join us for the biggest Social of the year
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Transforming Manchester into a space of experimentation, making it come alive
Futuresonic 2009 and the Social Technologies Summit will take place 13-16 May 2009, featuring world premieres of astonishing artworks, an explosive city-wide music programme, and visionary thinkers from around the world. The festival has four strands - Art, Music, Ideas and EVNTS - and occupies the orbits of art, performance, music, design and digital culture. Now in its 14th year, Futuresonic is the UK's leading festival for digital culture, and this year was nominated for the prestigious Lever Arts Prize. An urban festival experience, it is anticipated that over 50,000 festival visitors will engage with 300 artists and 100 events across 30 venues.
Philip Glass - Etudes and Other Work for Solo Piano - Simultaneously stirring and meditative, an evening of Philip Glass' solo piano is a rare opportunity to experience this influential composer's work first-hand. A special event in an intimate venue, this concert features his most recent Etudes for piano as well as classics in Glass' repertoire, and provides a glimpse into the intricacies of the composer's work in its most elemental form. Speaking from the piano bench, Glass personally introduces the programme. A unique look at a visionary at work, this evening provides a fond reacquaintance for Glass fans and a perfect introduction for a new audience.
Electric Wizard - Exploring the murky world of doom metal and occult electronics, Futuresonic has invited Dorset based Electric Wizard to perform alongside Walsall's Wizard of Electronica, John Twells aka Xela. Both live acts are noted for an analogous interest in the occult and horror soundtracks in particular, catering for lovers of Goblin, American stoner rockers Sleep or the 'other' side. Electric Wizard have a cult following under the spell of their doom laced and sludgy psychedelic rock music.
Anti-Pop Consortium - Another Futuresonic foray into the most devastating and creative territory in leftfield hip-hop. Featuring an extremely rare UK live performance from the seminal NYC based hip-hop crew Anti-Pop Consortium with support from local beatfreaks DJ Woody, Fingathing's Peter Parker aka Parkertron plus a slew of active local DJ's. The headliners can count Radiohead, DJ Shadow and Public Enemy among their biggest supporters, finding a kindred spirit in their renegade brand of avant-electro productions and stream-of-consciousness lyrics. A supporting cast of beat makers, freakers and players draws together the Manchester regions finest to traverse a broad section of hip-hop, dubstep and reggae to start the party Futuresonic style.
Plus Murcof, Johann Johannsson, Daniele Baldelli, Kode 9, Soap&Skin, Tobias, Marnie Stern, Extra Life, Toddla T & MC Serocee, Zomby, Efdemin, Crystal Antlers... and many more in a full-on programme of international mavericks, risk-takers, boundary-breakers and radical music-makers at over 30 venues city-wide.
- For more info and to buy tickets visit
http://www.futuresonic.com CLICKHERE
Buy Weekender Wristbands and advance tickets now at
http://www.futuresonic.com CLICKHERE
Futuresonic's 2009 art programme is more ambitious and relevant than ever.
The major annual theme is Environment 2.0 - hanging musical plants which sing when stroked, a forest in the gallery grown from Joseph Beuys' acorns, a public recital of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, wheelchair tag rugby in a simulation of Darwin's battle of the species, an art device for striking it rich by prospecting for oil in the city centre, and a project with the Met Office engaging the population of Manchester in monitoring climate and biodiversity.
Artworks such as Thwonk by Jonah Brucker-Cohen explore the perennial Futuresonic focus on society and technology alongside new commissions taking the festival into the streets of Manchester.
Sound art projects include music played by scanning 2D barcode graffiti across the city, a major project by Royal College of Art & Yamaha, and, following on from Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, John Lennon's Imagine ringing out on cathedral bells in Liverpool.
New commissioned artworks in Environment 2.0 include:
Elin Wikström - Reds Against Greys : One Kind of Squirrel Versus Another Kind of Squirrel
For this new commission Scandinavian artist Elin Wikstrom is arranging a wheelchair tag rugby match, scripted and designed to illustrate biodiversity issues and representing the invasion of non-native species of plants and animals in the northwest of England. The drama and brutality of the game will be documented by multiple cameramen and edited into a short film displayed in the Futuresonic 2009 exhibition at CUBE.
The film will be later screened as part of a conceptual art event and expanded cinema performance, using contributions from leading experts in biodiversity, plant/animal migration (as well as human migration), and also involving the match players from Wigan and District Wheelchair Tag Rugby Club.
Ackroyd & Harvey (UK) - Beuys' Acorns
Gallery installation of 150 oak saplings and 3 day in-conversation event with Ackroyd & Harvey and guests.
In 2007, Ackroyd & Harvey gathered and germinated hundreds of acorns from renowned artist Joseph Beuys's seminal artwork 7000 Oaks in Germany, and in doing so began a new long term research project. This will be the first exhibition of Beuys's Acorns, which explores the agency of ideas associated with the provenance of the trees and provokes questions as to the artists relationship with nature, the changing climate and collapsing economic order. Beuys had a mission. To change the social order. Mostly the money system. Ackroyd & Harvey will ask what the legacy of Beuys's mission is given the climate of ecological and economic degradation at the beginning of the 21st century.
