Festival www.supersonicfestival.com
THIS YEAR SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL IS BRIMMING WITH MUST SEE BANDS, FROM RELATIVELY NEW ACTS SUCH AS CLOAKS AND FACTORY FLOOR (WHOM I RECOMMEND YOU CATCH), TO RETURNING FESTIVAL FAVOURITES PCM AND NISENNENMONDAI. SUPERSONIC IS PERFECTLY PROGRAMMED: IT HAS ITS FINGER ON THE FUTURE, WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CLASSIC FAVOURITES. I CAN’T TELL YOU JUST HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE SWANS AND GODFLESH - TWO EXTREMELY INFLUENTIAL BANDS WHO WERE SO FAR AHEAD OF THEIR TIME THEIR FINGERPRINTS ARE STILL ALL OVER MANY OF THE BANDS PLAYING AT SUPERSONIC THIS YEAR. A YEAR AGO, I’D NEVER HAVE THOUGHT I’D HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE EITHER OF THESE BANDS AGAIN, LET ALONE CATCH THEM PLAYING ON THE SAME BILL.
ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING ASPECTS OF SUPERSONIC IS ITS SENSE OF DISCOVERY; FOR ME, NO OTHER FESTIVAL COMES CLOSE IN TERMS OF SHEER RISK TAKING WITH ITS PROGRAMME CHOICE. IT OFFERS THE CHANCE TO STUMBLE INTO PERFORMANCES BY ARTISTS YOU MAY NEVER HAVE SEEN LIVE BEFORE (OR IN SOME CASES EVEN HEARD OF!) IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT MUSIC THOUGH, SUPERSONIC HAS MANAGED TO CREATE A REAL COMMUNITY FEEL WITH ITS MYRIAD OF FOOD STALLS, THE EVER PRESENT CAKE SHOP AND THE MARKET PLACE WHICH FEATURES SO MANY MUSIC SELLERS YOU’D THINK THE PRESS WERE LYING ABOUT THE DEATH OF PEOPLE STILL BUYING MUSIC. THESE ELEMENTS COMBINE TO CREATE ONE OF THE BEST FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES YOU CAN ENCOUNTER. IF YOU ARE A REGULAR YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO MEET UP WITH OLD FRIENDS, AND IF YOU ARE A SUPERSONIC VIRGIN THEN YOU HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF NEW FRIENDS TO MAKE, AND ISN’T THAT WHY WE ALL LISTEN TO MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE? – TO SHARE THAT COLLECTIVE FEELING MUSIC CAN OFFER.
Spencer Hickman I Rough Trade Records
Dead Fader 1.30AM FRIDAY I OLD LIBRARY
Friday Lineup
www.myspace.com/deadfader
This is caustic dance floor noise but, it’s not dubstep per-se. Not meaning to sound smug (while still being smug), their music seems to have more in common with Asche, NHK and Ben Frost than Skream and Pinch. It’s 140 bpm post industrial breakbeat, with discordant pebble dashed synths. “It’s playful but sick. Like a puppy with extremely sharp teeth” Justin K Broadrick
Demons With Sick Llama
Devilman
10.20PM FRIDAY I OLD LIBRARY
11.20PM FRIDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.myspace.com/demonscool
www.myspace.com/devilmanattack
Featuring Nate Young of Wolf Eyes, which is generally a good indicator you’re about to witness something pretty sick and terrifying. There is an almost disturbing level of restraint on display here, an ominous suggestion of something unknown to come. Originally a sonic duo they have expanded to incorporate analog video experiments with their performances.
A noisestep collaboration between DJ Scotch Egg and Gorgonn, this is dub from outer space. Scotch Egg plays his bass with the same manic ferocity as he does his gameboy, so don’t go expecting a moody, hoods up show, cus this is dub for the surreal.
Drumcorps
Fukpig
11.40PM FRIDAY I SPACE 2
10.40PM FRIDAY I SPACE 2
www.myspace.com/drumc0rps
www.myspace.com/fukpig13
As Drumcorps, Aaron Spectre merges his talent for electronic production (he is a previous winner of the prestigious Prix Ars Electronica) with his background in American Hardcore. This is no forced collision of genres though; this makes a lot of sense. A whole lot of good party sense.
Featuring members of Mistress and Anaal Nathrakh this is the new breed of Birmingham grindcore, referencing Napalm Death by terrifying those in their wake in their own sick way. Witness them put into action their proclamation ‘there’s only 2 beats, the blast and the D’.
Gum Takes Tooth 9.30PM FRIDAY I SPACE 2 www.myspace.com/gumtakestooth
Here’s the deal: Thomas’ drums are physically wired to a table of homemade gadgets, which are controlled by Jussi, who uses said gadgets to modulate and distort the signal coming from the drums. The result of this electronic wizardry is a thunderous rampage of no wave noise, grunge and acid house. For this performance they will be joined by Valentina Magaletti of Shit and Shine fame.
Napalm Death 12.50AM FRIDAY I SPACE 2 www.myspace.com/napalmdeath
The first Supersonic appearance for grindcore pioneers Napalm Death; one of the most important and extreme bands ever. Formed in Birmingham in 1981, they have maintained their sonic experimentation and political conscience. Insane levels of immediacy and ferociousness make them the perfect headliners for a sweaty Friday night.
Necro Deathmort
PCM
9.20PM FRIDAY I OLD LIBRARY
12.20AM FRIDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.myspace.com/necrodeathmort
www.myspace.com/p_c_m
This London duo’s debut LP ‘This Beat is Necrotronic’ is one of the most intriguing and unexpected genre collisions we’ve ever heard. Starting out with classic black metal origins, it moves on to take in techno, postrock, hip hop and glitch. So, what does that sound like? It’s a rumbling bass attack, with crushing guitars, decaying post-apocalyptic doom, jittering, brutal electronics and Earth style drones. There’s rapid, ADD-esque style shifts; one minute its Sunn O))), the next it’s Squarepusher. So good!
The Supersonic line up just wouldn’t be complete without PCM. Present for the last seven years they have become a Supersonic staple. Regulars probably know the deal by now, but for those that don’t, they come from Birmingham and are the dark lords of Drum & Bass. playing a mix of their own material and an eclectic range of music from Acid to Hardcore to early Jungle.
Blue Sabbath Black Fiji 4.45PM SATURDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE www.myspace.com/bluesabbathblackfiji
Saturday Lineup
Glasgow residing French duo that channel noise, drone, no wave and disco all through the guitar. This is trash punk once it’s been mushed in a smoothie maker with fluorescent pink bubblegum, vomit and harsh noise feedback.
Cave
Cloaks DJ Set
11.15PM SATURDAY I OLD LIBRARY
7.45PM SATURDAY I SPACE 2
www.myspace.com/realreelpr
www.myspace.com/cloaks
A kraut, psych-rock group from Chicago, their sound is reminiscent of the locked in rhythm sections and psychedelic propulsions of 1970s Germany, but brought right up to the present day. Insistent basslines, domineering bass and toms, and placid Moog tones are all present. Basically, it’s blissed out space rock.
These guys emerge from the darker more industrial-edged corner of the UK dubstep scene, drawing influence from the sounds of industrial bands like Suicide as much as modern bass music. Cloaks appearances are super rare but, Steve Cloaks is coming along to do an exclusive DJ set just for us.
Dosh
Eagle Twin
7.15PM SATURDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
5.00PM SATURDAY I SPACE 2
www.myspace.com/doshanticon
www.myspace.com/eagletwin
Just one man and his many many instruments, live Dosh plays them all. Touching on electronica, mathy jazz rock, hip hop and folk, and influenced by the likes of Sun Ra and Tortoise, it’s a sound worth getting excited about. Using (remember, he’s all by himself) piano, drums, guitar, samplers and glockenspiel - it’s glitchy, genre spanning and, most importantly, interesting.
