Chicago’s coolest hackerspace, Pumping Station:One is having a 4-year birthday party / open house thingie on Saturday.
In case you’re not familiar, hackerspaces are, well–pretty self explanatory. You sign up for a membership, like a gym, and then you get to play with all the neat toys–oscilloscopes, 3D printers, drill presses, sewing machines, and a scanning electron microscope (duh!). It’s $40-$70 per month for a membership, for all that access to awesome future-creation. Also, they really do have a Tardis on the roof, just like that photo up there shows–not shopped.
7PM – Demos and reception
10PM – Live music
@ Pumping Station: One, 3519 N. Elston, Chicago IL (near Addison and Kedzie)
They also have a THUNDER SLINKY (I don’t know what that is, but it sounds awesome):
Souped-up Power Wheels Racers
DIY Quadcopter
Check out our new scanning electron microscope
Brain-based Jacob’s Ladder
WindowFarm
THUNDER SLINKY!
Other cool things!
Also, interactivity is completely smiled upon and encouraged:
Make art with lasers!
Silkscreen your own art poster!
Learn to solder and walk away with your very own blinkie badge!
Print your first object using one of our 3D printers
Liquid and light snacks will be on hand, as will music and an LED birthday cake.
There’s a $10 donation for non-members, which will go towards building a new kitchen.RSVP here.
Serving as a launch and fundraiser event for the new ELECTRONIC SOUND + ART CHICAGO (ESAC) organization, this Saturday will be the first in a series that takes a refreshingly sincere approach within an increasingly scenester and media-driven musical landscape.
This two-room multimedia extravaganza showcasing the Chicago/Midwest debut of ATOM™(Uwe Schmidt of Señor Coconut /Atom Heart fame) & Tobias.
It also features a couple surefire debut tag team spots (C.Widman vs Striz, DJ Warpvs F.Vega), as well as a second BEAT.SPACE room featuring performances culled from across Chicago’s varied electronic music community from the likes of Radius,Karl Meier, FMEL’s (((SONORAMA))), andTIME NICE (of dubscription). Presale tickets are available via Resident Advisor. The Viaduct Theater is located at 3111 N. Western.
Atom™ and Tobias Freund are veritable living legends of electronic music. Tobias began his career in the early ’80s, mainly using the pseudonym “Pink Elln”. He looks back on a long sequence of music making that has led him from mainstream pop to club music, and then onto the experimental and undefinable. Uwe Schmidt, better known as Atom™, has a similar musical background. He is most well known for his work under the Senor Coconut moniker, but has worked under dozens of other aliases, all with their own sound.
Atom™ and Tobias met around 1986, while both were still living in Frankfurt. The pre-techno scene was blossoming when they met in a studio. In 1990, Tobias was the engineer who helped mix and record Atom™’s first release ever. As a natural consequence, Tobias and Atom™ started to work together. Strangely, they collaborated not so much in a studio environment, but mostly playing improvised electronic music concerts. In 1992 they recorded one of the very first live techno recordings ever, the 12-inch “Elektroniikkaa”, which soon became an underground anthem.
Their paths would separate in the ’90s – Atom™ moving to Santiago de Chile; Tobias relocating to Berlin – but would reconnect on a live stage again in 2003 at Mutek Chile. Even with a 10 year performance separation, the reactivation worked perfectly and they decided to share the stage more often. They have been playing many concerts worldwide since the successful re-launch in 2003 (Berghain, The Bunker, Labyrinth), and we are excited to have their debut Midwest appearance coincide with the ESAC launch event!
This is the release party for the latest free compilation on my label. Come out and listen to live PAs from five artists who are on the compilation.
Chicago-based innovative electronic music label subVariant will release a free-to-download compliation called Frequencity featuring quality songs from Chicagoland musicians. Earlier this year subVariant released a public call for electronic music from area musicians, without restriction on the genre. In response, a dozen tracks were chosen that represented high quality perspectives on the medium from a talented group of musicians.
