All events are at the Mile End Cultural Centre, better known as the Main Hall and the Green Room, at 5390 St-Laurent.
Exception: Master Class with Jem Cohen.
All events are free!
Exceptions: Keynote presentation by Lydia Lunch and Master Class with Jem Cohen.
We invite anyone on Facebook to RSVP through our POP Montreal Symposium group, but all events are drop-in! Keep in mind that certain events (A Conversation with Irma Thomas, Film Score as Genre, Rap Culture panel with Shad K.) may fill up, so show up early!
Throughout Symposium, our Green Room space will remain open and filled with lounge vibes — food, coffee, records and books. Escape POP madness and come feed your belly and brain!
Don't miss Max Lawrence's stunning synthesizer installation at the Main Hall. It is shaped like a lion's head.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1
5:00 - 7:00
Puces POP Presents Show & Tell
Video Performance by Brendan Reed
Storytelling in Craft Artist Talk by Amber Goodwyn
Vernissage
Featuring Farha Dharsi, Shnon Gerard, Amber Goodwyn, Kandis Friesen, Logan McDonald, Allison Moore, Brendan Reed, Marc Simard, and Vanessa Yanow. Come see the ways craft techniques can be incorporated into contemporary artwork at a curated art exhibit hosted by Puces POP at the Green Room. While you're there, get information on upcoming skills-building workshops on wool felting, screenprinting, contact mic building, and puppetry.
Venue: Green Room
7:00 – 9:00
electroniques maison
Circuit Bending Vernissage
Curated by Gambletron and gmackrr.
An exhibition of hand-made electronic instruments.
Venue: Le Cagibi (5490 St-Laurent, Mile End)
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2
11:00 – 12:30
DIY Home Recording Studio Workshop
co-presented by Blue Skies Turn Black
Find out how to convert any room in your house into your own recording paradise, with musician/producer Howard Bilerman (Hotel2Tango, Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor) — DIY and on a budget.
Venue: Green Room
11:00 – 12:30
Internet Police and Net Neutrality
Curated by Walter McDonough and the Future of Music Coalition
with
Patrick Watson - Artist
Keith Serry - Canadian Music Creators Coalition
Alain Brunet - Technology Journalist, La Presse
Anne Legacé-Dowson - NDP MP candidate, journalist
Anthony Hémond - Telecommunications Analyst, Union des consommateurs
Recently, the Federal Communications Commission determined that Comcast violated United States law when it restricted Bit Torrent traffic, interfering with lawful peer-2-peer file sharing. Before the end of this month, the CRTC is scheduled to rule on the dispute between Bell Canada and the Canadian Association of Internet Providers regarding Bell's throttling practices that slow down connection speeds of p2p software.
Net Neutrality is one of the most controversial subjects concerning the future of the Internet. What is Net Neutrality and what consequences does it have for creative artists? What constitutes reasonable network management and what are the appropriate policies for ISP network maintenance? Join us for this discussion with the Washington DC-based Future of Music Coalition.
Venue: Main Hall
12:45 – 2:10
I Will Survive: Indie Strategies Panel
co-presented by Blue Skies Turn Black
with
Moderator: Matt Earp aka Kid Kameleon — XLR8R, Surya Dub SF
Julie Doiron — Eric's Trip
Meyer Billurcu — Blue Skies Turn Black
Elliot Aronow — rcrdlbl.com
Fabricio Nobre — ABRAFIN (Brazilian Assoc. of Indep't Festivals)
Brendan Reed —villavillanola.com, Clues
What was once the recording industry, is now the music industry.
How does an indie system work differently than mainstream or corporate industries, and how much do they overlap? What role (if any) does copyright play?
This is a candid talk with local and international innovators about changes in the digital age, creative new revenue streams, file-sharing and community.
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
2:30 – 3:55
A Conversation with Irma Thomas
Aretha, Etta, Dionne, Gladys, Irma. The legendary New Orleans' Queen of Soul is up there with the best of 'em. Irma is a true soul survivor. She was a single mother of four at 19, a performer at “coloured” clubs for $4-a-night, and was once fired from her day job for answering too many requests for songs, instead of waitressing. Forty-eight years after her first recording, Irma boasts a loyal backing band (some of which have been with her for over 20 years), a recent Grammy award, and stage time with the likes of James Brown and John Lee Hooker. Describing her best songs as those that come directly from the heart, her voice resonates with gospel influence and the best of Mary Well's rasp — but always with a grace, sincerity, and energy that's all Irma.
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
4:15 –4:45
Sampling, Creativity, and Open Source Culture Listening Session
4:45 – 6:15
Sampling, Creativity, and Open Source Culture Discussion
with
Moderator: Tina Piper — Centre for Intellectual Property Policy (CIPP)
Larisa Mann — DJ Ripley, WireTapOnline, Surya Dub SF
Matt Earp — Kid Kameleon, XLR8R, Surya Dub SF
Ruby Ashtar — Student-at-law
Risa Dickens — Indyish.com
Sampling is not a recent phenomena. The traditions of blues, jazz, and folk grew from a kind of open source culture, one in which pre-existing musical frameworks were reworked. In 1970s Jamaica, songs were deconstructed with pre-digital hardware with the resulting "versions" — called dub — being distinct in sound and feel.