If you love a groove, this is a must. Eagle Twin features Gentry Densley of the influential jazzcore band Iceburn, who also formed Ascend with Sunn0)))’s Greg Anderson. They’re signed to Southern Lord, dealing out the doom, the sludge and that groooooove.
Gnaw
Gnod
6.15PM SATURDAY I SPACE 2
9.45PM SATURDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.myspace.com/gnaw666
www.myspace.com/gnodgnod
Alan Dubin (Khanate) manages to completely terrify again. It seems to come so easy to him. His gut wrenching vocals scream, whisper, chant and disturb. There are no conventional doom riffs here and you won’t be able to predict where this sound will turn next. An industrial noise take on doom metal, with eerie field recordings and sound manipulations the backdrop to that unmistakeable voice.
Fancy partying in a 1970s drag queen bar in outer space? Well, Gnod provide the perfect musical accompaniment. This is psychedelic drone rock, tribal drumming, grunge and utter filth all pushed along with a Krautrock like pulse.
Godflesh
King Midas Sound
10.45PM SATURDAY I SPACE 2
9.15PM SATURDAY I SPACE 2 www.myspace.com/kingmidassound
It’s quite a year for Supersonic, Swans and Godflesh, two of the most influential bands in the world of extreme music, headlining the festival. While Swans took inspiration from their New York backdrop, across the pond Godflesh’s sound was steeped in its Birmingham setting. Justin Broadrick claimed he wanted to create the sound of the ‘scum’ that surrounded him. Drawing as much from acts like Throbbing Gristle and Whitehouse as Black Sabbath they created industrial metal, an apocalyptic noise of the starkest kind. Supersonic is proud to host the original line up performing a home coming show.
Their debut LP “Waiting For you”, released on Kode9’s label-du-jour Hyperdub, blends a sound grounded in dub with lyrics steeped in the grit and danger of city living. Kevin Martin creates sheer walls of noise / bass, everything is turned up to 11. His work on Techno Animal with Justin Broadrick and the influence of stark industrial sounds on his music make King Midas Sound a perfect addition to Saturday’s line up.
Lichens
Melt Banana
5.45PM SATURDAY I OLD LIBRARY
12.00AM SATURDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
www.lichensarealive.com
www.myspace.com/azap
This man is scarily busy: he was the bassist and vocalist in 90 Day Men, has collaborated with the pretty brilliant Explosions in the Sky, Om and TV on the Radio and, amid all the band hopping, has released two of his own LPs. It shares a lo-fi mesmeric charm with artists like Grouper, it’s simple and uncomplicated, sometimes just a voice or a plucked bass guitar; notes ring out without another sound for five or six seconds and the vocals are ghostly, wordless murmurs, hums and whispers.
This Japanese band have been in our good books ever since they released “Squeak Squeak Creak” back in 1994 and kind of redefined hardcore punk with their psychotic discordant jazzcore mixed with speed metal. Comparisons can be made to Boredoms and Ruins, but really their sound is pretty unique. The ‘groove’ created by the frenzy of drumming and chaotic oscillations is relentless and impossibly energetic. If you’re not really that into intense tech-punk, played at breakneck speeds, then maybe this isn’t for you. We’ll see the rest of you down the front!
OvO
Part Wild Horses Mane On Both Sides
8.45PM SATURDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
4.30PM SATURDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.myspace.com/ovobarlamuerte
www.myspace.com/partwildhorsesmaneonbothsides
An Italian duo that crash through genres as diverse as noise, doom, jazz and grind. The vocals could crush concrete and the guitars almost epitomise dirge. This is a rare UK appearance for the multi instrumentalists and an opportunity to witness one of the most intriguing vocalists around.
The English/French duo with the bewildering name creates some of the most absorbing live performances we’ve seen for a long time. On the excellent Singing Knives label they are an inspiring combination of flute and assorted free percussion; their ‘avant primitivism’ needs to be witnessed live. Noise can be quiet.
Stinky Wizzleteat
Tweak Bird
8.30PM SATURDAY I OLD LIBRARY
10.15PM SATURDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
www.myspace.com/stinkywizzleteat
www.myspace.com/tweakbird
‘Sludge incarnate’ from Sabbath town (that’s Birmingham y’know), they’re of a fine breed of young Birmingham artists. Breathing in Brainbombs, Eyehategod and Fugazi and spitting it back out along with all the cheap beer, broken glass and sweat of their raucous gigs. This will be filthy and you’ll love it.
The brothers Tweak create stripped down loud heavy rock, with progressive experimental elements none of which has ever been this fun, or so sugar soaked. Pop music at its loudest, heaviest and most powerful. The perfect soundtrack to an afternoon on a bouncy castle.
Barn Owl 8.00PM SUNDAY I THEATRE
Sunday Lineup
www.myspace.com/barnowlband
The former fuzz droners have been carving out a more skeletal approach to their work. Starting out on the influential LA label ‘Not Not Fun’ their latest release is a more stripped down affair. A gorgeous, full, introspective sound, it’s certainly the loudest ambient music you’ll ever hear. They’ve been snapped up by Thrill Jockey and will be performing in the intimate Theatre Space. Expect bone shattering stuff.
Bong
Chrome Hoof
2.45PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2
9.OOPM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.myspace.com/landbong
www.myspace.com/chromehoof
Channelling space rock, doom, Eastern influences and Sabbath, Newcastle’s Bong create soundtracks for the more introspective stoner. Each intricate individual sound fuses together to make up one huge, heavy, lumbering beast - pulling you in the general direction of high.
Taking influence from the likes of ESG, Parliament-Funkadelic and Black Sabbath, it moves from soulful stadium rock, to drum machine electro minimalism, which makes like James Brown at a Goblin gig, to the virtuoso disco funk of Grace Jones. They sound like nothing you’ve heard before; or rather, they sound like stuff you’ve heard before, just never played all at the same time.
Dethscalator
Factory Floor
10.30PM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
8.00PM SUNDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
www.myspace.com/dethscalator
www.myspace.com/factoryfloor
Like Motorhead put through a blender, Dethscalator make messed up, heavy music that you could place somewhere between the jabbering gush of Scratch Acid and Electric Wizard’s misery-grind. Other more contemporary reference points are Pissed Jeans and Mayyors. It’s a sick specimen with a vocalist that sounds like Oliver Reed drunk on the Michael Aspel show backed up by some of the heaviest riffs you’ve ever heard.
They may be the latest fashionable band to come out of East London but don’t let that put you off, cus there’s a strength of sound and substance here that’s overlooked at your peril. 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. An inspired combination that make XTRMTR- era Primal Scream sound like Shed 7.
Hallogallo
Health & Efficiency
10.00PM SUNDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
2.30PM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.michaelrother.de/en
www.healthandefficiency.net
A prolific artist, best known for his work with Kraftwerk, NEU! and Harmonia, Michael Rother, one of the founding members of the krautrock movement, has been cited as an influence by everyone from Bowie, to Devo, to Stereolab. His music still sounds familiar and relevant today. Michael is bringing along Steve Shelly, drummer of Sonic Youth, and Aaron Mullan, bassist in Tall Firs to complete the line up. Not to be missed!
Their music traverses an encyclopaedia of influences with psych, folk, no wave noise and electronic perhaps being some of the more predominant. They utilise banjo, two basses, two guitars, synths, samplers and more effects and loop pedals than is reasonable for one band to need.