On Wednesday, November 16, five of the artists will play at Darkroom (2210 W Chicago Ave Chicago): XYZR_KX, Belmont & Clark, Beanbake, Foe Paw, and [esc]APE.
What really makes a music scene? You know–those certain reasons that make you put on a jacket and promptly head for the El or call a cab just to get there in time. That’s what Chicago Innovative Electronic Music (CIEM) and subVariant are asking via their Crowdsourced 1.0 event: What is it about electronic music that people want to see live?
It really is a heady question. But, CIEM & subVariant‘s preliminary answer seems to be: "That which is "crowdsourced."
To the unfamiliar, "crowdsourced" means that the content that is the most popular "rises to the top" via votes–as in, the crowd chooses what’s the most relevant. On Digg.com (a popular news and entertainment aggregator) the front page is filled with only the content that has been voted up through "diggs." Threadless is also a good example: only the designs that are voted hottest actually make it to production.
On April 10, CIEM will test their theory in the electronic music world. Electronic music fans and supporters were asked to vote on a number of the submissions from Chicago artists to determine the lineup for the night. After approximately 600 online-votes later, the results were in, and the top four will perform in order of the number of votes recieved.
It’s democracy in electronic music. Like, seriously, democracy. Not that "republic" stuff that’s been thrown around. These artists have been chosen by the people, for the people.
Sort of like it’s analog cousin, Open Channel is an non-curated musician’s showcase in a supportive, relaxed environment, except it showcases electronic music, either through DJing or Live PAs. You will get 20 minutes to show off what you do musically, and then listen to other people doing the same thing.
There are 12 slots open. The first 12 people who RSVP and pay will be guaranteed a slot. Playing order will be determined on t…he date of the performance.
You are also absolutely welcome to bring friends, or just come as a spectator!
Check out this electronic version of “Open Mic” in Chicago that I’m putting together:
Sort of like its analog cousin, Open Channel is an non-curated musician’s showcase in a supportive, relaxed environment, except it showcases electronic music, either through DJing or Live PAs. You will get 20 minutes to show off what you do musically, and then listen to other people doing the same thing.
There are 12 slots open. The first 12 people who RSVP and pay will be guaranteed a slot. Playing order will be determined on the date of the performance.
You are also absolutely welcome to bring friends, or just come as a spectator! There is a suggested donation of $5.
Circuit Bent Saturdays, The eSymposium
EVERY Saturday, 12:00 noon – 3:00 PM
Lizard’s Liquid Lounge, 3058 W Irving Park Rd, (773) 463-7599
To nurture the Midwest experimental electronics community, we host a free weekly “eSymposium,” a lateral lecture series where participants are both teachers and students. There’s soldering, tinkering, Q&A, show-&-tell, bending circuits, hacking toys, and Chicago’s only weekly Circuit Bent Open Mic. Stop by, join the eSymposium’s Google Group, or check out what we’ve been up to at youtube.com/eSymposiumChicago and soundcloud.com/eSymposiumChicago.
Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 11:00pm
Green Dolphin Street
2200 North Ashland
Chicago, IL
Swing Shift, In Your System, Relode & Meotic present…
Avant Mutek Chicago…
featuring
AKUFEN (Montreal | MusiqueRisquée, Perlon, Force Inc)
STEPHEN BEAUPRÉ live(Montreal | MusiqueRisquée, CircusCompany)
LEO 123 LIVE (Chicago | DarkParty, Mush, OldTacoma)
HERNAN SANCHEZ (Chicago | Meiotic)
JEFF PIETRO (Chicago | FearofMusic NY)
For the first time ever, MUTEK is making a preview stop in Chicago. The MUTEK festival – celebrating it’s 11th anniversary this year from June 2 to 6 in Montreal, Canada – has distinguished itself as an international rendezvous for original and avant-garde programming, with interests in both the experimental and the playful sides of digital creativity. As the Mutek festival experience is truly one of our favorites in the world, we’re hoping to expand its awareness in Chicago, and to perhaps sway some uninitiated friends to come along to the beautifully intriguing city of Montreal, Quebec for a couple musically enlightened and inspiring days at the beginning of June. The festival’s 2010 tour features two pillars of Mutek: Montreal cut-up house luminaries AKUFEN and STEPHEN BEAUPRÉ. Chicago based beatsmith LEO 123, Meiotic mainstayHERNAN SANCHEZ , and Fear of Music’s JEFF PIETRO round out the evenings varied line up.
