This weekend brings us RVA Noise Fest II, the second annual weekend-long showcase of weird and experimental performers both from out of town and of local origin. This year’s bill was put together by multiple curators: Gary Stevens (Head Molt/Mutwawa/Rat Ward), Matt Boettke (Scant/Sex Complex/Ancient Noir), and Jonathan Lee (Anduin/Souvenir’s Young America).
This weekend brings us RVA Noise Fest II, the second annual weekend-long showcase of weird and experimental performers both from out of town and of local origin. This year’s bill was put together by multiple curators: Gary Stevens (Head Molt/Mutwawa/Rat Ward), Matt Boettke (Scant/Sex Complex/Ancient Noir), and Jonathan Lee (Anduin/Souvenir’s Young America).
Negative Gemini
This weekend will also mark the premiere of Lee and Boettke’s new cassette project, Richmond Tape Club. A series of 20 minute EPs by local electronic artists, Richmond Tape Club will be releasing eight cassettes over the course of 2013, the first two of which, by Negative Gemini and Slow News Day In The Vampire World, will be released during the festival. Cassettes will be available for individual sale at the shows, or can be ordered online as part of a one-year membership to Richmond Tape Club, which can be purchased for $60 HERE.
Mutwawa
The Fest begins on Friday, April 26 at Sound of Music, located at 209 N. Foushee St. Curated by Jonathan Lee, this evening’s bill is made up mostly of local electronic acts, headlined by local champions Mutwawa and Diamond Black Hearted Boy. The evening will also be somewhat of a Richmond Tape Club showcase, featuring performances by Negative Gemini and Slow News Day In The Vampire World, as well as upcoming Richmond Tape Club act Close Your Eyes I’m Changing, and Lee’s own project, Anduin. Show starts at 7 PM, admission is $5.
Contortionist Jazz Exotica
Night #2, Saturday April 27, takes place at Strange Matter (929 W. Grace St), and will feature a Cheapfesst-style round robin of harsher noise and power electronics. Curators Gary Stevens and Matt Boettke are represented with performances by Head Molt and Scant, respectively, and the evening will also include performances by midwestern acts Skin Graft, Dog Lady Island, and Shattered Hymen. With over 30 acts scheduled to perform, the bill is thick with local acts, along with acts from DC/MD/DE/PA. Former Richmond residents Drums Like Machine Guns, now based in Philadelphia, will blast high speed noisy breakbeats and high five each other, while headliners Contortionist Jazz Exotica will likely shower the front row of spectators with shards of broken glass. This show starts at 5 PM and will last until late in the evening. Admission is a $5-$10 donation.
Night #3, Sunday April 28 at The Nile (309 N. Laurel St), is the most eclectic, and will feature free jazz blasts from New Loft, the latest project from Richmond’s old school SST Records crew, with members of Hotel X and Always August. You’ll also get the colorful sampledelic sounds of CNP Records collective Stone Garden Jam Temple, as well as Medicinal’s coldwave analog synth showoff.
Earlier on Sunday, before the Nile show, fans of excellent experimental music are encouraged to head downtown to Forinstance Gallery (107 E. Cary St), and catch Chris Corsano, the living legend and reigning king of free-improv percussion. Corsano has performed with Bjork, Thurston Moore, Nels Cline, Jim O Rourke, Bill Orcutt from Harry Pussy, members of Sun City Girls, Comets on Fire, Vibracathedral Orchestra. He’ll be working alongside and in collaboration with New England reel-to-reel tape loop snake charmer Jason Lescalleet. Starts at 7:30, solo sets from both and a debut collaboration. This show will end before the show at the Nile starts, so fans are encouraged to catch both.
Overall, this will be a totally freaky weekend, and a major treat for lovers of experiemental music. Don’t miss it! For more details about RVA Noise Fest II, click here.