Jailbreak
James Blackshaw
4.45PM SUNDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
6.30PM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.cor-sano.com I www.wishimage.com
www.myspace.com/jamesblackshaw
Don’t even try to keep up. Chris Corsano detonates time and conventional structure through his free percussive style, Heather Leigh deforms and twists both her vocals and the steel pedal guitar. Instead, become lost as these two improvisers collide and merge in a sea of sound.
A one man symphony on the 12 string guitar, Blackshaw is a jaw dropping talent, his finger picking defying time. But this isn’t all about showing off you know. He creates dizzying compositions, each piece seeming to build upon the other to create the most gorgeous layers of sound. “He lays out patterns and shapes that subtly shift over time and lead you to a deeply satisfying mental state. Recently, driving around with the car stereo blasting his music I found myself inexplicably weeping” Michael Gira
Mothlite
Mugstar
5.45PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2
7.45PM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.myspace.com/mothlite
www.myspace.com/mugstar
If you’ve ever listened to Ulver, Guapo, Æthenor and Sunn O))) (amongst others) then you’ve been listening to Daniel O’Sullivan, and if you liked them, chances are you’ll like his new band Mothlite too. They take all the best bits of Coil, Talk Talk, and Kate Bush to make melancholy pop music, with a dark new-romantic, post industrial sound. It’s cinematic and experimental, using emotive songwriting, and unusual instrumentation to sculpt wonderful soundscapes.
Taking influence from Sonic Youth and NEU!, Mugstar write big fuzzy songs that have the urgency and kinetic energy of krautrock, with an aggressive, resolutely underground sensibility. Combined with Goblin-esque organ it ends up with a woozy electronic mood.
Nisennenmondai
Peter Broderick
6.15PM SUNDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE
3.45PM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
www.nisennenmondai.com
www.myspace.com/peterbroderick
A pretty much unknown band from Tokyo took to the stage at Supersonic last year and delivered one of the highlights of the whole weekend. We had to get them back. Imagine if trance music were made with guitar, bass and drums. This is krautrock, math rock and noise rock if robots made it; totally unrelenting, never coming up for air - cus they don’t need to, they’re robots, god damn it!
The one-time Efterklang member’s songs are so plaintive, fragile and emotionally charged, as you listen to them you’re worried that they are about to shatter into tiny little shards of sadness and fade away. He makes bittersweet, post classical, minimal folk, reminiscent of Arthur Russell, Jackson Browne or Max Richter. Deep, wintery and melancholy; who doesn’t like soft-spoken breathy repetitive vocals? Make sure you catch him and make your life a tiny bit better.
Ruins Alone
Swans
5.30PM SUNDAY I OLD LIBRARY
11.15PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2
www.myspace.com/ruinsband
www.myspace.com/swansaredead
With Yoshida Tatsuya in town with KK Null, we just couldn’t have let him leave without inviting him to play a Ruins set. Formed in 1985, Ruins have been continuing to develop and deepen their world for over 18 years. They started with noisy hardcore, before moving to take in a more technical, complicated sound. Their songs are mysterious, and sung in a language of their own invention. It’s high-tension, wild, heavy, speedy, acute and powerful. A true hardcore progressive sound.
Yea, that’s right. Swans. Yep. The actual Swans. They’re here and they’re not dead. Michael Gira has reactivated the band that he initiated in NYC in 1982 and Supersonic are more than thrilled to host the band that have influenced so many artists who perform at this festival, on their first tour since 1997. Swans created an unholy sound, the brutality of their early recordings and the volume of their live performances are at a level that few bands can only hope to match. This tour will see them perform material form their new record along with classics some of us thought we’d never get a chance to hear live. See you at the front, and flex your muscles!
Voice of the Seven Thunders
Zeni Geva
4.15PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2
9.45PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2
www.myspace.com/voiceofthesevenwoods
www.myspace.com/zenigeva
The psych folk of Voice of the Seven Woods has become Voice of the Seven Thunders, which suggests a heavier direction in sound; thunderous you might even say, but always exploring new ways to take you far out. Now a full band, the current line up features Keith Wood (Hush Arbours, Current 93), Chris Walmsley (Broadcast) and Tom Relleen (The Oscillation).
Veterans of Japanese experimentation, this band are frankly essential. Prog, metal, math, hardcore, sludge and noise never made so much sense together. Merge Skullflower with Rapeman and you’re half way there. They’ve been pretty much at the top of the Supersonic wishlist for 8 years, and we’ve finally got them here! Savour this extremely rare UK appearance.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Lash Frenzy vs KK Null 7.15PM SATURDAY I OLD LIBRARY www.myspace.com/lashfrenzy I www.kknull.com
Sound artist Lash Frenzy’s explorations in wall of sound noise takes a new turn at Supersonic. Lash Frenzy (of Einstellung) is expanding into a collection of the finest Birmingham noise merchants, each bringing their own twisted approach to noise improv.; including circuit bending, gadget wielding Glatze, and conjuror of the most horrific abstract sounds, Mort the Sonic. Plus they’ve been conspiring with KK Null, a pioneering artist within the prolific Japanese noise scene, to mess with your senses. Just so you know, this won’t be quiet. Supported by
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Nicholas Bullen
presents
Breach
5.45PM SATURDAY I THEATRE Bullen is a prolific sound artist well known for his work with Black Galaxy, Scorn and Migrant. He is most famous as a founding member of Napalm Death and creator of grindcore. As a vocalist with Napalm Death, Bullen barked, growled and roared, the vocal style perfectly fitting the brutality and ferociousness of the music. In this piece, vocals are singled out and taken to their most abstract form. Multiple microphones, live sampling and electronic processing are used to capture, layer and transform the voice: breath, whispers, glottal tics, snarls, growls, wails and cries become a shifting soundfield of immersive drones, radiator vibrations, rhythmic pulses and shards of noise.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
People Like Us 9.30PM SATURDAY I THEATRE www.peoplelikeus.org
Since 1991 Vicki Bennett aka People Like Us has been an influential figure in the world of audio visual collage. She animates and recontextualises found footage with an equally witty and dark view of popular culture with a surrealistic edge. A key figure in the world of Plunderphonics, she is the first artist to combine the idea of ‘stealing’ audio recordings to make new compositions with video work, creating incredible AV performances. Bennett makes a statement about the concept of creative ownership through a surreal and hilarious collision of found works. Major influences – Nurse with Wound and car boot sales.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Steve Tromans & Dan Nicholls 6.00PM SATURDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE www.steve-tromans.co.uk
This duo of two keyboard players, Steve Tromans and Dan Nicholls, provides an intriguing collaboration in the great tradition of Supersonic duos. It has two players playing Fender Rhodes pianos interacting with each other and improvising around original compositions. “Fearlessly exploring the margins of regular jazz and freeimprov.� John Fordham, The Guardian
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Khyam Allami & Master Musicians of Bukkake present: Bosphorean 7.00PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2 www.myspace.com/khyamallami www.myspace.com/mastermusiciansofbukkake
Set your mind back to Supersonic 2009, Master Musicians donned out in beekeeping outfits perform an incredible, and loud, set of psych rock. The following day Iraqi musician Khyam Allami hushed the crowds with his solo Oud (Arabic lute) compositions. On paper wholly different performances, but Supersonic is all about connecting those invisible dots between different forms of sonic experimentation and this year the artists will collaborate for an extra special performance. Expect forays into Turkish influenced fuzz rock, desert motorik pulsations and the subtlety of Eastern tinged psyche folk.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Pierre Bastien & Male Instrumenty 3.00PM SUNDAY I OUTSIDE STAGE www.pierrebastien.com I www.smallinstruments.com
Pierre Bastien (French composer and instrument builder) and Male Instrumenty (Polish orchestra of ‘small instruments’) provide an intriguing combination, basically creating a philharmonic orchestra out of handmade Meccano robots and a variety of small instruments and toys. Pierre plays stand-up bass, electric piano, organ and horns while robots take care of thumb pianos, castanets, marimbas and steel drums. With the addition of a bizarre variety of toy instruments, they will bring a truly unique performance to the festival.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Black Sun Drum Corps 8.30PM SUNDAY I SPACE 2 http://www.myspace.com/legionofblacksun
The Corps was founded by Drum Major Russell McEwan as an extension of Glaswegian subterranean metallers Black Sun. A mix of Scottish Highland pipe band imagery with industrial and tribal rhythms; McEwan will be leading a percussion parade through the festival site. Performers and audience members will be contributing, creating a visceral and live massed drumming experience.
