Electrofringe is an Australian festival dedicated to (and obsessed with) electronic, experimental and emerging arts and culture. Now in its thirteenth year, the 2010 festival has attracted standout local and international artists to its line-up, as well as exclusive performances. Over a stimulating five days, visitors will experience a convergence of art and technology, ideas and inspirations.
Held in a smattering of spaces across Newcastle from September 30th- October 4th, it will be a tasty treat for all your senses. Artists will descend on the city to amaze and astound their audiences with wacky and astonishing perceptions of reality, truth and the digital world. Daniel Green, Electrofringe co-director says, “Electrofringe offers a unique opportunity within Australia for emerging artists and practitioners to showcase new and developing works before an audience of their peers. Over five days the festival offers an opportunity for dialogue and exchange between artists that is unparalleled within Australia. The sense of community that is at the heart of the festival truly makes it feel like a homecoming.”
Exclusive event: Electrofringe and 8bitpeoples present Blip Showcase
This year, Electrofringe is very excited to reveal that the festival will feature a showcase of artists co-presented by 8bitpeoples from New York City, organisers of the Blip Festival. This showcase promises to be an unforgettable night of lo-fi rump-shaking glory.
For the uninitiated, the Blip Festival presents the world’s best chiptune artists before a rabid audience every year. It started at renowned New York venue The Tank, and has since expanded to events in Europe and Japan. This is their first visit to Australia, and this will be an exclusive Blip Showcase event. Slated to feature are Nullsleep (US), Bit Shifter (US) and Henry Homesweet (UK), and local artists cTrix (VIC), Derris-Kharlan (VIC), Dot.AY (QLD) and Ten Thousand Free Men and Their Families. The Blip Showcase will be held on 30th September. Tickets are available from http://electrofringe.iwannaticket.com.au/ for $12 + b/f, or $15 on the door. If you know your LSDJ from your nanoloop, you won’t want to miss this, if you don’t, come along and see what all the fuss is about.
Daniel Green says "We're very excited about the opportunity to work with 8bitpeoples to stage the Blip Showcase. This is the first time that Nullsleep, Bit Shifter and Henry Homesweet will have played in Australia, and the excitement that this is bringing to Australian electronic arts community is a key reminder of why our jobs are so exciting."
International Highlights:
Haptic Nature (Japan)
This work illuminates dual nature of haptic interaction which arises on the boundary between self and others with the help of a novel sensing technology. A visitor wears a pair of special shoes and a white glimmering pendant and feels their way in a dark room permeated with turbulent sound.
Local Highlights:
Tantrums (VIC)
Melbourne’s Tantrums combine sounds of warped electronic drumming, reverb heavy vocals, ghostly synthesisers and dark, hooky melodies all accompanied by live-synched visuals. Their sound, cleverly dubbed “midi-evil disco,” blends dramatic stylistic shifts between heavy-hearted ambience and a certain raw-punk defiance, whilst retaining a consistent interest in rhythm and texture.
The Splinter Orchestra - The Splinter Orchestra is made up of 50 electronic musicians and recording artists who improvise to create an experimental amalgamation of sound without a conductor or leader. The Splinter Orchestra will present two events at Electrofringe: a workshop followed by a collaborative performance with workshop participants.
Other highlights:
Electronic Music Speed-Dating
Interested in making electronic music? At this workshop you’ll find out how to push all the right buttons from a diverse crew of ladies making music of the digital kind. Prepare to get nerdy.
Electrofringe have set up Electro Online –www.electrofringe.net/2010/electroonline/ , which exhibits electronic art, culture and curiosities specifically created for the online environment. Stay tuned to the site for regular updates.
Electrofringe is a great way to get inspired, meet fellow artists and network amongst peers and professionals. Festival co-director, Estee Wah invites you to, “Come play!”