Adding another element to the event is the ABLETON 101 Workshop, hosted by MacSpecialist at 7pm. This Workshop Series includes interactive demonstrations, practice exercises, professional tips and valuable resources from producer, drummer, and multimedia artist Thomas Faulds.
Following the Ableton workshop will be a special technology reception. Ableton Inc, MacSpecialist and other product specialists will be set up and on hand to engage attendees with word about their solutions, providing access to them and assisting with questions. Also featured will be a preferred choice panel of end users, displaying their own midi controllers and gadgets haling from favorite picks from the market place, rare discoveries all the way to custom built.
7-8pm – LIZ REVISION: DJ set & presentation on Marketing, Branding & PR for DJs
8-9pm – ORVILLE KLINE from MIW: Intro to Digital DJing 101
9-10pm – JOSH “DOC” HELTON from MIW: Advanced Traktor
10pm-2am – Live Performance by Legendary DJ — Loco Dice w/Martin Buttrich, Livo & Roby
Friday, March 12, 7-10pm
Spy Bar, 646 North Franklin Street
Sponsored by
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
MUSIC INDUSTRY WORKSHOP
GUITAR CENTER
HOSTED SKY VODKA BAR FROM 7-8PM
DJ’s, producers, and music lovers join us for a FREE Digital DJ Workshop sponsored by Native Instruments, Music Industry Workshop, and Guitar Center. Witness the new age of digital DJ technology: Friday March 12th 7pm-10pm @ Spybar Chicago. Activities include a FREE Digital DJ Workshop, Networking Reception, and Live DJ Showcases.
Native Instruments product specialist Josh ‘Doc’ Helton will showcase all the top features of the groundbreaking new Traktor Scratch Pro and Kontrol X1. Guests will be amazed at how this technology seamlessly integrates with existing DJ systems. Thomas Faulds and Music Industry Workshop instructors will host a Digital DJ 101 clinic that showcases the immense power and versatility of computer-based DJ technology.
There will be plenty of networking, refreshments, drink specials, free raffles, prizes, and giveaways including gift certificates, t-shirts, gear, and a hosted Sky Vodka Bar from 7-8pm. Professional DJ’s, instructors, and product specialists will be on hand to share tips and tricks with the audience.
Spy Bar invites everyone to stick around after the event for a special live DJ performance by Native Instruments sponsored legendary Loco Dice (www.locodice.com), and Martin Buttrich, with Livo and Roby.
“Chicago has one of the most vibrant DJ cultures in the world. But if we’re going to be competitive we have to stay current with all the new technology. Events like these are extremely important to Chicago DJs. Anyone who wants to get in the game or stay in the game needs to show up”
- Thomas Faulds, Chicago-based Artist, Producer, Electronic Music Guru.
ABOUT SPYBAR
(http://www.spybarchic…) Spybar Chicago is Chicago’s premier DJ venue. This 4,000 Sq Feet night club boasts one of the best sound systems in the country. Spybar showcases world renowned celebrity guest DJ’s and residents.
ABOUT NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
(http://www.native-ins…) Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based music production and performance. Native Instruments is spearheading the digital DJ revolution.
ABOUT MUSIC INDUSTRY WORKSHOP
(http://www.miworkshop…) Celebrating 13 years, Music Industry Workshop is the area’s leading training and resource center for DJ technology, recording, mixing, digital music production, music business, live sound, and music video.
ABOUT GUITAR CENTER
(http://www.guitarcent…) Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards, pro-audio, recording, and DJ equipment.