If creativity builds on the past, is originality a fantasy? How is it that some are cast as pirates and thieves, and others as victims? What role do race, gender, income, and geography play? And who actually benefits? This panel will examine the history, use, and future of this discourse and its effect on creativity. The listening session will serve to trace layers of sampling, borrowing, and the evolution of musical "meme."
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
FRIDAY OCTOBER 3
11:30 – 1:10
Move to the Music: International Markets and Festival Circuits
with
Moderator: Andrew Rose — Secret City Records
Fabricio Nobre — Goiania Noise Fest, Brazil
Matt Sonzala — SXSW, USA
Wim Wabbes — Etoiles Polaires, Belgium
Bonnie Dalton — Laneway Music Festival, Australia
Lisa O'Hara — High Road Touring
Amy Butterer — Billions Booking Agency
Johan Gijsen — Tivoli, Sweden
Representatives of music festivals from around the world will discuss their approaches to programming, as booking agents tell the story from the other side. Hear directly from them about the state of the industry, how artists come to their attention, how music moves, and what’s available to Canadian independent artists.
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
1:30 – 2:55
TALK THIS WAY! Q&A Fair
with
Steven Himmelfarb — Booking Agent (Tokyo Police Club, Final Fantasy, Beirut)
Stacey Mitsopulos — Entertainment Lawyer
Catharine Saxberg — Executive director, Canadian Music Publishers Association
Lauren Schreiber — Toronto Promoter (No Shame)
Jonathan Achtman — Merchandise
Bob Van Heur — Le Guess Who Music Festival (Netherlands)
Offering festival attendees the unique opportunity to sit down with experts to ask specific questions pertaining to career and interest. On the floor, we'll have tables set up with funding, media, marketing, legal, and publishing experts, as well as local independent promoters and invited international delegates who can expand upon the specific scene and market that they represent.
Venue: Green Room & Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
3:15 – 4:40
Anatomy of a Song: Hearts, Soul, Guts & Skeleton
in collaboration with the Songwriters' Association of Canada
Moderator: Don Quarles of the Songwriters Association of Canada
Cori Bishop aka Elyse Weinberg
Katie Moore
Adam Waito (Miracle Fortress, Adam & the Amethysts)
Andy McLelland (L'il Andy)
Come learn about song composition with local and visiting musicians, including Cori Bishop (better known to psych rock fans as Elyse Weinberg, Neil Young collaborator and underground folk icon).
Venue: Green Room RSVP on Facebook
5:00 – 7:00
Keynote Presentation by Lydia Lunch
co-presented by Galerie La Centrale Powerhouse
Lydia Lunch is a fucking legend. Perhaps best known as the former lead singer for Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, but she is also known for her provocative performances that have served to inspire other generations of powerful women musicians. She often engages with subject matter related to violence and sexuality. Her body of work has included various recording projects with bands such as the Birthday Party, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Sonic Youth.
This No-Wave pioneer, singer, and poet will present excerpts from her recent work Ghosts of Spain, followed by an open Q&A session.
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
Please note: This is the only Symposium event that requires tickets. They can be purchased at the door for $12 or in advance HERE for $10.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 4
12:00 – 1:25
Rap Culture: From Motherland to Ghetto to Township and Back
with
Moderator: Nantali Indongo — Nomadic Massive
Rap journalist Charles "CZA" Sweet II
Filmmaker Femi Agbayewa — In God's Own Country
Shadrach Kabango aka Canadian MC Shad K
Sebastien Tetrault — Bande a Part, United States of Africa
An in-depth discussion with artists, promoters, and thinkers from the African and American hip-hop scenes. In rapidly urbanising African societies with a majority youth demographic, rap represents hope for the future, providing a means for creative-self expression, community, and education.
What can we learn from the "multiple personalities" of rap as it has existed and continues to evolve in different communities and socio-economic conditions? What are some key points of convergence and divergence in the exchange of subject matter, styles, and symbols? How does this contribute to a debate about the future of rap?
Venue: Green Room RSVP on Facebook
12:00 – 1:25
Film Score as Genre
with Jem Cohen — Keynote speaker
Moderator: Matt Silver — Who is KK Downey?
Josh Dolgin — aka Socalled
Alicen Schneider — VP, Music Creative Services NBC
Mark Slutsky — Film Critic, Montreal Mirror
Jamshed Turell — McGill University
Once treated as an afterthought, film score is now regarded as the final interpretative dimension of the filmmaking process. The intersection between music, narrative and the linear structure of cinema is increasingly treated with scrutiny and interest. This panel will examine the creativity, contracts, relationships, and ethics of working in this industry.
