2012 marks the ten year anniversary of this dynamic, experimental, multi-disciplinary arts festival, which identifies the otherwise indescribable connections between contemporary music, art, performance and film. To commemorate this impressive and very special milestone this year, Capsule propose to work with Supersonic alumni and emerging artists to celebrate the achievements of the festival thus far whilst also focusing firmly on the contemporary. Because as well as giving a warm welcome to many influential, era-defining artists over the years, Supersonic always has an uncanny knack for highlighting new acts before everyone else is talking about them.
As previously stated, Capsule's programme has a sense of spectacle at the very heart of it, always aiming to capture the imagination of the audience, and given that they are celebrating a decade of innovative festival curation, there is no wonder that Supersonic continues to thrive and draw in fans, performers and industry folks from across the globe.
In today's announcement, the festival programme dynamically evolves as we focus on the addition of more live performances, announce the first panel discussion and some of the films that will be shown, as well as some extra special events which should be the icing on the cake for anyone still debating over whether or not to buy a ticket!
Capsule are totally committed to inviting back festival alumni to perform at Supersonic and are devising unique performances that are far from typical and promise to be absolutely spectacular. One such performance we are proud to present is Oxbow Orchestra. Expect strings, woodwinds, brass, operatic backing vocals and classically contained renderings of the Oxbow song book, featuring Eugene S Robinson and Niko Wenner from Oxbow and an Orchestra who will deliver songs new and old in a format unaccustomed to the blood and sweat of a typical Oxbow outing. The textbook definition - ONCE IN A LIFETIME. This ties in very nicely with the first film announcement which will be Oxbow - The Luxury Of Empire, a very intimate portrait of a band at the peak of their artistic maturity, candid interviews and live footage reveals the trials and tribulations of this band, all told in directorMariexxme's dark compositional style.
From one large scale event to another (well it is their tenth birthday after all!) Capsule have also invited, Lash Frenzy who will perform ‘Vir Heroicus Sublimis’ as an improvised noise collective, featuring members of Anaal Nathrackh, Beestung Lips, Benediction, Sally and Einstellung. As with all things improvised, nothing is certain, all we know for sure is that there’s more than one person involved and less than 1000. If you weren’t able to get in to the Lash Frenzy vs KK Null performance at Supersonic 2010, then make sure you don’t miss out twice! Speaking of collaborations, Capsule have gone and done it again, putting together another distinctive pairing especially for the anniversary festivities which includes the aforementioned KK Null and Birmingham's own ORE. In many ways, KK NULL's collaboration with Lash Frenzy at Supersonic 2010 acted as a proof of concept for the amplified tuba sound of ORE, so it's entirely fitting for Capsule to bring the two entities together this year. Better still, KK NULL and ORE have gelled so well in the early stages of working on this collaboration that they have also decided to release a limited split CD-R single together, which will be available at the festival.They will be performing a specially-written twenty minute piece together, culminating in a vast cacophony of sound. Be afraid, be very afraid.
For the first panel discussion, Capsule have chosen a very interesting topic that is at the heart of their own personal ethos when it comes to festival curation - creating art in challenging times. The discussion is called 'You Can Be You' and will feature an array of maverick artists, who, like Capsule/Supersonic Festival, never compromise their integrity and ethos when creating art, or curating an event, or performing. These are; Penny Rimbaud, Jarboe andEugene Robinson. Offering an insight into some of the hows and whys of maintaining an independent spirit whilst on the very edge of the avant-garde, the panel will debate such topics as, how is the drive to make art sustained under sometimes-difficult circumstances? and after many years of writing and touring music, will the desire to create ever be satiated? Supersonic Festival,now in its 10th year, began as a one-day event and has blossomed into an internationally renowned weekend of music, art and much much more. The panellists have hugely influenced the festival producers, as well as many other artists performing at Supersonic. ‘You Can Be You’ will offer a fascinating insight into the drive and motivation behind some of the most prolific experimental artists around.
