Currently in a state of information overload – going to panel discussions, being jetlagged, trying to follow loads of tweets on Twitter, meeting new people, coping with 80 degree heat and being over excited…so rather than trying to digest whats going on, here are a few random shots of what we’ve been up to so far. When my brain can get to grips with it all I will write up a more meaningful post but in the meantime enjoy Austin through the eyes of a Capsule Granny…

The Umbrella Group heads out SXSWi festival

A delegation of the country’s leading digital artists and producers are heading over to Austin, Texas this week to attend this year’s SXSW Interactive festival, funded by Arts Council England. The Festival celebrates the creativity and passion behind the coolest new media technologies. In addition to panel sessions that cover everything from web design to bootstrapping to social networks, attendees can make new business connections at the three-day Trade Show & Exhibition.
The delegation, known as The Umbrella Group, will research new opportunities, view work, spot emerging digital trends and experience first hand one of the biggest international conferences and festivals of the year.

Managed by iShed, The Umbrella Group comprises of Dan Efergan of Aardman, Sarah Ellis of Apples and Snakes, Simon Evans of Simon Games, Alex Fleetwood of Hide & Seek, Steve Manthorp of Manthorp ACT, Lisa Meyer and Jenny Moore of Capsule, Simon Poulter of Viral, Duncan Speakman, Nina Steiger of Soho Theatre, Jess Tyrell of Germination and Andrew Wilson of Blink. They will be joined by Clare Reddington of iShed and David Drake, Sally Luton and Adrian Friedli of Arts Council England.

Whilst out at the Festival The Umbrella Group, who are easily spotted as they carry umbrellas, will be running The Hat Game designed by Simon Games. Featuring a gps tracked bowler hat, festival attendees will be able to make contact with The Umbrella Group, track the hat online and claim the hat, wearing it for as long as they can until it is claimed by someone else.

Find out more at http://www.umbrellagroup.org
and keep up to date with the group at their blog:
http://www.ished.net/projects/sxsw

or by searching twitter for #uksxsw.

Launching this Wednesday is the highly anticipated Flatpack festival, kicking off proceedings at Birmingham Town Hall is CURZONORA, a celebration of cinema’s early days featuring THE DESTROYERS

This week the ‘musical whirlwind’ known as The Destroyers will be presenting a brand-new set specially commissioned to open the Flatpack Festival. Curzonora is a tribute to Birmingham’s early film showman WALLER JEFFS, and will feature live scores to some of the films you would have found at his 1900s shows, including pioneering sci-fi movie TRIP TO THE MOON (Georges Melies), the rootin’-tootin’ GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (Edwin S. Porter) and a selection of amazing footage from the Mitchell and Kenyon Collection, shot around Birmingham at the dawn of the 20th century.

Weds 11th March, 7.30pm at Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham B3 3DQ
Book tickets online, at the venue or by calling 0121 780 3333
> http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/flatpack-festival-presents-curzonora
> http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=69594063311
> http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk/09/festival/event/curzonora

Flatpack Festival 3 runs in venues across the city from 11-15 March.
More info at http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

Other events during the festival include a screening of the Led Zeppelin film ‘The Song Remains The Same‘  with a talk by music archivist Chris Phipps as part of our Home Of Metal celebrations. This will take place on Saturday 14th, 4pm at South Birmingham College in Digbeth.
Other music related events as part of the festival include a film about singer-songwriter Vashti Bunyan, a performance by the lovely Bela Emerson, Sublime Frequencies film Sumatran Folk Cinema + heaps more amazing stuff. Go check stuff out!!!

Just wanted to high light the amazing work of Bunny she describes herself as ARTIST, ILLUSTRATOR, COLLECTOR, FANATIC, COSTUMIER, STYLIST, PROP MAKER, ART DIRECTOR, ZINE & COMIC BOOK AUTHOR, HOSTESS, GO GO DANCER, MODEL, ACTRESS, VOICE ACTOR, MUSICIAN, AGONY AUNT, ESCORT, SPECIAL GUEST, CAKE DECORATOR, VINTAGE CLOTHES DEALER, 21ST CENTURY ANTIQUES EXPERT, DOG SITTER, WRITER, SHOP OWNER, LECTURER, FILM THEORIST, HAIRSTYLIST AND ASPIRING MAGICIAN’S ASSISTANT AND WRESTLING VALET. Most recently Bunny produced a doodle which we are using for our fancy new business cards. Previously we have commissioned her to produce an illustrated diagram linking members of the 5 bands which we are focusing on for Home Of Metal (we hope at some point to turn this into a teatowel).

Of course we were inspired to commission Bunny after we saw her incredible map of hair metal (which you can purchase as a print from her shop)

This map charts the movements of band members between groups in the hair metal genre and beyond. As the disclaimer states: “Hair metal may include or be known as: glam metal, heavy metal, hard rock, glam rock, shock rock, nwobhm, flash metal, speed metal, thrash metal, classic metal, classic rock, power metal or just metal”

Its well worth checking out her website and work as other treats include her costumes:

Under the Wonderleague name Bunny has a stall where she sells a fantastic selection of kitsch treasures & baked goods , you might have seen her at Supersonic last year. Of course we love her not just because shes extremely talented by for her cupcakes and fondness of the small dogs too.

See more of her photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnybissoux/
Wonderleague website http://www.wonderleague.co.uk/
Blog http://www.bunnybissoux.blogspot.com/

Frank is at work today, quietly sitting under my desk, just listening to some music and keeping an eye on everything, whilst looking after ‘Suckles the Clown’. On the whole he is pretty well behaved in the office other than when he decided to wee on Jens camera bag.

If you like this picture check out stuff on my mutt for such beauties as:

Could be me & Jen…
and of course for fans of the feline stuff on my cat

Thanks to Dorian Wood for introducing us to these sites, we spent a good few hours of browsing on Sunday afternoon with slices of cake.

Two more stunning gig posters have been created by artist Ben Javens for our future Capsule gigs, firstly for a show with Savannah, Georgia’s BARONESS (Relapse Records) with support from Alabaster Suns (ex Capricorns) and Birminghams very own thunderous foursome Mothertrucker which takes place on Friday 10th of April.

Followed a week later by the godfather of Drone, Dylan Carsons EARTH with support from Ko-Guma-za, which sees the guitar section of Nottingham band Wolves Of Greece reunited for the first time since their involvement with NYC composer Glenn Branca’s orchestra in 2007.

Both these gigs will take place at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath, advanced tickets are available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk or Polar Bear on York Road in Kings Heath, also at Swordfish on Temple Street in Birmingham city centre.

We are trying to keep up with technology by signing up to Twitter, feel free to follow us with all the latest news to do with Supersonic Festival and of course if Frank ( the puppy dog) does anything amazing like looking cuter than normal. http://twitter.com/supersonicfest
Twitter illustration by Ben Javens, part of his bird and pattern series. Cute dog courtesy of Frank (Capsule head of security)

Walsall born artist, CHU ( famous for his ‘Your Mum Rang’ sticker campaign) has produced a three colour signed screen print, limited to an edition of 50, 500mm x 700mm on archival acid-free, bright white Bread & Butter 270gsm.

They’ll be available from the Dreweatts collections during February, further details here.
Designed for Supersonic Festival 2003 which saw live performances from Coil, V/VM, LCD Sound System and The Bug amongst a host of other fine acts. Brings back happy naive memories of building a stage over the ‘lake’ at the Custard Factory, until we realised we could have electrocuted the entire audience, happy days.