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
1:45 – 3:10
[Rating 0.0] Music Journalism Panel
with
Moderator: Sean Michaels — Said the Gramophone, McSweeneys.net
Douglas Wolk — SPIN/New York Times/Rolling Stone/Pitchfork
Nina Sudra — Vice Magazine
Patrick Baillargeon — music editor, VOIR
Matt Earp aka Kid Kameleon — XLR8R, Surya Dub SF
Here's where we're at in 2008: there are millions of bloggers, millions of bands, millions of MySpace pages, and a handful of music magazines. In a world where music-bloggin' is easier than learning guitar, where any kid can pick up her keyboard and tap out some thoughts on dubstep, where Harp, No Depression and (for a time) Arthur magazines were forced to close their doors, where is - and where should - music journalism be headed? This panel will explore what it means to write about music in today's YouSendIt world. Figuring out where and how the best writing can happen - online & print, pro & am, glib & verbose. What are the differences between fans, bloggers, journalists, critics, shills, and press-release-writin' PRs? How can journalists take advantage of available digital tools? What's inspiring? What's not? Can blogs "sell out"? And in the age of iTunes' "Genius" playlists... are we doomed?
Venue: Green Room RSVP on Facebook
1:45 – 3:10
Thinking Outside the Beatbox
with
The Persuasions — Legendary acapella kings from Brooklyn, N
Nomadic Massive's Butta Beats (Montreal)
“These guys are deep sea divers. I’m just a fisherman in a boat.” That's what Tom Waits had to say about acapella legends The Persuasions. Come gain an awareness of vocal percussion from different cultural and historical perspectives, drawing connections to the greater context of world music.
Learn to use your voice in this once-in-a-lifetime workshop! Participants will learn to create a rhythm in which each is responsible for a sound or melody. The success of this workshop relies heavily on ones ability to reference different cultural styles and musical genres.
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
3:30 – 5:00
I'm a lady, I'm not a man, MC is my ambition: The Herstory of Hip Hop
co-presented by Galerie La Centrale Powerhouse
with Sister Nancy (reggae pioneer)
Moderator: Waahli (Nomadic Massive)
Roxanne Arsenault (aka Donzelle, Montreal)
Eternia (MC, Toronto)
Tali (Nomadic Massive)
If hip-hop represents a historic voice against oppression, then why are women within this culture subject to insult, hyper-sexualization, and exclusion? What are the real and creative implications of this? What role do larger socio-econimic factors play? And where is the line drawn between exploitation and marketing within the music industry and media? Most importantly, this discussion will delve into the proud tradition of MCing that many women have pioneered and continue to champion.
Venue: Green Room RSVP on Facebook
4:15 – 6:00
Improvising Community
with
Moderator: Mark Molnar (Kingdom Shore, Why We Fight Magazine)
Matana Roberts (Jazz Saxaphonist, Brooklyn, NY)
Eric Lewis (Improvisation, Community, and Social Practice, McGill University)
Peter Burton (Suoni Per il Popolo, Avant Garde & Experimental Liberation Music Festival)
Gambletron (Thundrah)
John Heward (Murray Street Band)
Artists from different musical and social backgrounds discuss: Why improvise? How does one come to be an improviser? How does one navigate genre differences? Discussion, followed by a workshop performance, with Q&A and a live silk-screening demonstration with original street artist Brian Gormley.
Venue: Main Hall
SUNDAY OCTOBER 5
PUCES POP PRESENTS DO-IT-YOURSELF DAY
Venue: Main Hall RSVP on Facebook
12:30 – 1:30
Contact Mics Workshop
Learn how to turn household objects into resonant conductors of amazing noise. Build your own contact mic!3:30 – 6:00
Bring-Your-Own-Toys (BYOT) Circuit-Bending Demonstration and Workshop
Bring your Speak and Spell, vintage Atari parts and learn how to turn them into instruments! Custom gear-makers show their wares and discuss experimenting with found objects, field recording, and other spontaneous and improvised activities.
3:00 – 5:00
Master Class with Jem Cohen
co-presented by Film POP and the National Film Board
Come learn from the man who has made his home at the intersection of music and film. Jem Cohen is a New York City-based filmmaker known for his portraits of urban landscapes and collaborations with music artists. Cohen's work includes feature film CHAIN and documentary Instrument, a portrait of the band Fugazi. Other works: Lucky Three; about the late Elliot Smith; Chain X Three, a three-channel installation; and a concert film of Dutch band The Ex, Building a Broken Mousetrap. Cohen has also collaborated include Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Sparklehorse, REM, Miracle Legion, and Blonde Redhead.
Admission: $15 (NEW! Reserve your spot through ETIX.com)
Venue: Ukrainian Federation (5213 Hutchison) RSVP on Facebook
