JG Thirlwell will be assembling a 20 piece chamber orchestra to perform as Foetus at the Shadowlands Festival, presenting material from the latest Foetus album HALT (2026) and selections of earlier Foetus material. The orchestra will feature a string section, brass section, harp, woodwind, keyboards and percussion as well as guitar, bass and drums.
It will be Thirlwell’s first appearance as Foetus in the UK over 25 years, and only the second time the work has been presented by a live orchestra (the first being at the Donaufestival in Krems, Austria in 2005). Thirlwell has worked extensively with ensembles in the last thirty years and will be bringing all his arranging talents to the pinnacle for this unique performance, a UK exclusive.
Shadowlands is a brand new boutique international music festival that will take place across four days at the beginning of July 2027 in the historic city of Canterbury in south-east England. Focusing on alternative, electronic, avant-garde and experimental artists, the festival will also feature Lustmord, Test Dept, Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan, Regis (feat. Liam Andrews), Clock DVA, The Wolfgang Press, Githead, hackedepicciotto, People Like Us, Portion Control, :Zoviet*France: and more. Further acts will be announced in August.
You can purchase tickets to the Festival at https://basket.thegulbenkian.co.uk/23630
JG Thirlwell performs Live Score to Harry Smith in San Francisco
On September 4 2026, JG Thirlwell will perform a live score to the legendary Harry Smith film Heaven and Earth Magic at the Gray Area Grand Theater in San Francisco for the Crossroads 2026 Festival, presented by SF Cinematheque. Heaven and Earth Magic is a 1962 avant-garde stop-motion animation. Its surreal imagery, drawn from cutups of 19th century catalogs, has a mystical and hypnotic quality that has entranced viewers for decades.The program opens with Thirlwell’s 2018 film Sonder.
This will be a solo performance by Thirlwell in immersive four channel sound, performed on keyboards with computer / sample programs and theremin. The score was commissioned by L’Etrange Film Festival in Paris and premiered there in 2024. Details are here and tickets will go on sale soon.
Soft Cell x JG Thirlwell “Ghost Rider” EP available for preorder
We are thrilled to announce the release of the long awaited Soft Cell x JG Thirlwell Ghost Rider Remix EP. The EP consists of three brand new and radically different remixes of the Soft Cell / JG Thirlwell version of the Suicide song “Ghost Rider”. including the Accelerator Mix, Brake Caliper Mix and Camshaft Mix,as well as instrumentals of the Accelerator and Camshaft mixes. The song features vocals from both Marc Almond and Thirlwell, with guest sax from Gary Barnacle. It was mastered by Josh Bonati.
It is a strictly limited edition on blood red and black swirly vinyl coloured vinyl 5-track 12” EP. released on the UK label Cherry Red. The sleeve is designed by JG Thirlwell. You can order it in advance here. Official release date is 09.04.26.
JG Thirlwell performs at Gregg Foreman Memorial / Vega tribute
JG Thirlwell will be performing at a memorial for his friend and colleague Gregg Foreman, who died in April 2026. Foreman gained recognition in The Delta 72, and also worked with Cat Power, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pink Mountaintops and more. The evening also serves to commemorate Alan Vega‘s birthday. Gregg Foreman and Vega worked together, and Foreman had helmed several Vega / Suicide tributes in the past. Thirlwell performed the Suicide song “Harlem” with Foreman twice on these tribute nights.
Also appearing at the tribute will be Cat Power, Bob Bert (Sonic Youth / Pussy Galore), Grace Bergere, Jesse Malin, Liz Lamere (Vega’s widow), members of The Delta 72, Cynthia Ross, Genre Is Death, Johnny Scuotto and many more. The event will occur at the Bowery Palace in New York. Tickets are available here
You’ve Got Foetus On Your Breath T-shirt : available now!
We are excited to announce the official “You’ve Got Foetus On Your Breath” t-shirt. Celebrating the ACHE album from 1982, this striking design by JG Thirlwell is printed on a Ultex Unisex Fine Jersey White Ringer Tee (with black neck and arm bands), and available in small, medium, large, XL, XXL, XXXL. This limited edition, gorgeous garment is a perfect conversation starter at your next mixer. Order you ringer now at the Foetus Shoppe.
JG Thirlwell joins Elliot Sharp and others performing Christian Marclay for Harvestworks
JG Thirlwell will be joining Elliot Sharp, Melvin Gibbs, Kalun Leung and Judith Insell in creating a live score for Christian Marclay‘s Screenplay. Screenplay is a video score in which found film footage is combined with computer animation to create a visual projection interpreted by live musicians.
The performance will be part of an event honoring Carol Parkinson‘s 37 years as executive director of the NYC arts organization Harvestworks on the occasion of her retirement.
The program will also feature Henry Threadgill, a celebrated composer and saxophonist widely recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to avant-garde jazz and contemporary music, performing an intimate solo flute composition. In addition Lori Napoleon (Antenes) will give a live analogue synthesizer performance. The evening will conclude with a vinyl DJ set from Yo Vinyl Richie.
The event will happen at Issue Project Room 22 Boerum Place Brooklyn, NY on April 25 2026 beginning at 6pm. Tickets here.
JG Thirlwell & Anne Senstad In Conversation event NYC
JG Thirlwell and Anne Katrine Senstad will be in conversation, with multi-disciplinary artist Victoria Keddie moderation, on March 4 2026 from 5.30-7pm . The talk will occur at the site of Anne Katrine Senstad‘s new sculptural light installation Baroque Apocalypse. JG Thirlwell provides the sound environment for the piece. Baroque Apocalypse is installed at the Sylvia Wald & Po Kim Gallery at 417 Lafayette St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003.You can RSVP for the event at info@waldandkimgallery.org
JGT brings Silver Mantis to Philadelphia 06.13.26
JG Thirlwell will be performing his Silver Mantis project at PhilaMOCA in Philadelphia on June 13 2026. Tickets are available here
Silver Mantis is a 50 minute electro-acoustic presentation, performed with software and sampling, theremin. For this show JGT will be premiering his new modified acoustic sound design devices. It is an immersive multi channel composition which allows for an elastic performance. It’s performed with a projection created exclusively for the project by acclaimed Swedish visual artist Sten Backman.
Xordox perform at Abasement in NYC April 2026
JG Thirlwell‘s Xordox project will make an appearance with a special performance at the popular Abasement series of experimental music at Artists Space at 11 Cortlandt Alley in Lower Manhattan. In this live iteration of Xordox, Thirlwell is joined by Rebecca El-Saleh (Kitba).
Xordox will play on a packed bill with Hans Tammen, Dreamcrusher with Samantha Riot and Leo Chang.
The show is happening on April 6 2026 and admission is free. Come early the show is sure to be packed. Photo by Nikki Sneakers.
JG Thirlwell provides new four channel sound piece for Senstad installation
JG Thirlwell created a new exclusive four channel sound piece for Norwegian artist Anne Katrine Senstad‘s new sculptural light installation Baroque Apocalypse.
Baroque Apocalypse will be installed at the Sylvia Wald & Po Kim Gallery at 417 Lafayette St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003. The opening reception is February 11,2026 from 6-8 pm
The exhibition will be on view from February 11 to April 18 2026.