WORKSHOP
Supersonic Noise Boxes www.mrunderwood.co.uk
Led by sound artist Mr. Underwood, participants are invited to take part in a workshop to build their own 3 oscillator screaming, light-controlled Noise Box instrument. Mr.Underwood started instrument building many moons ago, starting out with odd acoustic instruments and then he got into circuit bending. From this, he has started to develop a series of electronic and mechanical instruments, including his midi-octopus.
LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRT
Bunny Bissoux www.wonderleague.co.uk
MERCHANDISE Bunny is an artist, illustrator, collector, fanatic, musician and aspiring wrestling valet. Her inspiration comes from 80s metal, wrestling and small dogs – who better to design our Supersonic 2010 limited edition T-shirt?
PERFORMANCE
God’s White Noise 12PM - 7PM SATURDAY EASTSIDE PROJECTS I 86 HEATH MILL LANE I B9 4AR www.eastsideprojects.org
Düsseldorf-based artist Christian Jendreiko is known for making actions with large ensembles of trained or untrained performers in novel, site-specific settings. Lasting anywhere between two and seven hours and featuring classically trained musicians alongside untrained performers in nonhierarchical and improvisatory fashion, Jendreiko transforms groups into social sculpture. For the Birmingham premiere of ‘Gottesrauschen (God’s White Noise): Action for Players, Guitars & Amplifiers’, a number of musicians and artists will perform at Eastside Projects over the course of 7 hours. God’s White Noise will unfold over a single day, with guests free to enter, circulate throughout, and remain in the gallery space as long as they wish.
TALK
Fear Of Music 8.00PM SATURDAY I THEATRE
David Stubbs’s ‘Fear Of Music’ pivoted on a fundamental question: why do people get Rothko and not Stockhausen? Avant garde visual art is embraced whilst there remains resistance to experimental music, despite both being born at the same time, under similar circumstances. Schoenberg and Kandinsky onwards, musicians and artists have made repeated efforts to establish a ‘synaesthesia’ between their two media. For this event, a panel made up of David Stubbs, Brian Duffy (Modified Toy Orchestra), Christian Jendreiko (God’s White Noise) and Tony Herrington will discuss the parallel histories of modern art and experimental music and wonder why one is embraced and understood while the other is ignored, derided or regarded with complete bewilderment. About the panel: David Stubbs is a freelance British music journalist and author. He has been a staff writer at Melody Maker, NME and Wire, and his work regularly appears in The Guardian, Arena, Wire, Uncut and When Saturday Comes. Brian Duffy is the originator of the Modified Toy Orchestra, who make experimental electronic music using a series of children’s toys rescued from car boot sales. Each toy is modified to utilise new connections, and liberate the surplus value within their circuits. Christian Jendreiko is an artist who seeks to reconsider acoustics as aspects of how body and mind are constructed, through a decentralized and sculptural approach towards performance; he transforms groups into social sculpture. Tony Herrington first contributed to Wire magazine back in 1987, and has been a member of staff since 1992, before going on to be Editor-in-Chief and Publisher.
Supported by
Hosted by
WORKSHOP
Supersonic Kids Gigs Big sounds for little people 11AM I 2.30PM SATURDAY MAC I QUEEN’S RIDE I BIRMINGHAM B12 9QH www.macarts.co.uk
Ever since Schoenberg and Kandinsky became pen pals back in 1907, avantgarde art and experimental music has been attempting to find some common ground. But, it’s not been easy. Here’s our contribution towards a solution: ‘Big Sounds for Little People’. If you couldn’t guess from the snappy title, it’s a gig, for kids and their families, which aims to introduce children to experimental music at an early age. Featuring Dosh, a one-man band and virtuoso, in addition to West Midlands local circuit-bending fiend Glatze. Glatze uses customised instruments (including: circuit-bent Furby dolls and kids toys) that have been specially rewired to create all sorts of musical wizardry. Dosh, a multi-instrumentalist, combines a host of devices into an exciting and unique live experience. See firsthand how these unlikely instruments are used to make noise / sound / music, and to have a go yourselves. Produced by
Supported by
PERFORMANCE
Seeing Sound
Curated by Laura Coult
12PM - 5PM FRI I 12PM - 6PM SAT I 12 - 4PM SUN VIVID I 40 HEATH MILL LANE I BIRMINGHAM B9 4AR www.vivid.org.uk
An exhibition exploring the ways in which we experience sound as light, movement, noise, and colour. The programme draws together historical and contemporary moving image works including Ben Russell’s Black & White Trypps No. 3 (2007) which documents an audience’s collective freak-out during a performance by Lightning Bolt; and 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. Other artists include Benedict Drew and Juneau Projects. LIVE PERFORMANCES 1.00PM SUNDAY I JOE SNAPE AND MR. UNDERWOOD Classical percussionist Snape will perform Lärmlicht #2, for percussionist, 4-channel tape and 8 lightbulbs. Mr. Underwood will stage a rare performance of Steve Reich’s Pendulum Music. Originally scored for “For Microphones, Amplifiers Speakers and Performers” this adapted version will be performed using four Noise Boxes / Optical Theremins and four torches. This performance will take place in darkness - the torches adding a distinctive visual aesthetic to this classic phase piece. 3.00PM SUN I SCREENING : THE FLICKER (1966) TONY CONRAD (16MM)
WORKSHOP
Prick Your Finger 3PM-6PM SUNDAY I YUMM www.craftspace.co.uk I www.prickyourfinger.com
A craft and knitting workshop led by Rachael Matthews & Louise Harries aka Prick Your Finger, dedicated to making band inspired pom poms, think sparkly wool for Chrome Hoof style knitted treats. The Craftspace Collective, responsible for the appearances of massive crocheted structures, hanging hedgerow woven gardens, impromptu knitting and darning sessions and various other weird events in Birmingham City Centre, will be creating an inspiring space at this year’s Supersonic Festival. Escape the mayhem and take a moment to chill with the collective, maybe learn a new skill and discover the growing underground scene of guerrilla crafters, craftivism and DIY craft.
