Witch 'n' Monk (formerly Bitch 'n' Monk) is the twinning of Colombian rebel flutist Mauricio Velasierra and British anarchic soprano and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg. Bring together an unusual set of instruments; traditional Latin American flutes, unconventional vocals, electric guitar and bespoke electronics, they create a sound that is defiantly their own. The essence of their collaboration is encapsulated in the name; dark and light, feminine and masculine, punk and Romantic, free-form and intricately composed. Exploring extremes and creating contrast is fundamental to their work and thus they tread upon the edges of genres.
Celebrated in the jazz and contemporary classical sphere and embrace by the DIY and underground music scenes they have played across the UK and Europe, at prestigious venues and festivals such the Royal Festival Hall (UK), La Cigale (FR), Bimhuis (NL), ParadoxTilburg (NL), Dunkers Kulturhus (SE), London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival and Umea Jazz Festival. But they have also been found performing avant-garde film scores at communist Italian skateparts or among the thorn bushes in overgrown East London gardens.
Booking (worldwide excl. Benelux)
MUSIC [at] WITCHNMONK.COM
Booking (Benelux)
LINDA [at] STROOM.WS
"Special mention to the intriguing Anglo-Colombian duo Bitch ’n’ Monk. Mauricio Velasierra plays assorted flutes, Heidi Heidelberg plays guitar, sings and beatboxes, while the two transform their sound into junkyard electronica through the ingenious use of looping pedals. You’ll spend a while pondering how to classify them – prog folk? Operatic post-punk? Gothic reggae? – but they know how to write melodies."
"Work of uncompromising novelty - dense but exhilarating"
Jazzism Magazine
“The musicians are expressive and playful, the lyrics powerful and unpredictable, elegant and crude sounds alternate. Bitch n Monk sounds like no other group and only because of the musical quality the duo is an enrichment of the musical landscape.”
Sound and Colours Magazine
"One of the most exhilarating Latin American albums that has been heard in some time...A new and rather incredible project, quite sincerely creating a new musical language out of flute and vocals."
BBC Radio 3 - Late Junction
On ' Did He?' (2015) "Exquisite! A kaleidoscope of musical forms!"
On 'The Cage' (2019) "Wow! Those guys are certainly going somewhere very fast. Brilliant new track! ...What a piece of pure anarchic chamber kaos"
"An electrifying kiss of life!"
NPO (Dutch National Radio) - Vrije Geluiden
MAR 27 - Hamburg (DE)
APR 3 - London (UK)
MAY 22 - Berlin (DE)
MAY 24 - Dresden (DE)
MAY 28 - Jena (DE)
MAY 29 - Utrecht (NL)
MAY 30 - Nijmegen (NL)
MAY 31 - Amsterdam (NL)