The legendary Dunedin experimental music festival “Lines of Flight” is spreading its wings and touching down in Christchurch for a day of sonic mind-expansion, on Saturday 29 September at the Physics Room, 55 Sandyford St, Sydenham.
The first Lines of Flight festival was held over two days in October 2000, as part of the Dunedin Fringe festival. Held biennially ever since, it features the cream of New Zealand’s experimental/improvised/free noise music and has become a focal point for the national community to come together, perform and connect. Internationally recognised and known for their strong lineups, shows in recent years have included audience members who have flown round the world to attend.
We use the word 'experimental' as a very loose, generalised term, event co-organiser (and member of Eye) Peter Stapleton explains. It is basically an attitude to going a bit further. I think it is an aesthetic rather than a genre because it does cross a number of musical genres, he says, alluding to classifications such as free-jazz, noise-rock, electronic and experimental-folk.
The Christchurch shows (1-5pm and 8-12pm) feature a diverse mix of sounds, from the improvised solo prepared piano of Hermione Johnson, through the hypnotic analog synth beats of the reclusive Omit, to the rolling noise rock of Wellington’s The Stumps. Christchurch is represented by Stanier Black-Five’s field recording manipulations, the guitar feedbacking duo of Bruce Russell (Dead C) and Peter Wright, and Adam Willetts’ sublime electronica. Rachel Shearer flies in from Auckland with her sounds of fragile beauty, and Dunedin is represented by Eye, whose sound can range from delicate soundscapes through to thunderous noise.
Film has always been a strong component of Lines of Flight festivals, and many of the performers will have film accompaniment to their music. The shows are to be held at the temporary Physics Room in 55 Sandyford Street, Sydenham.
1pm - 5pm
Stanier Black-Five (Chch)
Adam Willetts (Chch)
Hermione Johnson (Wgtn/Ak)
Eye (Dn)
8pm - 12pm
Bruce Russell / Peter Wright (Chch)
Rachel Shearer (Ak)
Omit (outer space)
The Stumps (Wgtn)
$10 per show, or $15 for both.
