Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "norcal noisefest"

Fall into the arts with ARTober in Sacramento

2012-10-02T22:45:34Z

October is here, which also means it’s the onset of ARTober—Sacramento’s celebration of National Arts & Humanities Month. Throughout the month the public can experience and participate in more than 150 art events, performances and free family activities, including exhibitions, poetry slams, art festivals, concerts, musicals and plays.

This week features:
Opera at the Crest: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Crest Theatre
“Opera at The Crest” will feature the "best of the best"—popular and favorite arias, duets and ensembles taken from the top 10 most popular operas voted on by Sacramento Opera patrons this summer. Selections will be performed by six acclaimed singers who will be appearing in Sacramento Opera's productions during the 2012-2013 season.

16th Annual North American Youth Film & Education Day: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at the Crest Theatre
The unique educational event showcases movies entirely made and juried by high school youth. In addition to showing all the top juried movies, the full-day event will feature a youth producers dialogue,” a top industry leader’s movie career vision presentation, and host the major California media schools whose representatives attend the event.

Unexpected Art: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 in the Newton Booth Neighborhood
Enjoy a tour of working artists, galleries, studios, public art and other art events in the Newton Booth area of Midtown. Free passports can be picked up the day of the event at Castle Dab (2014 23rd St.). Visit every venue and get the passport stamped and be eligible for the door prizes.

Moderno Italiano Festival: 6 - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5-6, at Hot Italian and Fremont Park. *Films show at 9 p.m. in Fremont Park.
This free festival celebrates contemporary Italian design, food and film. It includes an Italian design installation curated by Lumens Light + Living featuring Alessi, Kartell and Foscarini furniture, lighting and accessories. Other design elements include the Fiat street team and a fashion show featuring Italian bicycles on Friday.

Norcal Noisefest: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5; 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 and noon - 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at Luna’s Café, Sol Collective, and Bows & Arrows.
Norcal Noisefest 2012 is a three-day festival of experimental noise music from across North America. The Noisefest was founded in 1995 and brings a dedicated following of experimental musicians and fans together every year.

SacWorldFest: 6 - 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 in Old Sacramento
This spectacular multicultural event showcases the region’s amazingly rich and diverse communities through live musical performances, visually exciting ethnic dance, engaging storytellers and a dynamic global village complete with cooking and dancing demonstrations plus a fashion show.

Free Family Concert Series: 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 in West Sacramento City Hall Galleria Room
Camellia Symphony Orchestra presents its popular Free Family Concert Series with its instrument petting zoo. The family concerts also include a visual art element presented by I Can Do That!, a nonprofit organization dedicated to art education that offers “funshops” for children to create art related to the musical experience.

13th Annual ‘A Place Called Sacramento’ Film Festival: 1 - 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Crest Theatre
“A Place Called Sacramento” challenges local scriptwriters to write 10-minute scripts about the people, places and events that make our community a unique place to live. Come and meet the 10 scriptwriters/producers who will have their work premiered at the Crest Theatre and enjoy watching their creations.

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See more ARTober events on the ARToberSac.com Calendar, provided by Sacramento365.com. As an event partner for The Sacramento Press, Sacramento365.com provides information on activities happening in the Sacramento community.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Norcal Noisefest at Sol Collective

2010-10-05T02:29:52Z

Show for all ages

Day one of this year’s Norcal Noisefest was held on Friday, October 1 at Luna’s Café on 16th Street. About a dozen acts showed off their unique Noise (music) making abilities. Some of these acts, probably like people back in the Paleolithic Age, used any available material to construct music making instruments for their performance. Styrofoam, 10 gallon plastic water bottles, tin foil, bricks, soda cans, nails on a board, sticks, and other rudimentary noise making instruments were used to make rhythmic sounds. None of the shows I witnessed used the nails screeching down a blackboard but it would have been interesting. Traditional instruments played their part with some acts as did synthesizers, effect pedals and other similar instruments. Ear plugs were provided, if they were requested, and although not always necessary they did come in handy. In some cases it was music to the ears and in many it was interesting just to see what these artists used to experiment and evolve their Noisefest making abilities.

This was the 14th annual event funded in part by the Microgrant Program of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission with support from the City and County of Sacramento. Other event sponsors included Luna’s Cafe, Sol Collective, EMRL advertising, John Natsoulas Gallery Center for the Arts in Davis, Thee Instagon Foundation, KDVS, Noise FX, Brown Paper Tickets and Molotov Energy Drinks.

The event was broken down into three main sections called "The Good, The Odd, and The Ugly." Luna’s Cafe hosted The Good and Sol Collective hosted (the venue I attended) the odd and the ugly. Two smaller events were also included this year, a prelude at the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis and a finale at Nebraska Monday at Luna’s Cafe.

