Secret Show review in the Wire

Cast your mind back a few weeks, when Capsule and Fierce Festival were asking you to entrust us with one night of your life. We co-commissioned a mysterious and memorable experience where an undisclosed artist performed in an undisclosed venue. Thanks to all who came to the sell out show.

So, what actually did happen at the Secret Show? According to the Wire magazine…

“A kind hand leads me to the car transporting me to who knows where. It comes to a halt after ten minutes. We might not have
phone.

gone far, but, disorientated, I lose balance and start feeling deeply scared. Other hands lead me in complete silence to the designated space. The surface beneath my feet feels like grass or fur. Remembering I’m wearing an S&M like mask, I wonder if this is a porn movie set…

…Finally, a long synth sound emanates from the abyss: as if from a forest, sounds emerge one by one. They’re probably generated by a computer, but in my mind I see green trolls belching fire. The wisps of sound thicken into a fog; clicks and drones tremble over basses; guitars squeal, making me think of Norwegian Black Metallers in leather and painted faces. I lose hope and take refuge in childhood memories. Then a voice enters, an animalistic, asthmatic, death rattle. It’s like someone was being killed right in front of me. Unable to do anything, I slump in my seat, helpless. But having got this far, I must survive…

…I preferred not to know who had done this to me. Hearing an unknown performer in an unseen space had altered the way I experienced sound…But for the purposes of this review I must reveal the perpetrator was Francsico Lopez.


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First of three Supersonic podcasts


Khyam Allami and the Alif Ensemble – 19th July – Ikon

We are extremely pleased to be bringing this very special show with some of the most talented and inventive young Arabic players to Birmingham. Fresh from a performance with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Liverpool Arab

Arts Festival, the Alif Ensemble will perform at Ikon Gallery on Thursday 19th July.

The Ensemble will feature the magnificent Khyam Allami on oud. See below his previous performances at Supersonic, both solo and with Master Musicians of Bukkake.

Tickets are £8 or £6 concessions and available from theticketsellers

http://www.khyamallami.com/alifensemble/

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Supersonic intern callout

Supersonic needs YOU! This year, Capsule’s internationally renowned festival runs 19-21 October 2012 and there are two internship opportunities for dynamic individuals interested in learning more about the delivery of a large scale arts festival. You will receive valuable work experience and be credited as part of the Supersonic Festival core team.

Capsule are looking for a Marketing Intern to assist with the promotion of the festival and a Production Intern to assist with logistics before, during and after the event.

MARKETING INTERNSHIP

The Marketing Intern will work closely with Capsule’s Directors, assisting with the pay per click management and promotion of the festival. Tasks include:

– Assisting with the Supersonic marketing strategy with focus on increasing national and regional audiences

– Setting up and maintaining a festival distribution database

– Collaborating with a social media marketing agency to establish an online presence, especially when agencies like The Marketing Heaven makes good on their promises.

– Assisting with mailing list management

– Distributing promotional material as a core member of the festival street team

– Preparing suitable content for the web

– Online image collation

– Maintaining social media subscriptions including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Last fm

– Identifying relevant press opportunities and hosting press attendees and media sponsors

– Assisting with artist/ press liaison during the festival (meet & greet/ hosting/ interviewing)

– Assisting with the coordination and supervision of

the festival box office (reporting on ticket sales, compiling guest and press lists)

– Assisting with the delivery of a post-festival press report

– Organising audience feedback

PRODUCTION INTERNSHIP

The Production Intern will work closely with Capsule’s Directors and Operations Manager assisting them with the production before, during and after the festival to include:

– Production and co-ordination of commissions and partner events

– Understanding the operations of the festival. Layouts, stalls, staff, suppliers, equipment

– Preparation and set-up of festival production office

– Co-ordination of festival volunteers

– Site layout, risk assessment, health and safety and production manual

– Aspects of Artists Liaison (catering, accommodation, travel)

– Liaise with site stalls, catering and film crew access

– Site set up and maintenance (Install, de-rig, signage, cleanliness)

– Organising after festival party

– Evaluation management

– Delivery of an evaluation report post festival

– Undertake other tasks as necessary and directed by Festival staff.

Please note, unfortunately we can only receive applications from people over 18 years of age. For more info please contact [email protected] with ‘Marketing Internship’ or ‘Production Internship’ as the subject title. You will then receive more information on the role and details for application.

The deadline for applications is Monday 16th July and interviews will be held on Tuesday 24th July. The successful candidates will begin the internship in August.

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MV & EE – Custard Factory – 19th September

We are delighted to announce that Vermont’s MV & EE will play Birmingham this September as part of their Home Comfort Sound System tour. This should be a really special occasion as the contemporary folk-blues duo will be playing with the hand built sound system combined with visuals in the form of 16mm projections, slides, oils, and customised lighting. Each performance on the tour will be unique, responding to their surroundings.

They will perform in the Gallery Space of the Custard Factory on Wednesday 19th September with support from Health & Efficiency. Tickets are £10 and available from https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/

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Unsane taster!


Supersonic line up announcement: Merzbow, Hype Williams, Jarboe and many many more

We’re thrilled to announce a whole host of exciting artists to the 10th anniversary festival. Supersonic favourite Merzbow will perform a solo set as well as the ever changing Jarboe, Italian psych metal group Ufomammut and one of the most exciting live acts around at the moment – the inimitable Hype Williams.

Also added to the line up is Doomsday Student (born from the ashes of Arab on Radar), Norway’s Stian Westerhus, noise legend Kevin Drumm and Birmingham’s finest PCM. Add to that the frantic Clifford Torus, the ethereal sounds of SWLLWS and the crushing Mothertrucker along with electroacoustic artist Thomas Ankersmit, psych band Hookworms and noise rockers Hey Colossus!

We’re also excited to invite back the filth of Drunk in Hell, and special appearance from KK Null and Ruins Alone. To keep you dancing all weekend we’ve got Australia’s My Disco and the kraut/electronica duo Warm Digits and for those calmer moments, the gorgeous, stripped back songs of Richard Dawson.

Believe it or not, there are still some more very special additions to add to their already mega tenth birthday line up which we shall unveil soon, as well as more information about the art exhibits and film programme which is still taking shape behind the scenes. But for now, please enjoy this Supersonic Festival mixtape, featuring a selection of the line up so far, for your listening pleasure. Please feel free to host this on your site and help us to spread the word.

As a reminder, here is a list of the line up as it stands; Body/Head/Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore/Carlton Melton/Clifford Torus/Dope Body/Drunk In Hell/ Dylan Carlson/Flower-Corsano/Goat/Hey Colossus/Hookworms/Hype Williams/Jarboe/JK Flesh/Kevin Drumm/KK Null/Lichens/Merzbow/My Disco/PCM/Rangda/Richard Dawson/Ruins Alone/Sir Richard Bishop/Six Organs Of Admittance/Small But Hard showcase/Stian Westerhus/SWLLWS/Thomas Ankersmit/Tim Hecker/Ufomammut/Warm Digits / Mothertrucker / Zeni Geva.

For line up and ticket info go to http://www.supersonicfestival.com

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Watch – Sleepy Sun impromptu performance at IBYM