DATA 2.0

Just found out about this today by chance whilst talking to a friend at a Super Collider talk at SARC - sadly I'll not be able to attend, but it looks pretty special. If you're in Dublin this weekend, you could do worse than to invest some time in checking some of it out. Of particular interest is the Punk Console Workshop and Push Move Click.

DATA 2.0

Misa Digital Guitar

"misa digital guitar running linux kernel 2.6.31.

very fun and mesmerizing to play.

sydney, australia.

http://www.misadigital.com

PLEASE NOTE: that "crackling" some people are pointing out is an effect, like a bit crusher effect. It was done on purpose to show how the location of your touch effects the sound. You can apply any control parameter you want to each axis of the touch screen. This instrument is not limited to one type of effect. I personally like the sound, but it is subjective like all music is."

This ugly, cutting-edge piece of kit looks like a LOT of fun. No price available yet, and I imagine the response on the fret(?)board might be strange, but it's got some interesting sounds and I'm sure that multi-touch screen can be coaxed into manipulating the notes into territory a normal stringed guitar couldn't get to.

Big Bang Lab

Big Bang Lab, Cultural Social Responsibility from Big Bang Lab on Vimeo.

Big Bang Lab is a leading cultural-social enterprise that creates and delivers dynamic learning programmes and high quality productions. We combine original music with archive and silent films, both contemporary and historical.

An interesting collection of projects using media and community groups to create new work. Plenty to research. Inspiring stuff.

BASE - Ulster Hall 200210

Trans, one of Belfast's urban arts academy's, is hosting BASE: the first indoor festival of street art in Belfast on February 20th and 21st in the Ulster Hall, Belfast.

Running order for the bands :

Saturday 20 Feb
Start 14:00
Finish 23:00

Music

14:00 Ossia Music

14:30 Nakatomi Towers

15:30 Cutaways

16:30 NI Soul Troop

17:30 BEW

18:30 Pocket Billiards

19:30 Space Dimension Controller

20:30 Super Extra Bonus Party

21:30 We Have Band

Sunday

Start 14:00
Finish 18:00

14:00 Katie and the Carnival

14:30 The Swell Time

15:30 Marie-Flore

16:30 Hyperpotumus

17:15 Special Guest

Here's a list of the artists involved - get a load of these tasty graphics!

http://www.kevlargey.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kvlr

http://danleodesign.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danleodesign/

http://www.akaelph.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elph/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciaradunne_art/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30293079@N02/
http://dogboysteaparty.blogspot.com/

http://mattsewell.co.uk/

http://dreph.blogspot.com/

http://www.guymckinley.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guymckinley

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruse76/

http://mrkern.free.fr/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11526552@N08/

http://www.bo130.org/

http://www.microbo.com/

I contributed to a podcast for the Culture Northern Ireland site (thanks to Eddie Mullan) which you can download here.

Ecker presents 33 1/3 Part 2

Back to the Menagerie for another round of bass heavy bouncy fun. The Ecker lads are hosting their 33 1/3 show again. Each DJ plays for 33 minutes then lets the next have a spin. The line up for the night features the following heros/hallions*

DJ Acroplane Recordings
Parsley Monkphat
G-Bo (check online for some recent mixes)
Jim Harte
Bloom
T-Polar
De-Twist

I love this 'Bass Bus' graphic:


(*delete as applicable)

Krautrock

A topic so mystical and beautiful Julian Cope took the time to write a book about it. If you haven't managed to get a copy, fear not. Some forward thinkers over at Sound Projector have decided to share their words on the subject, and decided you don't need to pay.

I love creative commons (you probably knew that already).

Live Music Now.

Speaking to a co-worker I heard about Live Music Now. He sold it as money for gigs in schools, hospitals and care homes. Preference given to those under 30 years of age. Playing music, and being paid for it is something I'm sure will seem like an amusing concept for some, but apparantly it can happen.

The organisation's website is seriously worth investigating. There is a wealth of information on their outreach programmes with numerous examples of past and future projects.

There's a FAQ section which you'll probably want to read before making any decisions on if it's right for you to be involved, but even if it's not for you it's good to know about and you may want to pass on details to friends or family.