Acts came and went in rapid succession. As one performer ended their set another began to set up and in some cases two groups would set up at the same time. Many of the acts are based in northern California but the show also included other acts from throughout the state as well as out of state and out of the states.

Most of the acts were made up of 3 to 4 members but this was about the only theme they had in common. Homemade instruments were also the “norm” as was the experimental phase of their Noisefest making abilities. One of the first acts I saw that included a traditional instrument was Houston’s Thomas Helton playing a stand-up bass. His set, I believe, touched almost every note conceivable reminding the listener that these acts will experiment and take their noise making to the next level.

Camino’s Noisepsalm included other traditional instruments, a cello and banjo, in their set but again their orchestral ensemble performed an untraditional arrangement. People react differently when they hear fingernails screeching on a blackboard some akin that sound to styrofoam being scratched, broken or rubbing a piece upon another piece. Styrofoam Sanchez used a similar technique during their set. The three member group, dressed in black suits, wore styrofoam masks during their act. Although their act seems to be easy to describe their arrangement was indescribable. I think at one point they may have been able to awaken neighbors across the street from Sol Collective.

I was mesmerized by the whole experience and although I only mentioned a handful of acts most of them indeed were music to my ears. This type of art has its place and the following it conjures is very impressive.

Noise, the next genre of music, has lasted 14 years via the Norcal Noisefest and for its 15th anniversary a film project is in the works. A full-length documentary will document the year long process of organizing the 15th annual event. For more information on the project and this year’s Noisefest log on to the Norcal Noisefest site.

Although neighbors from across the street did not complain about Noise it will be interesting to see how they react on Day of the Dead (Día del los Muertos). For the record - St. Joseph’s Cemetery is across the street from Sol Collective.

The “Ugly” section of the program started with Jolthrower wearing several Jolt t-shirts and making Noise with jolt (or some energy drink) cans. L.A.’s Pulsating Cyst followed and rhythmic Noise continued pulsating until close to midnight. Noisefest’s website contains a listing of all the acts for this year’s event. The 2011 film project will be covered and updated throughout the year and some history, along with photos from previous events, are available for viewing. Noise has been used to describe most genres of music at one time or another by different generations. Noisefest has been around for over a decade so you can’t call it new anymore and it can only continue to grow. Its teen years will be very interesting, thanks to the artists, organizers, supporters, and fans that continue to experiment with this type of art.

Acts that performed at this year's Norcal Noisefest included; Big City Orchestra, Lords Of Outland, Uberkunst, Xome, Crank Sturgeon, En Nihil, Instagon:Mixer Set, +Dog+, Dental Work, Actuary, Chopstick, Liver Cancer, Klowd, Mucky The Ducky, Overdose The Katatonic, Pedestrian Deposit, Sharkiface, Pete Von Petrin (Formerly Fognozzle), Darryl Shawn, Jolthrower, Wrong Hole, Basidiomycota, Styrofoam Sanchez, Thomas Helton, Mama Buries, E Yard, Noisepsalm, Tarantula Princess' Rat Skulls, Calm Inferno Archives, Medicine Cabinet, Cmbls, Reptile Alien, Ink On Suit, Audioemetic, Holly Herndon, Pulsating Cyst, Lifeliner+, Heating Metallurgical Schions, Vankmen, Smite!, Hammond, Corcoran Steed, and Shawn Quartet Striatins amongst others.

Photos:

1 - Reptile Alien, 2 - Thomas Helton, 3 and 4 - Heating Metallurgical Schions

5 and 6 - Tarantula Princess' Rat Skulls, 7 and 8 - Noisepsalm, 9 and 10 Tools of the Trade

11 - Sharkiface, 12, 13 and 14 - Mucky the Ducky

15 and 16 Styrofoam Sanchez, 17 - Neighbors across the street from Sol Collective

18 - Klowd, 19 - Big City Orchestra

20, 21, and 22 - Jolthrower, 24 - Pulsating Cyst

Norcal Noisefest 2010: Sandpaper for the Eardrums

2010-09-29T04:49:10Z

On October 1 and 2, Sacramento's annual Norcal Noisefest returns for its 14th festival. Founded in 1995 with a two-year hiatus in 1998 and 1999, the Noisefest (sometimes known as the Northern California Experimental Music Festival) is a weekend-long gathering of experimental musicians from across North America who come to Sacramento to provide an audio experience unlike anything else around. The Noisefest was described by Sacramento News & Review writer Julie de la Torre as "the musical equivalent of taking sandpaper to your eardrum, but in a good way." (http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1747208) Noise is not for everyone--but for those seeking musical experiences ranging from the subtle to the challenging to the bizarre, the Norcal Noisefest has no equal.