by Duncan Wilkins Capsule’s acclaimed Home of Metal project will again be casting its shadow over this year’s Supersonic festival like the rotting wings on the cover of Napalm Death’s ‘Scum’. For the past few years work on the project has grown at an exponential rate and is snowballing towards next year, a summer of celebration featuring exhibitions across the region, conferences and live music. The project was originally conceived in 2007 by Capsule, who took umbrage to the fact that so much historically important music of the region was ignored, or at worst, sneered upon, despite its global appeal, legacy and influence. The majority of music fans are aware that Metal was spawned from the Midlands, but the absence of any form of semi-permanent tribute in the city is notably jarring. The Capsule ladies swiftly enlisted an enthusiastic team of volunteers to start the ball rolling with three open days across the Midlands, which saw headbangers from across the region convene upon Wolverhampton, Walsall and Birmingham with beloved merchandise in tow and with passionate stories to tell. The purpose of such events was twofold. Initially, it enabled the Home of Metal name to worm its way into the consciousness of local metal lovers, who responded enthusiastically to the idea, turning up in their droves in their battered leathers and brandishing well-worn ticket stubs. Secondly, the reams of merchandise we photographed and scanned, the oral histories that fans regaled us with was recorded – all to form the basis of the HoM digital archive which is up and running at www.homeofmetal.com. This enables metal fans worldwide to inform the exhibition with an ever-growing collection of scanned gig tickets, T-shirts, even a Black Sabbath colouring book! In order to give the project a centre to revolve around, we concentrated on five bands, with equally similar hometowns and spheres of influence across the metal landscape, namely Led Zeppelin (blues / hard rock), Judas Priest (metal imagery, duelling lead guitars), Napalm Death (grind), Godflesh (industrial) and Black Sabbath (do you need to ask?). So, almost three years to the day since our Home of Metal symposium at New Art Gallery Walsall, Napalm Death make their long-awaited Capsule/Supersonic debut on Friday, Godflesh play their first British gig in nigh on a decade on Saturday, and Swans - responsible for influencing both ND and the ‘Flesh - will reform for the Sunday. Home of Metal has come full circle, albeit with a whacking great pentagram in the middle. For further information or to contribute to our digital archive www.homeofmetal.com
TALK
Home Of Metal: Sirens Of Sparkhill 4.45PM SATURDAY I THEATRE Kerrang! DJ Johnny Doom will be hosting a special roundtable chat with past and present members of Napalm Death – so if you ever wanted to hear about the formative years of the world’s premier grindcore band, or if you just want to discover exactly what the bloody hell a swinging thumbjump is, you’d be advised to set time aside to catch this one-off discussion.
TALK
Motorik Skills:
Apache Beat 101 presented by Hallogallo and The Quietus 5.45PM SUNDAY I THEATRE The word ‘motorik’, which literally means ‘motor skill’ in German, was originally coined by journalists to describe the minimal yet propulsive four four beat that underpinned a surprisingly small amount of leftfield German rock music from the early 70s. It was a hallmark of Klaus Dinger’s drumming for Neu!, although he rejected the term, preferring to call the rhythm the ‘Apache beat’. This metronomic approach could be heard bubbling through in Kraftwerk’s ‘Ruckzuck’, and early Can fare such as the blistering ‘Mother Sky’ and ‘Father Cannot Yell’ but was cemented as we know it now by Neu! This beat has retrospectively come to be seen as the war drum of modernity; the pulse pushing music and the listener into the future. It is often associated – with good reason – with the great transport networks of Germany, the railway lines and the autobahns. In fact the rhythm even mimics that of a car speeding along the open road or a train clattering along the rails: fast, measured travel never ending across Europe endless. It was the rock beat stripped back to a glittering chassis. It was the minimalist framework on which subtle improvisation could take place. Of course, when this was put to former member of Kraftwerk and Neu! guitarist, Michael Rother, he laughed and said that in fact the inspiration for this measured German rock beat had come from something altogether less mechanistic and more fluid: a game of five-a-side football including himself, Klaus Dinger and Ralf Hutter. As a bonus to fans we’ve invited Michael Rother on stage to take part in a Q and A discussing the motorik beat, Hallogallo, Harmonia and Neu!.
PERFORMANCES
Action Hero
Smoke & Lights:
a solo sound encounter for music lovers SEE MAP www.wearefierce.org I www.actionhero.org.uk
Visit Action Hero’s black hole, a solo experience for festivalgoers who want to re-live Supersonic’s greatest adventures in sound. Action Hero have compiled a library of the best aural moments of Supersonic past along with tracks supplied from this year’s line up. Select your track and step into the sound booth. Begin an auditory assault or an acoustic ramble through Supersonic yesteryear and future sounds. Remember a performance past, imagine you were there, listen in anticipation of the gig you’ll see later, play the front man. Action Hero are artists based in Bristol making performance and live-art. Presented in collaboration with Fierce Festival. Since 1998 Fierce’s adventurous programme of interventions and performances has established it as a landmark event in the UK’s cultural calendar.
Eponymous
by Andy Field
9.30PM SUNDAY I THEATRE www.wearefierce.org
Somewhere there is a gig happening. A sweat-drenched heartbreaking gig. A set for the ages. There is dancing, and nodding heads, and the sound is loud and and the sound is dirty and the sound is mean and the sound is euphoric. But you are not at that gig. You are here. So, what can we do about that? Eponymous is about being an audience, whether the band are there or not. It might involve your imagination. It might involve standing up. Andy Field is a performance maker, creating strange events in unusual places including audio walks, sound installations, festivals of imaginary events, pervasive games, miniature reenactments and one-on-one hazing rituals.
FILM PROGRAMME SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Outer Limits Curated by Robert Lowe Outer Limits is an exploration of contemporary works dealing with observations and ritual practices in connection with the natural world and the cosmic plane. Subtle, glacial and turbulent, like the simple seismic shift of Luke Fischbeck and Sarah Rara’s “Earthquakes Agave”, or the deep breathed bliss of Sabrina Ratté’s “Mirages”. These video works provide an open door into the next phases of image capture, while embracing the history of the medium. With Paul Clipson and Rose Kallal both working in a multiple image 16mm film format, it makes for a warm and saturated feel that is properly visceral. You truly understand the intuition and process both attribute to their craft as they immerse themselves in the violence and awe of nature and what is unknown. The centerpiece of this program is “Guardian of the Veil”. Matthew Barney’s first in a series collaborations with Jonathan Bepler that will be seven performances to convey the stages of Norman Mailer’s novel “Ancient Evenings”. This documentation is a performance at the Manchester Opera House in 2007. With precision of form, Barney gives a nod to the old Gods, while presenting Egyptian ceremonial rites from his own perspective, and a fresh one at that. This will be an exclusive screening, as this has not been shown in a format larger than a video monitor. LIGHT FROM THE MESA (2010) I PAUL CLIPSON EARTHQUAKES AGAVE (2010) I LUCKY DRAGONS SOLAR ARC I ROSE KALLAL GUARDIAN OF THE VEIL (2007) I MATTHEW BARNEY MIRAGES (2009) I SABRINA RATTÉ PASSAGEWAYS (2006) I PAUL CLIPSON
SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS
77 Boa Drum
by Boredoms
On 07/07/07 at 7:07pm, Japanese group Boredoms orchestrated a performance by 77 drummers at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn, NYC. Hisham Akira Bharoocha put out an email inviting drummers to apply for a place in the performance and out of the 3000 replies, 77 were chosen, including Andrew WK (drummer no 57), David Grubbs (drummer no 23) and Lightning Bolt’s Brian Chippendale (drummer no 77). The players were positioned in a spiral that trailed from a circular stage where the principal Boredoms members – Yozoro (drummer no 1), Yoshimi (drummer no 2), Sen (drummer no 3), were situated together with Eye (0) playing electronics, a seven-necked guitar and conducting the ensemble. This is the screening of Jun Kawaguchi’s simply shot but effective documentary of the performance, complete with behind the scenes rehearsal footage, interviews, and, of course, lots of footage of the performance itself.
Burning
by Nathanael Le Scouarnec and Vincent Moon Early last year Scottish post-rockers, and friends of Supersonic, Mogwai were filmed during their three night residency at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NYC. Directed by Nathanael Le Scouarnec and Vincent Moon, the man behind some of the best music videos of the past couple of years, this black and white film was shot over the three nights and captures beautifully the intensity of Mogwai’s performances. For film times see the Film Programme on the next page.
