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EVENT DESCRIPTION
The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD or the District), is thrilled to present Freespace Noise Fest, the first-ever music festival dedicated to experimental music, which will be held this summer from 24 July to 6 August 2024. Meticulously curated by the Performing Arts Division of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority as part of the celebrations to mark the fifth anniversary of Freespace, the groundbreaking 10-day festival features performances by more than 30 international, regional and local experimental groups and performers from 10 countries and regions. The Festival will showcase experimental music from diverse genres, including improvised music, ambient music, harsh noise and more, as well as a series of workshops and artist sharing sessions.
30+ experimental acts from around the world including Otomo Yoshihide, Senyawa, Yuko Araki, Ken Ueno, Li Jianhong, Jin Sangtae, Vica Pacheco, Rafaele Andrade, Nuriia Khasenov and Nelson Hiu
Growing out of the Freespace Jazz Fest: Experimental Lab, curated by WestK since 2019, and gradually expanding into a 10-day festival over the past five years, Freespace Noise Fest aims to bring together the best experimental music from around the world, taking audiences on an extraordinary sonic journey that pushes existing musical definitions and boundaries and freely explores the power and potential of experimental sounds.
The Festival includes two weekends (26–28 July and 2–4 August) of non-stop wild improvisation at Freespace, featuring over 30 experimental musicians including:
Japanese multi-instrumentalist and composer Yuko Araki, who crafts abstract rhythms and dissonant harmonies that seamlessly blend elements of noise drone and industrial genres;
American composer and sound artist Ken Ueno, who focuses on the importance of breath, and specialises in extended vocal techniques such as overtones, throat-singing, multiphonics, and circular singing;
Chinese musician Mei Zhiyong, one of the most important international noise experimenters and hardware noise instrument DIYers in China, strong physical action and the obsession of electronic/ industrial pieces modification make each of his live performance unique;
Chinese musician Li Jianhong, who explores new creative directions through the interplay of environment and performance, using his guitar to spontaneously sculpt new musical expressions;
Mexican musician Vica Pacheco, who weaves intricate melodies with her handcrafted ceramic instruments;
Brazilian composer Rafaele Andrade, who delves into the world unconventional sounds with her DIY cello;
Kazakh musician Nuriia Khasenova, who branches her practices between classical music and transdisciplinary practices, and has won the Nicati de Luze and Barbour award in 2012.
Double-bill featuring Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Otomo Yoshihide and Indonesian duo Senyawa brings the Festival to a rousing close
On 6 August, Freespace Noise Fest will culminate in a powerful double bill finale featuring two of the biggest names on the Asian experimental music scene. Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Otomo Yoshihide will perform a set of raw free improvisation on turntable guitar. Otomo Yoshihide is well-known for his multi-faceted career spanning noise, jazz, pop and film soundtracks. He has also launched the music festival PROJECT FUKUSHIMA! after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 with his fellows, and for which he received a Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts in 2012. Meanwhile Indonesian duo Senyawa, a band at the forefront of contemporary music, will perform tracks from their latest single Vajranala, with the frenetic punctuation of Wukir Suryadi’s unique handcrafted instrumentation.
Free workshops and sharing sessions invite participants to take an inspiring journey into sonic creativity
Mexican musician Vica Pacheco will lead workshops on 24 and 25 July on fusing spontaneous sound creation with physical movements in performances.
Dr François Mouillot, Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities and Creative Writing at Hong Kong Baptist University, will co-host sharing sessions with fellow artists and musicians on 28 July and 4 August, delving into the intricacies of noise music.
Details
- Start:
- 24 July
- End:
- 6 August
- Admission:
- $220 – $400
- Event Category:
- Fairs & Festivals, Music
Venue
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