Ackroyd & Harvey will also be in conversation with artist and activist James Marriott at Castlefield Gallery at 6.30pm on Thursday 14 May.
Jon Cohrs (US) - Urban Prospecting
Winner of a Futuresonic 2009 Art Award Commission.
Artist Jon Cohrs has created a device for striking it rich by prospecting for oil in the city centre. Using old metal detectors, hydrocarbon sensors, locative media, and hype, this project combines a DIY aesthetic, basic accessible electronics, and pop culture to re-invigorate urban exploration and prospecting. Riding on the coat tails of the current subculture of prospecting and the historical precedent of the Gold Rush, the aim is to encourage a tongue-in-cheek urban oil rush. Instructions how to make the device will be made available online, and news of oil strikes in cities around the world projected as a Twitter feed in the gallery space. The device is both a real technological accomplishment, and an artistic 'conceptual object' which challenges us to reassess our greed and dependence on oil. Join the oil rush by signing up to go prospecting in Manchester.
Plus many more exhibitions, artists and art events city wide.
Including:
Amy Balkin (US), HeHe (FR/UK), Scenocosme (FR), Usman Haque (US), Prayas Abhinav (IN), Janine Randerson (NZ), Aaron Koblin (US), Andrea Polli (US).
For more info and to buy advance tickets now visit
http://www.futuresonic.comCLICKHERE
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Futuresonic EVNTS
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The Futuresonic EVNTS strand is a festival-within-the-festival showcasing the best new and original events, performances and creative happenings.
EVNTS is 5 years old this year!
An innovation unique to Futuresonic, EVNTS is a place to discover the genres, artforms and stars of tomorrow and takes place across the entire city centre. EVNTS is a 'wiki-festival' which throws open the doors of the festival to new and innovative event organisers and artist groups.
Futuresonic puts money from the festival's core programming budget into EVNTS and financially supports a number of events, judged by the independent EVNTS Jury. In addition to bringing fresh and engaging work to the public, the EVNTS programme is designed to expose the artists themselves to new ways of thinking and encourage them to confront and interact with the audiences in new and interesting ways.
Since its introduction in 2005, EVNTS has grown into one of the most important strands of the festival, and has generated a community of EVNT people who meet regularly and return each year to give Futuresonic an extra edge.
This year there will be over 25 EVNTs, including five award winners who receive financial support from Futuresonic, selected by a special EVNTS Jury for creative quality, ability to deliver, innovation and their potential creative legacy:
StartRunning - A unique event that draws together the worlds of music and contemporary visual art. Startrunning creates a space for home grown artists and creative talent passing through the city. For Futuresonic 2009 Startrunning presents a diverse programme of works in sound, moving image and installations based around the festival themes.
The Centrifuge - Presenting a live electronics workshop, club event and street rave. Pioneering figures who are both live musicians and technologists perform using their own homemade musical instruments and software that are now commercially available. Ending in a street rave using their unique personalised mobile sound system.
Guerrilla Busking - A beat box rave on the site of the old Hacienda, a Somali refugee band playing traditional music at the Royal Exchange. A series of 'flash mob' musical events in poignant places across the city. Organised by people who are a cornerstone of ManchesterÕs underground culture. Each musical happening explores the relationship between music, freedom of movement and public space.
Seed Studios - Andrew Hodson of Matinee Orchestra fame directs this fantastic music project, featuring some of the most colourful characters in Manchester's musical community. At Futuresonic 2009 they present a profile live event at RNCM plus a day long open workshop. Seed Studios is a music and arts studio in the Trafford area of Manchester.
Burst Couch - Manchester's longest continuously running electronic music event has been a constant presence within Futuresonic for a number of years. In 2009 Burst Couch presents a special event in the wonderful setting of St Margaret's Church in Whalley Range. Featuring an evening live event plus through the day on Saturday workshops and performances open to children and young people.
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Futuresonic Conference: The Social Technologies Summit
Contact Theatre, Manchester
13 - 16 May 2009
The Social Technologies Summit is the leading international conference that brings together 500 opinion formers, futurologists, artists, researchers and technologists to explore the latest upgrade affecting today's digital culture.
Pioneering ideas will be presented, which will transform the way you and your organisation operate, innovate and interact. Combining keynotes, critical debates, demonstrations and experiences with open space and participatory sessions, it is an engaging, critical and essential event to attend.
The themes for the conference this year include Environment 2.0, Digital Futures, Identity and Trust, Mobile and Semantic Web: Cultural Algorithms.