FILM PROGRAMME
Saturday Timetable
4.45PM I TALK: HOME OF METAL SIRENS OF SPARKHILL Past and present members of Napalm Death discuss their memories, early influences and more.
5.45PM I PERFORMANCE: BREACH BY NICHOLAS BULLEN A live performance, using multiple microphones, live sampling and electronic processing to transform the voice.
6.15PM I HOME OF METAL FILM OZZY OSBOURNE INTERVIEW The Capsule grannies finally met Ozzy. Here is the exclusive interview that was conducted with the Prince of Darkness for Home of Metal.
6.45PM I VBS SOFT FOCUS ALAN BISHOP Ian Svenonius interrogates musicians from the musical underground: Sun City Girls show us how to kill the entire government.
7.00PM I PALACE OF THE WINDS An intimate and dreamlike journey exploring the music of Saharawi culture from Southern Morocco to the Mauritanian capital, a genredefying film of profound beauty produced by Sublime Frequencies.
8.00PM I TALK: FEAR OF MUSIC Panel discussion: Exploring the parallel histories of modern art and experimental music.
9.30PM I PERFORMANCE: PEOPLE LIKE US Vicki Bennett animates and recontextualises found footage collages giving an equally witty and dark view of popular culture with a surrealist edge.
10.45PM I KIPPLE Eagle & Feather present the third greatest story ever told, that of ‘Bobby Davro’s ‘The Making of Kipple’, the second greatest story, the story of Jesus, and the greatest story every told, that of Val Kilmer.
11.15PM I VBS GUIDE TO LIBERIA VBS travels to Liberia, a country torn apart by 14 years of civil war, leaving behind a trail of desperate poverty, drug addiction, teenage prostitution and ex child soldiers struggling to fit into society.
Sunday Timetable
2.00PM I SOFT FOCUS GENESIS P.ORRIDGE
8.00PM I PERFORMANCE: BARN OWL
Ian Svenonius interrogates musicians from the musical underground: Genesis P. Orridge, member of Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV and COUM Transmissions.
AV set comprising music by Evan Caminiti and Jon Porras, and Super 8 films shot by John Davis.
2.30PM I 77 BOA DRUM Performance orchestrated by Boredoms on 07/07/07 at 7:07pm featuring 77 drummers in Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, Brooklyn, NYC.
3.45PM I OUTER LIMITS CURATED
9.00PM I THRILL JOCKEY SHORTS A selection of shorts from the Thrill Jockey discography, featuring new videos from Pontiak, Future Islands, Oval, Imbogodom and Dustin Wong.
9.30PM I PERFORMANCE: EPONYMOUS BY ANDY FIELD
BY ROB LOWE An exploration of contemporary works dealing with observations and ritual practices in connection with the natural world and the cosmic plane. Feat Matthew Barney’s ‘Guardian Of The Veil’.
Somewhere there is a gig happening. Eponymous is about being an audience, whether the band are there or not. It might involve your imagination. It might involve standing up.
5.45PM I TALK: MOTORIK SKILLS
Focused on the nature and culture of technology, and the most ground breaking advances in tech related culture. Including work by Brian Gibson of Lightning Bolt fame.
Hosted by The Quietus with Michael Rother discussing the motorik beat, Neu! and Harmonia.
6.45PM I BURNING INTRODUCED BY STUART BRAITHWAITE Mogwai were filmed during their three night residency at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC. This black and white documentary captures perfectly the intensity of Mogwai’s performances.
10.00PM I VBS MOTHERBOARD
10.30PM I VBS SWANSEA LOVE STORY VBS befriends a gang of young addicts caught up in South Wales’ largely ignored heroin epidemic. Prepare for a bleak end to your weekend.
EXHIBITION
From Light to Dark WINDOW DISPLAY Supersonic invited the following six artists to create illustrations in response to this year’s theme… Autumn. Like the purgatory of the seasons, Autumn is the time in between the lighter half of the year, summer, and beginning of the darker half, winter. A time of melancholy, the possibilities of summer are gone; the chill of winter is on the horizon. Skies turn grey. People turn inward, literally (It’s kind of a good job Supersonic has moved to the autumn, however did you get through before?). These works will be exhibited within the Custard Factory.
BEN WADDINGTON I Ben divides his time between historical and creative concerns, and their occasional overlap, in and around the city of Birmingham. His interests this month are William Caslon, the 17th century Birmingham Gun Trade, Brutalist Architecture, ambigrams, Victorian terracotta and the new Swans album. www.falsedog.com
ELLENA DONLON I London based artist Ellena Donlon combines technical precision with the organic form, using fine lines and experimental mark making. Her inspirations include Virginia Woolf, Sophie Calle, Ana Mendieta, Simone de Beauvoir, Charles Avery and Franz Kafka. She is currently focusing on literature, using her drawings to help visualize the ‘ritual’ of writing.
JACK TEAGLE I Jack is an illustrator, painter and comic artist based in Cornwall, who produces his work in a shipping container he converted into a studio down on a farm. He loves to create awkward characters and put them into even more awkward situations. www.jackteagle.co.uk
JANIN BENECKE I German by origin, Janin moved from Paris to Glasgow in 2008. Janin’s artwork includes various materials and outcomes range from installation, sculpture to painting, drawing or collage. Leading motivation for her works is finding possibilities not previously imagined. Janin sees art as a collective production of individuals networking and exchanging (regardless if intended or not) possibilities beyond collective subjectivity. Janin is one half of the band Blue Sabbath Black Fiji. www.bluesabbathblackfiji.blogspot.com
RUTH GREEN I Ruth is a printmaker and illustrator based in Birmingham. She makes screenprints, etchings and lino cuts, which are inspired by mid-century design, and by the British countryside. Compositions come from all manner of sources, from pebbles found on a beach, to 1970s wallpaper. Her favourite designers include Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Orla Kiely, Terence Conran, Lucienne Day. www.ruthgreendesign.com
SIMON FOWLER I London based illustrator and print maker Simon Fowler dedicates his time to producing hand-drawn illustration avoiding the digital medium. Having set up his own intaglio press and studio over the past four years, he experiments with drawing through vinyl and wood engraving processes. Recently, he has produced work for Sunn O ))), Boris and Earth amongst others. www.cataract-operation.com
Ben Waddington
Ellena Donlon
Jack Teagle
Janin Benecke
Ruth Green
Simon Fowler
OTHER ACTIVITIES Eastside Projects presents
Local Myths by artist Jennifer Tee 12PM - 6.30PM THURSDAY 12PM - 5PM FRIDAY - SATURDAY 86 HEATH MILL LANE I DIGBETH BIRMINGHAM B9 4AR www.eastsideprojects.org
Local Myths is the first UK exhibition of work by Jennifer Tee. Specially commissioned, Tee will construct a sculptural setting with allusions to a number of ideologically transformative inner structures, sanctums and theosophical spaces – ostensibly visible but not directly tangible. Tee will be transforming the gallery space to accommodate works that lie, stand and hang, reconsidering the materials, walls and floor of the building.
Grand Union presents
Hiker Meat by artist Jamie Shovlin 12PM - 8PM FRIDAY 12PM - 6PM SATURDAY 12PM - 4PM SUNDAY UNIT 19 FAZELEY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE FAZELEY STREET I DIGBETH I BIRMINGHAM B5 5RS Grand Union presents an exhibition by London based artist Jamie Shovlin. His latest project Hiker Meat examines the degree to which a film director (or artist) has control over their works’ intended message, meaning and historical legacy, exploring the inherent tension within processes of collaboration and adaptation in any creative endeavour. The project is a partial adaptation of an earlier work by Shovlin, Lustfaust: A Folk Anthology 1976-81 (2003-6), an archive of material created by the fans and musicians of a fictional German noise band. Contained within this archive is a narrative sketch for an exploitation film entitled Hiker Meat, for which Lustfaust composed the soundtrack. Using these found notes as a starting point Shovlin is producing a large body of work which acts as a homage to, and deconstruction of, exploitation horror films of the 1970s and 80s.
