Bex Burch is percussionist specialising in the Dagaare xylophone or Gyil. Following a series of chance encounters and a keen interest in groove based music / minimalism Burch was invited to be the apprentice to master Ghanaian xylophonist Thomas Segkura and lived in Dagaare Ghana making and playing Gyilli for 3 years. On passing out of the apprenticeship, she was given the name ‘Vula Viel’, meaning Good is Good and shared the name with her own group on returning to UK.
As a performer on percussion and Gyil, with Vula Viel Bex has performed in venues and festivals including Moers Festival, Willisau Jazz Festival, Bezau Beatz, WOMAD, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cafe OTO, Purcell Room Royal Festival Hall, and Latitude festival and released the acclaimed album Good is Good in 2015, Do Not Be Afraid in 2019 and 'What's Not Enough About That' in 2020.
As a composer, Bex was selected from hundreds of applications to become one of Sound and Music’s first New Voices and continues to develop her unique voice on both for Vula Viel and further afield. Burch has just been awarded PRS Foundation's 'Women Make Music' funding to make Vula Viel's thirs album 'What's Not Enough About That'.
”One of my discoveries for the 2015 London Jazz Festival.. Good is Good”
Gilles Peterson
“Beautiful”
”Dance to it, Make Love to it, Consume it, Listen to it, Stare at the Clouds to it..”
Iggy Pop
“They were the unexpected stars of a glitzy show “ John Fordham
“One of the most exciting young UK groups I've heard this year, Vula Viel” Jez Nelson
Max Reinhardt tweeted of the live show “@vulaviel making the earth spin!!! Hurry on
down...sounds of subversion immersion resolution”
fRoots “Something wonderful is at work here..
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”One of my discoveries for the 2015 London Jazz Festival.. Good is Good”
Gilles Peterson
“Beautiful”
”Dance to it, Make Love to it, Consume it, Listen to it, Stare at the Clouds to it..”
Iggy Pop
“They were the unexpected stars of a glitzy show “ John Fordham
“One of the most exciting young UK groups I've heard this year, Vula Viel” Jez Nelson
Max Reinhardt tweeted of the live show “@vulaviel making the earth spin!!! Hurry on
down...sounds of subversion immersion resolution”
fRoots “Something wonderful is at work here... This is a superb, generous record. And
good for your feet.”
Financial Times “Like Coltrane in dialogue with early Steve Reich”
London Evening Standard “Vula Viel are one of London's most interesting new bands”
Songlines “Joyous, celebratory and explosive ... New and vital”
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Primary Instrument
Percussion
Location
London
Credentials/Background
15 years teaching experience. All ages and abilities welcome.
Bex Burch 
