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Aug 122016
 
Justice Yeldham

Justice Yeldham

Nashville’s vital experimental curators FMRL Arts is presenting Ditch Fest, a three-day festival of music and visual art.

The fest takes place at Betty’s Grill on August 14 through 16. FMRL Arts is taking the unique approach of time-releasing the lineup, one festival-day at a time. Thus far, all we have is the lineup for day one, which is subtitled “Time Fades Away.” Keep checking the FMRL Arts site for updates on days two and three.

But the day one lineup? It’s spectacular.

First off, we have Sidney, Australia based audiovisual artist Justice Yeldham who is one of the most creative people alive. At the fest, he’ll be performing with broken pieces of glass and contact mics. He also creates pinball machines where the ball strikes guitar strings, piano strings, and tuning forks and remote-control car races where the cars “play” records doubling as the racetrack. The drivers sit in repurposed racecar game cabinets. They control the rc car through the game cabinet steering wheel and view the track through the monitor, which broadcasts the rc car front camera. It’s a brilliant idea, and I won’t be surprised if this type of racing becomes a phenomenon around the world.

Next up, we have Bryan Lewis Saunders of Johnson City, TN. Update: Saunders had to cancel. In his place is the artist Depths & Chained. Of him, FMRL states:

Inspired by the music of Henryk Gorecki and Gyorgy Ligeti, the regal melancholy of seminal second-wave of black metal records, the work of ambient composers Eliane Radigue and William Basinski, kosmiche music, classic harsh noise and the churning, pulsing fervor of Brighter Death Now, Depths & Chained serves as an exploration of the space in which these influences can co-exist.

Then there’s Pico Dorado, Scott Bazar‘s method for musical improvisation where each performer is assigned a color.

Finally, we have Cleveland, TN solo artist TORSCHLUSSPANIK, which is a German word that has no English counterpart. It literally translates to “gate shut panic” and speaks to the fear that time is running out. Her music incorporates heavily-distorted found sounds cut up into audio assemblages. Check out the stream below.

Admission for Ditch Fest day one is a $10 to $15 sliding scale. Show starts at 9 p.m.

FMRL Arts presents Ditch Fest
Day One: Time Fades Away
Featuring Justice Yeldham, Bryan Lewis Saunders, Pico Dorado, and TORSCHLUSSPANIK
August 14, 9 p.m., $10 to $15
@ Betty’s Grill, 407 49th Ave N, Nashville, Tennessee 37209

Jan 102015
 

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Panama City extended guitarist Scott Bazar and drummer Charles Pagano will perform a free improv set tonight at Betty’s Grill. Also performing are the duos of Joseph Allred / Matt Johnson and Chris Davis / Brady Sharp. Check the media below. More info on the Facebook event page.

Scott Bazar and Charles Pagano:

Joseph Allred feat. Matt Johnson and Witties Villa:

Chris Davis and Brady Sharp:

A Trio of Duos – Scott Bazar & Charles Pagano, Joseph Allred & Matt Johnson, Chris Davis & Brady Sharp
Saturday, January 10, 2015, 9 p.m., 21+
@Betty’s Grill, 407 49th Ave N, Nashville, Tennessee 37209

Nov 242013
 

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For those staying in Nashville over Thanksgiving weekend, there’s a great experimental show happening at Betty’s Grill on Saturday, November 30th at 10pm, and it’s FREE. The event features Panama City experimental improv guitarist Scott Bazar with Brady Sharp . The show was set up by the other two bands on the bill: Buddhist Pill (Blake Edward Conley / Joseph Allred) and Skoolgirl (Stan Richardson). When Scott’s original gig fell through, Blake generously offered him a spot on his. Hats off to him.

Scott Bazar has been making multimedia art as early as 1988, performing with artists such as Paul Barker (Hermes Pan of Ministry), Duane Denison (Legendary Shack ShakersThe Jesus Lizard), La Donna Smith (Fred Lane & the Debonaires, editor of The-Improviser), Greg GinnTatsuya NakataniLloyd Kaufman and Killick. Scott founded Pico Dorado, an “improv arcade” where the contestants improvise to projected videos serving as graphic notation. Check out Scott’s work in the videos below.

Although the show is free, Brady may pass around a donation bucket for Scott, who is currently on tour. Support touring artists and donate what you can.

Buddhist Pill is the psych duo of Blake Edward Conley (Droneroom) and Joseph Allred (Poor Faulkner). Joseph performed an absolutely-stunning set of instrumental guitar and harmonium at Noa Noa earlier this month. (See video of the performance here.)

Skoolgirl is the experimental rock solo project of Stan Richardson II. See below for videos of all the acts.

If you’re a Facebook user, RSVP and find out more on the Facebook event page.

Scott Bazar

Pico Dorado Improv Arcade

Brady Sharp

Buddhist Pill

Skoolgirl

Scott Bazar w/ Brady Sharp, Skoolgirl, Buddhist Pill
November 30th, 2013, 10 p.m.
Free show, 21 and up, cash only.

@ Betty’s Grill
407 49th Ave N.
Nashville, Tennessee 37209