OTHER ACTIVITIES Ikon Eastside presents
AVPD
1PM - 5PM THRSDAY - SUNDAY 183 FAZELEY STREET I DIGBETH BIRMINGHAM, B5 5SE www.ikon-gallery.co.uk Ikon Eastside are hosting an exhibition by Danish duo AVPD. Hitchcock Hallway makes reference to director Alfred Hitchcock, whose use of architectural motifs in his films typically enhanced the psychological intensity of the narrative. The gallery entrance has been replaced by a door that you’re invited to enter. However, all is not what it seems as your journey through the exhibition will challenge your spatial and perceptual awareness and you will begin to feel increasingly claustrophobic. AVPD have also produced a number of off-site projects around Birmingham: Concealed at Ikon’s Brindleyplace gallery, and Level and Rotoobjects which take place throughout the city. Since starting forty years ago as a small kiosk in Birmingham’s Bullring, Ikon has developed a reputation for innovation, internationalism and excellence. Ikon have been presenting an ambitious programme of exhibitions, artists’ residencies, talks and events in Digbeth, since November 2005.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Market Stalls
A space for independent distributors, record labels, poster artists and peddlers of curiosities to sell their wares and home to our tea room.
Bad Egg Records
Eat a Book Records
Birmingham’s newest label championing unique musical visions played at sickening volume
Brum based diy/bedroom record label.
www.badeggrecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/eatabookrecords
First Fold Burning World Records www.burningworldrecords.com
A record label and mailorder operating from the Netherlands, Roadburn records is part of Burning World and includes releases from Goatsnake, Neurosis, Torche and Oxbow.
www.firstfoldrecords.com
A cooperative label specialising in Electronic and Experimental music. First Fold’s focus is to maintain a self-regulating and enthusiastic approach to the creation of music and visual media and aims to encourage a dialogue that constantly challenges the people involved to generate increasingly exciting and relevant work.
Future Noise Conspiracy Records www.conspiracyrecords.com
Label, mailorder service and booking agency residing in Antwerp Belgium. Bands we work and have worked with include a.o. ISIS, MONO Transitional, Jesu, GNAW, Master Musicians of Bukkake, Taiga, Red Sparowes, Flying Horseman, Head of Wantastiquet.
www.future-noise.co.uk
Manchester based Label/Booking/PR company, releasing and working with the likes of Ufomammut, Charger, Black Sun, Conan, Ramesses, Unearthly Trance, The Sontaran Experiment, Stuntcock, Lazarus Blackstar, Rise to Thunder, Volition, Morkobot, Bastard of the Skies, Supernatural Cat Recordings and The Malleus Rock Artlab.
Polar Bear
Southern Records
Birmingham record shop specialising in Jazz, Metal, Avant-Rock, Prog and Kraut, Folk and Americana.
Fiercely independent labels at feisty prices! This year Southern mail order will be bringing the best in outsider music from labels such as Southern, Latitudes, Southern Lord, Ipecac, Dischord, Constellation, Kranky and more. You can expect a lot of vinyl, including rare, coloured wax and limited editions plus relics and out of stock rarities from our vaults. We’ll also have exclusive posters, download samplers, badges and lots more goodies so be sure to stop by.
www.myspace.com/polarbearrecords1
Rough Trade
www.southern.com
www.roughtrade.com
One of the UK’s leading record shops over 30 years. Rough Trade recently opened the largest independent record shop in Europe, which has seen them win retailer of the year in Music Week, 2 years in a row.
Wonderleague www.wonderleague.co.uk
Get A Grip
www.getagripstudio.com Get A Grip is a handpulled waterbased screenprinters based in the Custard Factory printing T-shirts, posters, packaging and more for bands and businesses around the UK.
Wonderleague is home to artist and illustrator Francesca Bunny Williams, also known as Bunny Bissoux, responsible for this years Ltd edition T. Her interests and obsessions which inspire her work often feature 80s metal, pro wrestling, pop idols, imaginary friends and small dogs. The Wonderleague Shoppe sells prints, zines, badge sets and other handmade goods as well as specialising in vintage trading cards and other forgotten past treasures.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Supersonic Festival Bar OLD LIBRARY As proof that we do listen to your feedback, Capsule has worked hard to provide our first Supersonic bar for your drinking pleasure! We’re teaming up with local brewery Purity to provide some premium ale, ciders and lagers along with a selection of wine and soft drinks. Purity Brewing Co. produces premium ales using only the best natural ingredients. Purity specialises in three own brews as well as importing our favourite beers from Europe and distributing two premium local ciders. Purity enjoys sharing and supporting the interests of their drinkers. This is why they support local arts, music and culture - especially in the region they call home; the West Midlands. ON DRAUGHT: VELTINS I 4.8% abv Veltins lager has a superb delicate dry and clean palate with a fine carbonated body that gives a slight bitterness with a light citrus finish. “World Beer Awards: The Best Pilsner in the World 2007” HOGAN’S CIDER I 4.5% abv. Hogan’s is a medium dry cider with distinctive, apple-fruit aroma and some peaty notes, wellbalanced on the palate. CASK ALES: PURE UBU I 4.5% abv. Pleasurably balanced and full in flavour UBU is a distinctive Premium amber coloured beer. Made using 100% English Maris Otter malt with Challenger and Cascade hops. “Award winner: International Beer Challenge 2010” PURE GOLD I 3.8% abv. Pure Gold is a refreshing easy drinking golden ale with a dry and bitter finish. Made with English Maris Otter & Cara Gold malts plus Northern Brewer, Fuggles, Hereford Golding and Styrian Golding Hops. “CAMRA West Midlands Bitter of the Year 2009”
Supersonic Tea Room MARKET PLACE Of course, the ever present Supersonic tea-room is back this year. Hosted by the lovely Helga, it serves only the finest tea, coffee and confectionary delights. Located within the market place, right beside the outdoor stage, be sure to pop in and try one (or all) of the cakes. No matter who’s playing, no Supersonic line up would be complete without a slice of Lemon Drizzle!
Exhibition: Calling Birds Ben Waddington’s beermat illustration sequence for Supersonic mirrors the countdown of the 12 Days of Christmas, borrowing classic Capsule iconography - counting down the days to Supersonic Festival 2010
Food Court SEE MAP This year Supersonic food stalls go global!
