A very special Kids Gig during the Bring To Light weekend saw Richard Dawson perform to a huge crowd of kids and families at the Symphony Hall cafe. Thanks to Richard for coming along and playing ‘the most daunting gig of his career’, and to Sara Hamilton Baker for facilitating. Photos by Katja Ogrin.
For more Bring To Light photos go here
Last year’s Kids Gig featured Islaja and Flower/Corsano Duo
As part of Bring To Light, there’ll be a very special Kids Gig, a fantastic introduction to
experimental music, for children and their families on Saturday 26th October at 2pm at the Symphony Hall. This free event is aimed at the under 7s and features the inimitable Richard Dawson. There’s more family friendly activity on Saturday with a free performance by Shangaan Electro -the dance phenomenon from South Africa, this takes place in the Library of Birminghams’ amphitheatre at 3pm.
No need to book, just drop in.
By now you’ve probably heard all about our Kids Gigs, a series of concerts designed to introduce your young ones to the power and beauty of live music in a safe, child friendly environment (if not, where have you been?). This year we’re proud to present the Flower-Corsano Duo on Saturday 20th, and Islaja on Sunday 21st, but it’s not just art of the musical variety that we’re offering to your kids this year. The fantastic visual arts collective Juneau Projects will be offering a 20 minute animation workshop at both gigs, with the aim of gently introducing your child to the art of creating moving pictures. Using coloured lights and a series of basic images, your children will be encouraged to bring these pictures to life before letting their hair down for the following musical treat.
This combination of visual arts and experimental music is the perfect gift for a precocious child (ideally under the age of 7), and this is a great opportunity to share an artistic experience with your young ones. There are barely any tickets left for Flower-Corsano Duo, but we still have plenty for Islaja; spaces are limited however, so book now to avoid dissapointment!
Tickets cost £10 (parent and child) or £12.50 (parent and two children), and this includes both the gig and the workshop.
Buy Tickets – Saturday with Flower/Corsano
Buy Tickets – Sunday with Islaja
We’re very excited to announce that electronica pioneers Alva Noto and Byetone will be playing at this year’s Supersonic Festival. Two wizards of experimental audio visual performance, the German artists will be play at the festival as part of their 15 year anniversary tour. Alva Noto makes rhythms and harmonies using clicks and glitches and is also known for his work with Ryoji Ikeda. Byetone, aka Olaf Benders is the label boss of Raster Noto record label and as Byetone manipulates abstract animations in realtime to support abstract, complex pieces of music that mange to be danceable at the same time.
Also joining the bill this year is Cut Hands, aka William Bennett of Whitehouse, and his afro noise project. Alexander Tucker will be presenting an intimate performance of his new record of minimalist string arrangements and electronic manipulations and The Berg Sans Nipple will bring their incredible live show to the festival. Part Chimp, legendary for the volume of their live hows will bring their noise rock to the stage, along with psych sleazers Teeth of the Sea, Sabbath worshippers Slabdragger and Nottingham’s finest, Kogumaza.
As ever, we like you to get you involved in the festival too, a bit of audience participation never goes amiss and we’re pleased to announce an exciting workshop from Supersonic friend John Richards. After the success of his Dirty Electronics Ensemble in 2009, he’ll back with a new noise making workshop, Mute Synth, where participants can also show off their hard work at the live performance at the festival.
We’re also very pleased to announce the return of Supersonic Kids Gigs – big sounds for little people. Lucky Dragons, as well as performing at the main festival site for us grown ups, will be doing a special performance for children and their families.
For up to date festival news go to www.supersonicfestival.com
Tickets for the festival are only £75 for three days of music, film, art and cake and are available from:
Plugs Records, Cork
Polar Bear Records, Birmingham
Swordfish Records, Birmingham
Saturday 23rd October
11am + 2.30pm
mac Cannon Hill Park Birmingham B12 9QH
Tickets £5 Bookings 0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk
For 2 – 7 year olds and their families
A 1 hr workshop & performance exploring experimental music aimed and kids and their families.
Ever since Schoenberg and Kandinsky became pen pals back in 1907, avant-garde art and experimental music has been attempting to find some common ground. But, it’s not been easy. While modern art is a mass phenomenon, experimental music is often derided and ignored by the masses. Here’s our contribution towards a solution: ‘Big Sounds for Little People’. If you couldn’t guess from the snappy title, it’s a gig, for kids and their families, which aims to introduce children to experimental music at an early age.
Featuring US based, Dosh, a one-man band, a virtuoso, and West Midlands local circuit-bending fiend Glatze. Glatze uses customised instruments (including: circuit-bent Furby dolls and kids’ toys) that have been specially rewired to create all sorts of musical wizardry. Dosh a multi-instrumentalist; combines a host of instruments into an exciting and unique live experience. See firsthand how these unlikely instruments are used to make noise / sound / music, and to have a go yourselves.
Produced by Capsule + mac with support from Bright Space + SAM
For info about Supersonic Festival check here