Countdown to Supersonic continues….

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Calling Birds:
Ben Waddington’s illustration sequence for Supersonic mirrors the countdown of the 12 Days of Christmas, borrowing classic Capsule iconography.

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Countdown to Supersonic – On the 6th day of…

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Ben Waddington’s illustration series, which mirrors the 12 days of Christmas, will be on display in the Supersonic Tea Room, along with an array of cakes.

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Tony Sylvester recommends…

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We’ve asked a number of Supersonic regulars to tell us what they’re most looking forward to seeing this year, Tony Sylvester recommends…

EAGLE TWIN
I’m ecstatic to see the Salt Lake City duo finally making their UK debut. Having trawled over to the continent at the beginning of the year to witness them live, I can safely say disappointment is not an option. I’ve been a fan of Gentry Densley’s guitar playing since the early 90s with the unconquerable Iceburn, and here the stripped back, loose approach really fires up his downtuned ferocity. And I could watch Tyler drum all night.

MOTHLITE
What would Supersonic be without an appearance from Daniel O’Sullivan? Along with O’Malley, he’s probably graced its stages more times than anyone else, except PCM of course! This year we find his newest, and my favourite of all the groups he’s been involved with – Mothlite. Shot through with a classic British literate pop sensibility, Mothlite updates the template while glimpsing back at the likes of the 4AD roster, New Order, Talk Talk and David Sylvian. The latest recordings are staggering and I can’t want to hear them full spectrum, as it were.

HALLOGALLO
Previous Supersonic highlights for me (at least that haven’t involved me disrobing and getting wet) have always included the wild card inclusions of the unexpected reformations – Harmonia and Goblin being the two obvious candidates. The prospect of hearing songs that I’ve lived inside and around for half my life is making me giddy with anticipation. Bring on the Motorik!

VBS VICE GUIDE TO LIBERIA
A rare opportunity to see Andy Capper’s life threatening journey into the dark heart of West Africa.. Never fails to blow me away that the fellow actually put himself through this to bring back this film as tender as it is savage. Killer soundtrack to boot.

FROZEN LOVE DJ Sets
What can I say? Cheeky I know! But I’m carting up the gems from my soul and R&B 45s so we can all hear them over the PA and dance into the wee hours.. See you all there, people!

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Supersonic twitter

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Photo by Pete Ashton

Ok boys and girls we have decided that this year we’ll be using #ssonic as the twitter tag for @supersonicfest
Pete Ashton pulled all the tweets together last year, and wrote a report all about it READ HERE

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Countdown to Supersonic – 8 days to go

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Dogs, metal horns and cake – this one’s got it all. Calling Birds is Ben Waddington’s beermat illustration series, counting down the days to Supersonic.

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Iron Lung live vinyl just in

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It’s been a pretty busy week here at Supersonic HQ, we are now the proud owners of 6000 pint glasses for our very first Supersonic Bar (which will be stocked with Purity Ale and Hogans Cider – located in the Old Library), cake has been ordered, our catalogue has been proofed and is now with the printers, the volunteer briefing has been held,  posters have arrived, and most importantly just in today a limited edition live recording of Iron Lungs set from Supersonic 2009.

It’s limited to 1000 copies on heavyweight vinyl and will be available exclusively from our merch stall at Supersonic, it’s pure comic genius.
This can only mean 7 days till the festival starts!!!

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Tony Conrad screening

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As part of  ‘Seeing Sound‘, an exhibition curated by Laura Coult at VIVID there will be a special one-off screening of Tony Conrad’s seminal work The Flicker (1966), a 30-minute film exploring the possibilities for harmonic expression using a sensory mode other than sound; audience reactions to the film ranged from disorientation, temporary hypnosis, and intense experiences of colours and patterns, to headaches and violent bouts of nausea, all seemingly caused by the pulsating light’s interaction with the brain’s alpha waves.

‘Seeing Sound’ will include Ben Russell’s Black & White Trypps No. 3 (2007) which documents an audience’s collective freak-out during a performance by Rhode Island noise band Lightning Bolt, and a live performance by Sam Underwood , of Steve Reich’s Pendulum Music. Originally scored for “For Microphones, Amplifiers Speakers and Performers” this specially adapted version will be performed using four Noise Boxes / Optical Theremins, similar to those made in the workshop, and four torches.

This is a FREE event – taking place at at 1pm on Sunday
at VIVID I 40 HEATH MILL LANE I BIRMINGHAM B9 4AR
OPENING HOURS & FURTHER DETAILS HERE

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Hotels

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Arc apartments and the Paragon Hotel are now both sold out, there are rooms still available at:

Nite Nite
(15 mins walk/5 min cab from the Custard Factory, It’s just a 5 minute walk from New Street Station)
Quote ‘super10’  for room  – Tel: 08458 90 90 99
rate £39.95 per night (Double room only) with WIFI
(while available)

And at Britannia Hotel
10 mins walk from the Custard Factory and located right in the city centre, 2 mins from New Street Station

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Countdown to Supersonic – 9 days to go

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From sausage dogs to cake, Ben Waddington borrows ‘classic Capsule iconography’ in his beermat illustration series, counting down the days til Supersonic 2010

Follow Ben on twitter

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An Interview With Factory Floor.

