Having taken 2013 off to venture into world domination elsewhere around the globe, the Unsound Festival plants its flag anew in New York City in early April. I wrote about this groundbreaking Polish fest and its founder, Mat Schulz, for The New York Times in 2010, so I'll refer you to that article for the basic facts.
There are some amazing events in store this year, including intriguing projects from Oren Ambarchi and Demdike Stare; a very promising collaboration featuring electronic-music pioneer Suzanne Ciani with Neotantrik (Andy Votel and Demdike Stare's Sean Canty); a rendition of Michael Pisaro's ricefall by Norwegian percussionist Håkon Stene; and a performance by "post-rave" duo EVOL featuring compositions by artist Hanne Darboven, to whose work I was introduced during an Eyvind Kang concert last year.
There's no official website just yet, but here's a quick run-down of the schedule as it presently stands.
UNSOUND FESTIVAL NEW YORK 2014
Presented by Fundacja Tone and the Polish Cultural Institute New York
Production Partner ISSUE Project Room
Wednesday April 2 8pm
Issue Project Room
* EVOL plays Hanne Darboven scores – USA premiere
* “Knots” with Oren Ambarchi, Sinfonietta Cracovia players, James Rutherford and Joe Talia – USA premiere
(EVOL are co-presented with Mark Lewis at Yale Union)
Thursday April 3, 7.30pm
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
* Pietnastka
* Neotrantrik & Suzanne Ciani – USA premiere
Friday April 4, 8pm
First Unitarian Church, 50 Monroe Pl, Brooklyn
* Stara Reza
* Phill Niblock
* “Concealed” with Demdike Stare, Michael England and Sinfonietta Cracovia players – USA premiere
Friday April 4, 10pm
Mutual Dreaming @ Cameo Gallery, Williamsburg
* DeepChord (Live)
* copeland (Live)
* Wilhelm Bras (Live)
* Huerco S (DJ)
* Visuals by Aurora Halal
* Lighting installation by Nitemind
Saturday April 5, TBA (afternoon)
Location TBA
Artist talks and discussions
Saturday April 5, 3pm
Issue Project Room
Percussion event featuring
* Sean Meehan and Ben Manely
* Håkon Stene
* Hubert Zemler
Saturday April 5
BAMcinématek at BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn
* “Rondo” (directed by Janusz Majewski) with a live score by Piotr Kurek
* Andy Votel presents “Kleksploitation” – USA premiere
Saturday April 5, 9pm
The Bunker @ The Wick, 260 Meserole St, Brooklyn
* Porter Ricks (Live)
* Vladislav Delay (Live)
* Ital & Halal (Live) – world premiere
* Miles (DJ)
* Leisure Muffin (Live)
* Le Petit Garçon (Live)
Sunday April 6, Time TBA (afternoon)
Experimental Intermedia
* Ben Vida presents “Damaged Particulates (undersong edition)” – world premiere
Sunday April 6, 6pm
Issue Project Room
Bocian Records showcase
* Kapital
* Paal Nilssen-Love & Robert Piotrowicz – world premiere
* James Rushford & Joe Talia
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