PIKA PIKA SUPER CURRY
Brings you authentic Japanese cuisine
SOUL FOOD PROJECT
Homemade food based on America’s Deep South
SQU!SITO DELI
Traditional Italian foods
Curated & Produced by
www.capsule.org.uk
Funders
Media Sponsors
www.thequietus.com
www.rock-a-rolla.com
www.stafmagazine.com
www.truecultheavymetal.com
Sponsors www.thewire.co.uk
Supersonic Team
Thanks
Curated and Produced by Capsule: Lisa Meyer and Jenny Moore
We would like to thank the following people without whom this event couldn’t happen: To all the artists performing or exhibiting
Production Manager: Warren Fisher Urban Audio Productions Operations Manager: Kaye Winwood Festival & Marketing Assistant Sarah Lafford Artist Liaison: Sara Fowles Site Manager: Magda Nieto Operations Assistant: Laura Coult Interns Design, Marketing, Production: Tom J. Hughes, Ben Stevenson, Aaron Wright Kids Gigs: Charlotte Audrey Owen-Meehan
and for continued support from: Warren Fisher and team, Ian at Heavy Object, Chris Plant at Colour Burst, Frankie, Dave, Emily, Lee, Raoul & Custard Factory Team, The Dark Lord, Bunny Bissoux, Jacob Masters, Simon, Fran, Steve & Adam at B9 Events, Angela Maxwell at Acuwomen, Lara Ratnaraja at Business Link, Will & Chris from Fly 53, Neil Rami & Tim Manson at Marketing Birmingham, Marian and Yasmeen at Vivid, Gavin Wade, Ruth Claxton and team at Eastside Projects, Helen Legg, Rebecca Small & Jonathan Watkins at Ikon, Laura & Harun at Fierce Festival, 7inch Family, Paul, Kirsten &
Brochure design & illustration: Ian Richards and John Eddy Heavy Object Additional Illustration by Tom J. Hughes Visuals: Chris Plant Colour Burst
all at Purity, Louisa Davies at mac, Debbie Kermode at Bright Space, Deirdre & team at Craftspace, Tony Dudley Evans & Mary Wakelam at Birmingham Jazz, Cheryl at Grand Union, Alex & Ian at Project Pigeon, Andy Capper at Vice, Anthea at Thrill Jockey, Johnny Doom at Kerrang
National Press: Margaret PR European Press: Yvonne Maclean
Radio, John Doran + Luke Turner at The Quietus, Vuk at Rock-A-Rolla, Tony Herrington at The Wire, Juan at Staf Magazine, Kerry & Dave at Fused, Chris at Brum Notes,
Crew: John Pickering & Team Site Assistant: Timothy Dunstall + Naseem Akhtar Rhubarb Radio: Katherine Godfrey + Phil Coyne
Nicholas and Ruth Bullen, Mark Murphy, Nick Morgan, Ben & Patrick PRP Security, Gaz + Mike at Swordfish, Steve & Nath at Polar Bear, Sam & Kay at Get a Grip, Rhubarb Radio team.
Documentation: Film crew: Matthew Taylor, Ella Turner, Martin Poyntz-Roberts + team Photography: Katja Ogrin + team
Extra special thanks for much needed support and encouragement from: Kaye Winwood, Sarah Lafford, Sara Fowles, Magda Nieto, Tom J. Hughes, Ben Stevenson, Aaron Wright,
Box Office: Eduardo Perez Backstage Liaison: Jane Avery Merch Co-ordinator: Gulshan Thomas Bar Co-ordination: Ben Fell Team Room: Helga Henry & her tea coven Supersonic Volunteers: We would like to thank our team of volunteers for all their hard work in the lead up to & over the weekend of the festival.
Nicola Shipley, Clare Reddington, Julie Weir, Allison Schnackenberg, Tony Sylvester, Spencer Hickman, Ian Richards, Ben Javens, Ian Rogers, The Meyer and Moore households.
Supersonic gratefully acknowledges the support of Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, Japan Foundation, Sound & Music and Birmingham City Council.
Friday Timetable TIMES
SPACE 2
OLD LIBRARY
9.00PM
9.00 DJ: Rough Trade
9.00 DJ: 8bit Pete
9.20 NECRO DEATHMORT 9.30 GUM TAKES TOOTH 10.00PM
10.00 DJ: 8bit Pete 10.10 DJ: Pink Fizz
10.20 DEMONS
10.40 FUKPIG 11.00PM
11.00 DJ: 8bit Pete 11.20 DJ: Pink Fizz
11.20 DEVIL MAN
11.40 DRUM CORPS 12.00AM
12.00 DJ: White Boy Shit
12.20 PCM 12.30 DJ: Pink Fizz
12.50 NAPALM DEATH 1.00AM 1.10 DJ: White Boy Shit
1.30 DEAD FADER 2.00AM
Saturday Timetable TIMES
OUTSIDE STAGE
SPACE 2
OLD LIBRARY
THEATRE
4.00PM
4.00 DJ: TDE Bham Jazz
4.00 DJ: Walter Roadburn
4.00 DJ: Outcrowd
See Film Programme
4.30 PART WILD HORSES MANE ON BOTH SIDES
4.45 TALK: HOME OF METAL
5.00PM
4.45 BLUE SABBATH BLACK FIJI 5.30 DJ: TDE Bham Jazz
6.00PM
6.00 STEVE TROMANS & DAN NICHOLLS
5.00 EAGLE TWIN 5.45 DJ: Walter Roadburn
SIRENS OF SPARKHILL
5.45 LICHENS
5.45 NIC BULLEN
6.15 GNAW
6.45 DJ: Outcrowd
6.45 DJ: White Boy Shit
7.00PM 7.15 DOSH
5.15 DJ: Outcrowd
7.15 DJ: X
7.45 CLOAKS 8.00PM
7.15 LASH FRENZY vs KK NULL 8.00 DJ: White Boy Shit
8.15 DJ: Outcrowd 8.30 DJ: X
8.30 STINKY WIZZLETEAT
9.15 KING MIDAS SOUND
9.15 DJ: Thrill Jockey
8.45 OVO
8.00 TALK: FEAR OF MUSIC
9.00PM 9.30 DJ: Rough Trade
9.45 GNOD
10.00PM 10.15 TWEAK BIRD
10.15 DJ: X
10.45 GODFLESH 11.00PM 11.15 DJ: Rough
10.45 DJ: Thrill Jockey
11.15 CAVE
Trade
12.00AM
1.00AM
12.00 MELT BANANA
12.15 DJ:Pink Fizz
1.00 DJ: Frozen Love
9.30 PEOPLE LIKE US
Sunday Timetable TIMES
OUTSIDE STAGE
SPACE 2
2.00PM
2.00 DJ: Eastside Projects
2.00 DJ: Stuart Mogwai
3.00PM
4.00PM
5.00PM
6.00PM
7.00PM
8.00PM
9.00PM
10.00PM
11.00PM
3.00 PIERRE BASTIEN
4.15 DJ: Eastside Projects
4.45 JAILBREAK
2.45 BONG
6.15 NISENNENMONDAI
4.15 VOICE OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS
5.45 MOTHLITE 6.30 DJ: Walter Roadburn
7.15 DJ: Rough Trade
7.00 KHYAM ALLAMI & MMOB
8.00 FACTORY FLOOR
8.00 DJ: Walter Roadburn
9.00 DJ: Stuart Mogwai
9.00 DJ: Crucial Thursday
10.00 HALLOGALLO
2.30 HEALTH & EFFICIENCY
THEATRE See Film Programme
3.15 DJ: Rough Trade 3.45 DJ: Stuart Mogwai
5.15 DJ: Walter Roadburn 5.45.DJ: Rough Trade
OLD LIBRARY
8.30 BLACK SUN DRUM CORPS
9.45 ZENI GEVA
10.45 DJ: Crucial Thursday
11.15 SWANS
3.45 PETER BRODERICK 4.45 DJ: Outcrowd
5.30 RUINS 6.00 DJ: Outcrowd
6.30 JAMES BLACKSHAW
5.45 TALK: MOTORIK SKILLS
7.15 DJ: Thrill Jockey
7.45 MUGSTAR
8.00 BARN OWL
8.30 DJ: Thrill Jockey
9.00 CHROME HOOF 10.00 DJ: Thrill Jockey
10.30 DETHSCALATOR 11.15 DJ: White Boy Shit
12.00AM
12.00 DJ: Frozen Love
1.00AM 3.00AM
1.00 DJ: Quietus
9.30 ANDY FIELD
Map