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Factory Floor are the latest good band to come out of East London. They play using vintage analogue equipment and tape loops to create abrasive electronic music, layered in feedback, with insistent Krautrock bass lines and obligatory Ian Curtis post-punk vocals. Not many bands manage to combine noise guitar and dance beats, but Factory Floor make XTRMTR-era Primal Scream sound like Shed 7. They’re all the best bits of Sonic Youth and Throbbing Gristle, with Giorgio Moroder disco electronics and Kraftwerk beats, an inspired combination.

Describe your music for those who might not know it?
Nic: Electronic, semi-improv, simple structured tracks. Loud, hypnotic – deep bass arpeggiators revolving around minimal psych vocals, metallic guitar and metronomic drums. Brutal, but cleansing at the same time.

Your career highlight to date?
Nic: Working with Stephen Morris from New Order and Chris Carter from Throbbing Gristle. Having our tracks remixed by Gavin Russom (DFA), Dean Allen (No Age), and Angus Andrew (Liars).

If you had a to pick a line up for a gig with new bands from right now, who would it be?
Nic: F**k Buttons & Gavin Russom – both innovators in today’s electronic music.

What is your favourite iconic LP cover?
Nic: Throbbing Gristle’s ‘20 Jazz Funk Greats

Can you name one place that is special to you anywhere in the world and has a musical connection?
Nic: The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. So many important barriers were crossed, blurring and exposing the notion of music and art inhabiting the same box.

What was the last LP you bought?
Nic: A Synthetic History of E.M.A.K 1982 – 88. Amazing!

Tell us what’s coming up for you in 2010 and beyond?
Nic: Releasing our debut. Performing with filmmaker Chris Cunningham. More from FFF – Factory Floor Film. And exhibitions; our film ‘Solid Sound’ is being exhibited in New York in November curated by Richard McGuire from Liquid Liquid.

We’re performing at ATP (All Tomorrow’s Parties), Iceland Airwaves festival, the Royal Albert Hall for Rough trade, and Supersonic festival with Swans and Michael Rother from Neu! We’re also working with Simian Mobile Disco.
And we’re releasing our collaboration track with Stephen Morris on Optimo Records along with a b-side remix by Twitch before the end of the year.

Introduction by us. Interview by everyones favourite Menswear store, Topman.

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Supersonic in The Virgin Trains Magazine.

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We’ve been getting some pretty interesting coverage of late. First Glamour Magazine and now Hotline, Virgin Trains onboard magazine.

The article features an interview with Lisa, covering the festivals history and some of the bands that are playing this year. Here it is, click the image to enlarge::

Or, if you’re traveling on a Virgin Train, flick through to page 37.
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The Quietus talk to Hallogallo

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The Quietus went and chatted to Michael Rother about Hallogallo

Michael Rother’s pedigree as a Krautrock pioneer is close to unparalleled, with a roster including Kraftwerk, Neu!, and more recently, Harmonia, his project with Cluster’s Hans Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. But it is his work with the much-missed motorik innovator Klaus Dinger for which he is best known. Latest project Hallogallo was originally intended as a reunion of sorts with Dinger, before the drummer’s tragic death in 2008. Now Rother is making his first appearances in years, with Hallogallo 2010 – consisting of Rother, the majestic Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth on drums, and bassist Aaron Mullan of the Tall Firs.

Read the full interview here

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Countdown to Supersonic – 10 days to go

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Calling Birds – Sausage God, the next in the series of beermat illustrations counting down the days to Supersonic Festival 2010. Ever seeking new ways to upload a picture of a dog.

Follow Ben on twitter

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Supersonic LTD T

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Here is a teaser glimpse of this years LTD T-shirt, designed Bunny Bissoux an artist, illustrator, collector, fanatic, musician and aspiring wrestling valet. Her inspiration comes from 80’s metal, wrestling and small dogs – who better to design our Supersonic 2010 limited edition T-shirt.
Previous LTD T’s have included Stephen O’Malley, French, Gunsho, Justin Bartlett

Bunny also has a stall selling her wares in our market place

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Tony Dudley Evans recommends

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We’ve asked a number of regular Supersonic visitors to tell us what they are most looking forward to seeing at this years festival. Tony Dudley Evans, director and founder of Birmingham Jazz recommends:

Chrome Hoof: I heard that they are a great live band that combines elements from avant rock, free jazz with the theatricality of the Sun Ra Arkestra

Khyam Allami and Master Musicians of Bukkake: at last year’s Supersonic I loved Khyam Allami’s oud set and am intrigued at what will emerge from this collaboration between seemingly two different approaches to music, i.e. Allami’s gentle oud and the Master Musiicans of Bukkake theatrical avant rock.