From maverick musicians to maverick film directors, another documentary that will be screened at the festival is 'The Bruce Lacey Experience' by Jeremy Deller and Nick Abrahams. For his new documentary the Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and his sometime accomplice Nick Abrahams turn their attention to fellow film pioneer and iconic performance artist Bruce Lacey. Three years in the making the film examines Lacey’s remarkable legacy as a painter and sculptor (creating extraordinary mechanical devices in the 1960s), an avant-garde filmmaker (alongside Dick Lester and Bob Godfrey) and as an all-round cultural chameleon, working with The Goons, The Beatles and even folk-rock super-group Fairport Convention. An intimate portrait of a self confessed 'silly bugger' and true visionary artist who, at the age of 85, still lives the bohemian dream; creating art and magic in a farmhouse near Norwich.
Now onto some exciting news about a workshop event that Capsule are arranging. Given the success ofImperfect Cinema last year, Capsule have invited the team back to host a free workshop exploring DIY modes of filming and cinema only this time, the footage people gather using Super 8 cameras will be edited and used as visuals for Drunk in Hell's performance. All in all, an exciting opportunity for festival goers to be part of the performance and for them to utilise the unique industrial backdrop in a highly creative way. Imperfect Cinema will also be screening the film 'Bullshit Detector' - their film about the Crass compilations, which ties in nicely with Penny Rimbaud's guest appearance. More about that soon!
Finally, further proof that Supersonic Festival wish to unite everyone in their tenth birthday celebrations and to create a fun, memorable event, they have confirmed the presence of Vinyl Rally, a large-scale installation combining sound art, video art and kinetic sculpture into every kid and kidult’s dream-hybrid; an immersive participatory play-set playing off vinyl fetishism, video arcade mystique and the machismo of motor sports in a video game played within a real world setting! Classic first person video racing is simulated as remote control cars with styli attached, race across a track constructed from a mass of disused vinyl records. Transmitting sound (produced as the styli skim along the vinyl surface) and vision (from wireless spy cameras mounted to the front of each car) to re-engineered old school racing consoles with immersive 50inch flat screens. Here players navigate the course from the vehicles point of view, not only controlling the cars movements, but also the parameters of the resulting sounds they create via a series of unique audio effects mounted onto the dashboard giving each car its own distinct aural flavour. These sounds are emitted from speakers built into the seats causing them to vibrate in correspondence with the movements on screen, producing a personally immersive experience aurally, visually and physically that can only be truly appreciated seated at the controls. I don't know about you but I for one cannot wait to get behind this mean machine!
Believe it or not, there is still plenty more to announce as well as a breakdown of the day scheduling so stay tuned for more news very soon! And don't forget that the final Supersonic teaser show in London featuring King Midas Sound System, JK Flesh and Glatze commences on Thursday 9 August at Corsica Studios, so any last minute plugs you can give that would be much appreciated.
As a reminder, here is a list of the line up as it stands; Body/Head/Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore/The Bug/Carlton Melton/Clifford Torus/Dope Body/Drunk In Hell/ Dylan Carlson/Flower-Corsano/Goat/
“Supersonic is a place to be educated and surprised: new, experimental and intellectually nourishing.” – WIRE
“Having been a journalist for 15 years I’ve had cause to work at approaching 100 festivals all over the world and in my opinion Supersonic has the consistently best quality line-ups and is the most engaging and stimulating to fans of underground music. Certainly no other festival introduces me to more new and exciting music than this one.” - THE QUIETUS
“Capsule’s Supersonic festival has evolved…to consistently provide one of UK’s most anticipated Festival line-ups. Fans of dubstep, krautrock, free-jazz and doom metal were all catered for on a bill which promised to both rupture the ears while stimulating the mind through its diverse selection of music, film and specialist talks.” – CLASH
Crafting extraordinary events for adventurous audiences
SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL
19-21 October
Birmingham UK
Weekend tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk
“Having been a journalist for 15 years I’ve had cause to work at approaching 100 festivals all over the world and in my opinion Supersonic has the consistently best quality line-ups and is the most engaging and stimulating to fans of underground music. Certainly no other festival introduces me to more new and exciting music than this one.” - THE QUIETUS
“Capsule’s Supersonic festival has evolved…to consistently provide one of UK’s most anticipated Festival line-ups. Fans of dubstep, krautrock, free-jazz and doom metal were all catered for on a bill which promised to both rupture the ears while stimulating the mind through its diverse selection of music, film and specialist talks.” – CLASH
Crafting extraordinary events for adventurous audiences
SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL
19-21 October
Birmingham UK
Weekend tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk
Supersonic mixtape link: http://soundcloud.com/
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