This year's Noisefest takes place on Friday October 1 and Saturday October 2, split into three distinct sets, called "The Good, The Weird, And The Ugly."

Friday night's performance at Luna's Cafe, 1414 16th Street, features acts from the more melodic end of the noise spectrum, like Bay Area free-jazz improvisers LORDS OF OUTLAND, dark ambient industrial from local performer HYPNOTIC INJECTION, or Mexico's DARRYL SHAWN.

Saturday's show at Sol Collective, 2574 21st Street, starts with a set of the weirdest acts to perform at the Noisefest, including Davis' MUCKY THE DUCKY, Placerville's gothic etherealists NOISEPSALM, and Sacramento's favorite teenage noise performer TARANTULA PRINCESS with her new musical collaborator RAT SKULLS. Houston's THOMAS HELTON will provide a break from the unrelenting volume by performing musical experiments on an acoustic stand-up bass, followed by a set-ending ritual by San Francisco's BIG CITY ORCHESTRA.

The final set, also on Saturday night, "THE UGLY," features the most brutal and ear-punishing power electronics, like locals XOME and LIVER CANCER, Portland, Maine's CRANK STURGEON, and Los Angeles' PULSATING CYST. Gabber master VANKMEN from Oakland and Los Angeles wunderkind PEDESTRIAN DEPOSIT will join Sacramento acts like JOLTHROWER and CHOPSTICK to test the abilities of your earplugs to resist unrelenting waves of sonic ugliness.

All shows are all-ages. Admission for each day costs $10, but a full weekend package costing $25 includes not only admission to both days, but also a Noisefest T-Shirt, the 2010 Norcal Noisefest compilation CD "The Junk Drawer Is Open," and a Noisefest commemorative pin.

Tickets can be purchased at the event or in advance via Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124396

FREE EARPLUGS are provided upon request, and are highly recommended for those attending the Norcal Noisefest.

NORCAL NOISEFEST 2010

Day 1 - session 1
October 1, 2010
Luna's Cafe
1414 16th Street
Sacramento, CA
STARTS 7 PM

LORDS OF OUTLAND (SF)
+DOG+ (LA)
DENTAL WORK (MI)
PETE VON PETRIN (SF) (formerly FOGNOZZLE)
BASIDIOMYCOTA (LA)
MEDICINE CABINET (tracy)
E YARD (Santa Rosa)
HYPNOTIC INJECTION (sac)
DARRYL SHAWN (mexico)
HOLLY HERNDON (SF)
LIFELINER+ (SAC)
CALM INFERNO ARCHIVES (san jose)

Day 2 - session 2 & 3
October 2, 2010
Sol Collective
2574 21st Street
Sacramento, CA, 95818
STARTS 2 PM

BIG CITY ORCHESTRA (SF)
UBERKUNST (sac)
XOME (sac)
CRANK STURGEON (porland,ME)
EN NIHIL (LA)
VANKMEN (oakland)
INSTAGON:mixer set (sac)
ACTUARY (torrance)
CHOPSTICK (sac)
LIVER CANCER (sac)
klowd (sac)
MUCKY THE DUCKY (davis)
OVERDOSE THE KATATONIC
(seattle,WA)
PEDESTRIAN DEPOSIT (LA)
SHARKIFACE (SF)
JOLTHROWER (wet planet)
WRONG HOLE (LA)
STYROFOAM SANCHEZ (oakland)
THOMAS HELTON (houston,TX)
MAMA BURIES (davis)
NOISEPSALM (camino)
TARANTULA PRINCESS' RAT SKULLS (sac)
CMBLS (oakland)
REPTILE ALIEN (huntington beach)
INK ON SUIT (orangevale)
PULSATING CYST (los angeles)
HEATING METALLURGICAL SCHIONS (riverside)

$10 per day--$25 for full membership including T-shirt, CD and button. All shows are all-ages.

For more information including set times, consult the Norcal Noisefest website: http://www.norcalnoisefest.com

This year's Norcal Noisefest was made possible in part by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission's "Microgrants" program.

Disclosure: William Burg is director of promotion for the Norcal Noisefest.

photos: 1. Noisefest flyer. 2. Actuary 3. Crank Sturgeon 4. Daryl Shawn 5. Dental Work 6. Instagon 7. Jolthrower 8. Overdose the Katatonic 9. Pedestrian Deposit 10. Pete von Petrin 11. Styrofoam Sanchez 12. Wrong Hole 13. +DOG+ 14. Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission logo