioto
30 Oct – Moog Ensemble Halloween Special + Robert Stillman
8 Nov – Fergus McCreadie & Scottish Ensemble
13 Nov – Andy Sheppard Trio + Evan Parker
21 Nov – Martin Hayes + Kate Ellis
27 Nov – Sinfonia Cymru: Sidiki Dembele
30 Nov – Chineke! Orchestra with Plinio Fernandes
5 Dec – Soweto Kinch Trio
6 Dec – Jess Gillam Ensemble
12 Dec – Quercus
Exhibition:
Breaking Cover: Graphic Design for Eyes and Ears by Marc Bessant
23 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
Tickets are now on sale