Friday, December 27, 2013

Art's Birthday 2014

BEAMS to host Art’s Birthday 2014
Edmonton event part of a global celebration

When: Friday, Jan 17 2014 @ 7p.m.
Where: Britney's Lounge (10225-97 Street)

EDMONTON—The Boreal Electroacoustic Music Society (BEAMS) has announced it will host Art’s Birthday 2014, as part of an international tradition that’s been going on for more than 50 years. The Edmonton installment takes place at Britney’s Lounge (10225-97 Street) Friday, Jan. 17 starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $10, with BEAMS members getting in for half-price. With more than 10 acts confirmed thus far, and billed as Where is Utopia, the 2014 version contains a more eclectic lineup than ever.

Appearing at Art’s Birthday 2014 will be folk singer and social activist Paula Eve Kirman, a regular performer on the protest circuit. Recognized for her lyrical take on social injustices, Kirman is a member of such groups as the Daughters Day equal rights initiative and the Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism.

Performance artist Lascaux Proxy has been confirmed to deliver a set blending electronic music with modern dance and live theatre. So far within the past year, she’s released more than a half-dozen works, collaborated with integrated dance act CRIPSiE, and played at such events as NeXtfest and A Queersummer Night’s Dream.

Avant-garde act agaperaygunexperiment returns with its own brand of audio and visual improvisation. The latest incarnation of the group act is slated to include Japanese grindcore vocalist Himiko Dethnoizz, whose latest CD has been released on the Toronto-based D-Trash label.

Other attractions include interactive software performer Skrunt Skrunt, fashion designer Cherie Howard, music experimentalist Boosh and rocker Tomas Marsh. Rounding out the lineup will be Kevin Solez, Nom De Plume, The Trevor Schmidtheads and Motonogo.

Art’s Birthday was first proposed in 1963 by French artist Robert Filliou, who suggested the discipline didn’t exist until more than a million years ago when a sponge was dropped into a pail of water. After using his own birthdate of Jan. 17 to mark the occasion, Filliou’s notion has since been adopted by a global community that includes participants in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Germany and Austria. A listing of supporting organizations and worldwide events can be found at artsbirthday.net.