Experimental Music Festival, Novas Frequências in Rio

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 2015 edition of the experimental music festival, Novas Frequências began on December 1st and will continue through December 8th. The fifth edition of the festival features lectures, workshops, and 42 musicians and artists from twelve countries presenting and performing live.

The events will take place in seven venues in the city of Rio de Janeiro; Oi Futuro Ipanema, SESC Ginástico, Maison de France, Cais da Imperatriz, Laboratório Agnut, Audio Rebel, and Casa Rio.

In addition to live musical performances, lectures, and workshops, this year the festival will also feature, for the first time, film screenings held at Audio Rebel in Botafogo; a hacklab section, and art exhibitions. Another first for the festival this year, it will be themed, named “RECAP,” in honor of the fifth anniversary.

Each day of the festival Fabio Ghivelder is presenting the RECAP exhibition in Laboratório Agnut located in Barra da Tijuca. The free entry exhibition takes a look back at the previous four editions of the festival, which has become one of the main international events that highlights experimental music and sound exploration.

The festival originated from a partnership between cultural producers, Chico Dub and Tathiana Lopes in 2011. It began with the desire to celebrate new combinations of sounds and rhythms along with innovative uses of technology. The festival has grown steadily in popularity with Prêmio Noite Rio naming it the “Best Rio Festival” in 2013.

Known for never repeating its programming and for giving new and unique artists exposure, notable performers during the festival this year include Brazilian composers Juçara Marçal and Cadu Tenório. Together the two will present their collaborative work “Anganga” live on December 2nd at Sesc Ginástico in Centro at 8:30 PM. The work combines both authors’ styles, Marçal’s energetic Afro-Brazilian rhythms and themes with Tenório’s improv/noise rock, to create the unique sound of “Afro noise.”

Other notable performers include London-based musician and producer Kevin Martin. Martin is the creator of the group King Midas Sound, which will perform live on December 2nd at Sesc Ginástico, and is also known as The Bug. As The Bug, Martin will perform with singer Miss Red on December 4th at Cais da Imperatriz in Saúde.

Composer Phill Niblock and Thomas Ankersmit will perform at Oi Futuro Ipanema on December 5th at 6PM followed by a performance by American Tyondai Braxton and Scottish group Trudat Sound at 8:30 PM.

Additionally during the festival, Tunga will present “Delivered in Voices” a sound installation at Laboratório Agnut in Barra da Tijuca with guests including Ava Rocha & Eduardo Manso, Barrão, DEDO, Dissonâmbulos, Félicia Atkinson, Lilian Zaremba & Fred Paredes, Lucas Santtana, Luísa Nóbrega, Meteoro, N-1, Thingamajicks and Marcelo Mudou performing in and with the installation.

For a full schedule of events, times, addresses of venues and additional information, see the official Festival Novas Frequências website.

What: Novas Frequências 2015
When: December 1st – December 8th
Where: Various venues.
Entrance: Event prices vary.