Nunatak (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nunatak | |
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 Nunatak rehearsing for the Live Earth Concert
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Rothera Research Station, Antarctica |
| Genre(s) | Indie rock |
| Years active | 2006 - Present |
| Label(s) | Unsigned |
| Website | BAS Page |
| Members | |
| Matt Balmer Tris Thorne Allison Massey Rob Webster Roger Stilwell |
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Nunatak is the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station’s house band. The five person indie rock band is part of a science team investigating climate change and evolutionary biology on the Antarctic Peninsula. [1]
On 7 July 2007 as part of Live Earth, Nunatak played to a sell out crowd of 17 (the entire population of the BAS research station Rothera[2]) making up the Seventh Continent contingent of the Live Earth concerts. Lead singer Matt Balmer, 22, said of the event that the band "expected to spend our Antarctic winter here at Rothera quietly getting on with our work and maybe performing at the occasional Saturday night party. We could never have imagined taking part in a global concert." [3]
The band's name is the Greenlandic word for a mountain top protruding from an ice sheet. Originally, the band had named itself after a disease previously common to Punta Arenas roughly translated to "Ratchet Death" but felt that the pronunciation of that name was less than politically correct.
In the buildup to the event, Director of BAS Professor Chris Rapley CBE said:
“The need to reduce our carbon emissions to avoid serious climate change is one of the greatest challenges humans have had to confront – is a complex issue that will only be solved by us all working together – scientists, politicians and society. Right now, Antarctic scientists and our colleagues in the Arctic are taking part in International Polar Year - the biggest ever globally co-ordinated research effort – to help find the way forward. Hopefully, Live Earth will make a real difference in public awareness and attract talented young people to become scientists – it’s a cool job with a real purpose. I am looking forward to Nunatak’s appearance in the Live Earth concert inspiring young people the world over."[4]
British Antarctic Survey cameraman Pete Bucktrout made videos of the band's performances that were transmitted back from Antarctica for inclusion in Live Earth. The videos are available on the BAS website.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Nunatak's line-up
- Matt Balmer – lead vocals and guitar – electronics engineer with the physics and meteorology team.
- Tris Thorne – violin – communications engineer
- Ali (Alison) Massey – saxophone – marine biologist
- Rob Webster – drums – meteorologist
- Roger Stilwell – bass guitar – Field General Assistant (polar guide)[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11507002 National Public Radio
- ^ http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/press/featured/nunatak/about_rothera.php BAS Rothera
- ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19221919/wid/18298287 MSNBC
- ^ Press Release - Antarctica: The coolest Live Earth gig in the world from British Antarctic Survey
- ^ Nunatak - Watch The Performances from British Antarctic Survey
- ^ Nunatak In Depth About the Band - Coolest gig in Live Earth July 7 2007. Accessed July 7 2007