Part Wild Horses Mane on Both Sides: I am intrigued by the name (of course!), but also by the prospect of Kelly Jones improvising freely on the flute

Nisennenmondai: I caught parts of this group’s set last year while preparing to do a bit of DJing; looking forward to giving them my undivided attention.

Steve Tromans/Dan Nicholls Fender Rhodes piano duo.  This is the one that Supersonic and Birmingham Jazz are collaborating on.  They made their debut at the Harmonic Festival in March and played a wonderfully inventive set.  Both players are bandleaders in their own right, but combine effectively in this duo.

Tony will be DJing over the weekend of Supersonic, make sure you catch him, you could learn and thing or two as he has exceptionally great taste in music.

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Countdown to Supersonic – 11 days to go

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Calling Birds – Turn is the second in Ben Waddington’s series of illustrations on beermats; counting down the days to Supersonic Festival  2010.

Follow Ben on twitter

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Spotify Playlist & Competitions

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There’s only 11 days until Friday / 22 / October, which means that there’s only 11 days until Supersonic. Exciting!

To celebrate, here’s another Spotify playlist for you. Follow this link to download it.

There are also a couple of opportunities for you to win tickets for Supersonic. One is with Don’t Panic, you can enter it here, and the other is with Fact Magazine, to enter this one click here.

If you’re unsuccessful in the competitions, you can of course buy a ticket from either The Ticket Sellers or Seetickets, or from your local independent record stores Polar Bear, Swordfish or Ignite.

Hope you’ll all looking forward to the festival as much as we are.
x
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Calling Birds – the countdown to Supersonic

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Local historian, illustrator and Supersonic regular Ben Waddington has created a series of illustrations to mark the countdown to the festival:

Calling Birds:
Ben Waddington’s illustration sequence for Supersonic mirrors the countdown of the 12 Days of Christmas, borrowing classic Capsule iconography.

Perry


Follow Ben on twitter

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Supersonic posters just arrived

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To our delight we received these amazing Supersonic posters at our office today. They have been created by Italian screenprint collective Malleus. Following our theme of autumn, they have been designed  using a metallic ink on brown card. We will have a limited number on sale at the festival.
Have a look at the set they created for us in 2008

Have a look at the Malleus blog to see their print process

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There’s a double page feature on Supersonic in this months Brum Notes magazine.  Here’s the scanned in article::

In case that’s too small, and to read the page that’s on the right, here’s a link to the online version (scroll through to pages 14/15).

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The Quietus Interview Pierre Bastien

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Here’s an excerpt::

When was the last time you played in Britain?

Pierre Bastien: The last time was at the Bath Festival this year. But before that I took part in Sound UK’s programme Fertilizer. And I toured with Squarepusher four years ago, and took part in three ‘raves’ probably, because it was more than a concert – the whole night was music. Also in London, I played at the Rough Trade store when it was at Covent Garden in the afternoon, that was very small but very nice. And a very nice concert organised by, I think, The Wire and a label called Chill Out – I don’t know if it still exists.

How did Squarepusher’s audience take to you?

PB: I never dared to look at the people! Laughs] I was a bit scared actually! I was playing almost first, Luke Vibert was warming up the place and I was right after him. I think it was kind of an introduction to the rest [of the evening], but it was very audacious of Tom [Jenkinson] to invite me there. I think it went well, but I never dared to check if they were dancing or not so I’ll never know. Probably not of course, but moving at least, I hope, a little bit! [Laughs]

For the full interview click here.

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Supersonic Extra Curricular Activity in Fused Mag.

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There is a little run down of the extra curricular activity that is taking place as part of Supersonic Festival in Fused Magazine this month. Here’s the scanned in article:

But, that maybe too small for you to read, in which case click here and scroll through to page 62.
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Supersonic podcast no.3

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With less than 3 weeks to go until Supersonic 2010, this is the third and fina podcast created by Little Chris of Brumcast fame, to give you a real taster for what’s in store – enjoy!

1. Master Musicians Of Bukakke – Cascade Cathedral (4:13)
2. Napalm Death – Mass Appeal Madness (3:29)
3. Drumcorps – Pig Destroyer Destroyer (4:26)
4. People Like Us – Gesundheit! (1:16)
5. Chrome Hoof – Crystalline (4:01)
6. James Blackshaw – Cross (8:38)
7. Health & Efficiency – Yes I walked alone (4:23)
8. Swans – Time Is Money (Bastard) (6:20)
9. Mugstar – Technical Knowledge as a Weapon (5:40)
10. Gnod – Twin Within (13:11)
11. Mothlite – The One In The Water (4:41)
12. K.K. Null – X-02 (4:25)
13. Part Wild Horses Mane On Both Sides – Earth Song (3:22)
14. Ovo – Ostkreuz (2:50)
15. Nicholas Bullen – Proximity (8:12)
16. Melt Banana – Dog Song (1:20)
17. Godflesh – Streetcleaner (6:43)
18. NEU! – SEE LAND (6:54)

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Swans first show

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Swans deliver a blistering set from the Trocadero on the first day of their tour and record release in Philly. We can’t wait!

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