Hidden Orchestra

Hidden Orchestra is an electronic jazz collective based in Edinburgh. Their debut album Night Walks was released in September 2010. The group was previously known as the Joe Acheson quartet. Besides jazz they are using elements of pop, reggae, hip-hop and psychedelic music. Guest musicians, improvising, natural sounds and contrasts combined with electronic effects are supposed to make the music emotional and energetic. The album succeeded all over Europe. It got the "Album of the Month" at BBC Radio 1 and was listed at the iDJ?s top albums of 2010.

Besides jazz they are using elements of pop, reggae, hip-hop and psychedelic music. Guest musicians, improvising, natural sounds and contrasts combined with electronic effects are supposed to make the music emotional and energetic. The album succeeded all over Europe. It got the "Album of the Month" at BBC Radio 1 and was listed at the iDJ?s top albums of 2010. Hidden Orchestra was added by Radio Scotland at the A-Z greatest Scottish jazz artists of all time. In November 2010 they played in the UK and in March and April 2011 a Europe tour followed. They played headline gigs and supported a couple of other artists in 12 countries. In January 2011 a vinyl deluxe version called "Night Walks on Vinyl" was puplished on the German label Denovali.

Hidden Orchestra is the solo studio project of composer/producer Joe Acheson - the core quartet of the live act is formed around the duelling drum kits, percussion and electronic pads of two drummers, Tim Lane and Jamie Graham, completed by Poppy Ackroyd's distinctive, multi-faceted violin and piano playing, with Acheson on bass and electronics. Hidden Orchestra have seen their star rise steadily and emphatically since the release of their debut album on Tru Thoughts in 2010, Night Walks, with an organic buzz building as they have toured their highly in-demand live show at clubs and major festivals throughout over 20 countries in Europe and beyond.

The music of Hidden Orchestra has been widely broadcast on the radio, with live sessions on BBC R6 for Cerys Matthews and BBC Radio Scotland, plays from Gilles Peterson (BBC R1), Jamie Cullum (BBC R2), Radio Nova & FIP (France), Radio 1 Prague, XFM among the many highlights.
Hidden Orchestra released their second album "Archipelago" on 1st October 2012, and are preparing to tour the record throughout Europe in 2012 and 2013 including Denovali Swingfest.

The band may occupy a musical stratum all on their own, but you can detect influences as diverse as Aphex Twin, Debussy, Xploding Plastix, Radiohead, Squarepusher, Madlib and Gene Krupa.

members:
Joe Acheson - Bass, Samples
Poppy Ackroyd - Keyboard, Violin
Tim Lane - Drums
Jamie Graham - Drums

Live guests / Recording artists:
Su-a Lee - Cello
Fraser Fifield - Soprano sax, Kaval, Low whistles
Mary Macmaster - Electro-harp, clarsach
Marcus Britton - French horn, Trumpet
Phil Cardwell - Trumpet
Nick Roth - Alto saxophone
Julia Biel - Vocals

Live supersub drummer:
Calum McIntyre