Tea room at Supersonic 2008
What makes a festival a festival? All the stuff that’s not happening on the stages. My job, because I like to have a job at a festival to force me out of my comfort zones and see stuff, chosen by me with Capsule’s approval, is to document the periphery of Supersonic 2011. I fancied seeing the bands as a punter rather than working the photo pit with the increasingly tedious gig photographers (the regulars like Katja and Steve are lovely but as Supersonic gets bigger it is attracting a few utter knob-ends) but I have a lovely new camera, lucky old me, so I’m going to point it at everything but.
In order to do this I need to have a fair idea of what’s going on. With the music I like to go in blind and don’t do any research. For the periphery I think a little bit of preparation might be a good idea. See the timetable for more details
DIY and Zines
Zines seem to be a big theme this year and I think Napalm Death are to blame. Part of the Home of Metal exhibition was Napalm founder Nic Bullen’s zine collection, displayed in glass cabinets in Birmingham Museum, covering the hardcore/anarchist scene from the mid-80s onwards. It was a glorious sight and looks like it’ll be reconstructed in Zellig all weekend. This heralds a series of events tied in with zines and the DIY ethic.
$100 And A T-Shirt is a documentary last seen at the Bham Zine Festival about late-90s zinesters moaning about how the Internet is destroying their monopoly over autonomous self-expression. No, I’m being cruel – it’s a lot more interesting than that – but boy do they need to get over the aesthetic and get to the fundamentals of WHY people did zines. And if you’re not so interested in zines, being set in Portland this has some great LATFH moments. I snark because I see myself in there, honest, but you don’t need to see this. Unless you’re like 13 or something and want to know what The Past was like. Sat, Theatre, 4.30
Speaking of the Birmingham Zine Festival, they’re running a stall in the marketplace this year selling all manner of zines. Be sure and check them out, alongside all the other DIY and truly independent music outfits. (Special plug for my chums at First Fold…)
From A To Zine is the zine panel discussion and I’ll be in the audience either sitting back tutting or enthusiastically getting involved. Emphasis looks to be on music/politics with Napalm Nic on the panel. Sat, Theatre, 5.30
Imperfect Cinema are running a workshop where you get to run around the festival with an old film camera making a docco which will be printed, edited and shown on the Sunday.
Dirty Electronics is a pseudo-circuit-bending workshop where you make a kit synth that comes with bend-points. Sat, Theatre, 10.00
Get A Grip’s Screenprinting Workshop is running both days from their shop. Print your own unique Supersonic t-shirt.
And, of course, pretty much everything else at Supersonic is DIY in some form. That’s why the stuff listed here fits in perfectly.
Cinema
There’s always a good selection of projected moving images at Supersonic but to be honest I won’t be seeking out much of it because I’m really here for the live music. I have been known to escape into the dark theatre when it all gets a bit much though so I’ll probably catch something random. If I was seeking out films to see I’d probably mark Still Before, the Oxbow documentary on Saturday 8pm, and Kill All Redneck Pricks on Sunday 6.30pm.
Art
Sonic Graffiti is Sam Underwood’s sound installations dotted around Digbeth. You find a cluster of electronics buried into a wall and plug your headphones in. Sam’s doing guided walks on Friday and Sunday at 8pm from Vivid. (On Friday the first acts start at 9.20 so you can squeeze this in.)
Conny Prantera has a video installation in Zeilig. I can’t tell if it’s a Big Thing or just a telly in the corner. Judgement to be made on the day.
Alexander Tucker’s Dorwytch Cycle bemuses the hell out of me from the programme, which is a good thing I hasten to add, so I’ve put it under Art. “Minimalist string arrangements with electronic manipulations and drones to produce doom chamber-pop songs and psychedelic music-concrete collages.” And yet it’s a film. In the theatre. Hmm. Sat, Theatre, 11.00
Soundkitchen appear to be running a festival within the festival in Zellig all weekend but this is worth checking out if only for the appearance of the B.E.A.S.T. Oh yes…
Velzuvial is Andrew Moscardo-Parker’s absurdo-ridonkulous thing for this year. A 24 hour performance in an art gallery down the road. I believe punters are invited to sleep over too. Handy if you haven’t got a hotel room sorted yet.
And if that’s not enough The Event, run by Digbeth’s vibrant contemporary art scenes, starts on Supersonic weekend and continues all week. Most venues are within staggering distance of the Custard Factory and will be open before the Supersonic starts.
Talks
Along with the zine panel there are a couple of In Conversations on Sunday. William Bennett talks about Liberia and Tony Conrad talks about his life. Who’s Tony Conrad? Blimey. Sun, Theatre, 5.00 and 9.15
For those kicked out of their hotel rooms early on Sunday there’s a silly quiz which given the immense quantities of musical nerditude on site will, I suspect, become a regular feature. Sun, 70Eight, 2.30
And that’s about it for the scheduled stuff. All that’s left is the beard spotting.
I hope you find this useful. I will no doubt be tweeting like a motherfucker all weekend at @peteashton. See you there!
I’ve probably missed stuff. If you know of something cool happening off the stages feel free to leave a comment.