This year's conference participants include:
Stowe Boyd is a thinker, writer and an authority on the theory and practice of social web application design and development and their impacts . He coined the term "social tools" in 1999, the same year he started blogging and hasn't looked back since - according to Technobabble - Stowe is one of the top ten analysts currently blogging. www.stoweboyd.com
Adam Greenfield is perhaps best known for the book Everyware, regarded as the first work for general audiences on the consequences of a sensor and computer-saturated environment. He is also credited with having coined the word moblog.
Adam is a leading authority on user experience design and ubiquitous computing and an expert on next-generation computing and the human-friendly interface. His personal website, v-2.org, was nominated for a Chrysler Design Award in 2000. Adam is the Head of Design Direction, Nokia
Jamais Cascio covers the intersection of emerging technologies and cultural transformation, focusing on the importance of long-term, systemic thinking. Cascio is an affiliate at the Institute for the Future and a fellow at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Cascio co-founded World Changing.com and now blogs at OpenTheFuture.com.
Many more speakers including; James Marriot, Tristan Thielmann, Ewan McIntosh, Alfie Dennen, Christian Licoppe, Helen Aspell, Selene Kolman, Lee Bryant and many more.
For more information on Futuresonic Conference and to buy a Delegate Pass please visit
http://www.futuresonic.com CLICKHERE
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For more info and to buy advance tickets now visit http://www.futuresonic.com CLICKHERE
Futuresonic is supported by Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, Piccadilly Partnership, Lancaster University, ImaginationLancaster, Art Attack, Contact and Cube.
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. . . Hello! Here I show you my new instrument ready to the electronic and experimental live music performance. It's a little bit odd... Maybe you..d like to enjoy this live-set. Come and feel it on this video. Hola! Aquí os presento mi nuevo instrumento preparado para la interpretación de música experimental y electrónica en directo. Es un poco curioso... A lo mejor os gustaría disfrutar de este live-set. Venid y escuchadlo en este vídeo. PAR...CHIS, PAN, PUN A POLITICALPERSONALDISASTER LIVE-SET
Friends of PUBLIC ENEMY- Help Support our New Graphic Novel! Please check out our new PUBLIC ENEMY Vol. 1 by Chuck D and Adam Wallenta and order a copy at www.americanmule.com/shop. We ship worldwide and accept Paypal! Order today and get 2 FREE cds. Limited quantities, so get them while they last. Help support independent underground HIPHOP and comics. We need your support! All purchases autographed!!!
findlay_hunter_rennie emerge from Manchester's unsung experimental underground, with a debut album brimming full of razor sharp ideas, glistening soundscapes, soaring melodies and decomposed structures. All improvised, all live, always unpredictable. Cello meets guitar meets trombone meets laptop meets a lot of effects pedals.
Download includes 6-track album, pdf liner notes and exclusive cover artwork by Becca Smith.
Following Sun Ra's death, the group has performed under the direction of alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, who celebrated his 80th birthday on stage during Arkestra performances at the Vox Populi gallery in Philadelphia and the Vision Festival in New York City. In the summer of 2004 the Arkestra became the first American jazz band to perform in Tuva, playing five sets at the Ustuu-Huree Festival.
We welcome the Arkestra back to Manchester for the first time since 1991. We are honoured to host what is, to us and many of you, we're sure, one of the most exciting shows to hit town in recent memory.
Solid Earth & what? the folk! present: Freaks, Ghouls and Graves, a Balkan (ish) flavoured Halloween (ish) knees up at the delightful St Margaret’s church in Whalley Range.
Yessum we’re back. after the monstrous success of Jackson’s Boat, we thought it only right and proper to offer you another helping of profoundly good music in a great venue. We’ve got a rosette for best zombie in show, beer and food from the nice folks at Jam Street and noise from Stumblefunk.
Another co-promo with the brains and muscle that brought Beats, Roots & Leaves back in May - this time tho we de-camp indoors to make the most of the Halloween theme inside a church, with face painters, ghost hunters, a bar provided by Jam Street and a fabulous line-up of musical tricker treats:
Na Zdrove Na Zdrove is Sheffield's finest Balkan Beats, Gypsy Brass, Russian Ska, Gypsy Dub, Klezmer and Gypsy Punk night. blimey. We’ll ave some of that. We’ll be welcoming their house band and resident DJs - yes indeedy! http://www. myspace. com/nazdrove
visit our myspace to find out more including other acts
DOORS 9PM ::: £8 donation (all proceeds go to MSF in Darfur) ::: BAR PROVIDED BY JAM STREET CAFE SERVING CASK ALES AND VINTAGE CIDER, BOTTLED BEER, SPIRITS AND HALLOWEEN SNACKS - 2AM LICENCE. Limited Adv tickets @ Jam St Cafe, Upper Chorlton Rd.
Festival for contemporary music, art and political discourse
Nov 5 - 9 2008, Graz
Four nights packed with concerts, live acts, and DJs from all over the world. Four days of lectures, discussions, workshops, installations and performances from (independent) organizations, critical thinkers, activists and artists. Most events take place in venues carved inside the historic Schlossberg – the hill in the center of Graz. ..
