In the 20th(!) edition of the adventurous concert series ass-crack stage-hack, esc.rec. presents two exquisite, but intense Sunday-afternoon concerts.

Celer & Machinefabriek

Celer used to be a married duo, Will Long and Danielle Baquet-Long (Chubby Wolf). Celer self-released numerous handmade objects, made sound for installations and exhibitions, and released work on independent labels in the U.S., Japan and Europe. Unfortunately Danielle Baquet-Long passed away in 2009. Celer has since been continued by Will Long, who currently lives and works in Tokyo. The intent is producing works that reflect the sincere nature and importance of love, the impermanence of life, and the spirit of togetherness, through a relative and absolute symposium of expression.

In this concert Celer collaborates with Machinefabriek. Rutger Zuydervelt started working as Machinefabriek in 2004. Except for a few piano and guitar lessons when he was young, Rutger didn’t study music. Instead, he graduated as a graphic designer. The sleeves of his releases are practically always designed by Rutger himself, which is a crucial part of the music. Machinefabriek’s music combines elements of ambient, modern classical, minimalism, drone and field recordings. His pieces unfold as ‘films without image’, with a sharp ear for detail.

Machinefabriek has an excellent live reputation and performed once before at an earlier ass-crack stage-hack. That was a very impressive concert and this collaboration with Celer promises nothing less.

Kleefstra|Bakker|Kleefstra

Jan and Romke Kleefstra performed at earlier ass-crack stage-hacks too. But never before incombination with Anne Chris Bakker.

Jan and Romke Kleefstra mix poetry, music and video in a spatial and melancholic manner which originated in the empty menless landscape of Friesland. The fragments tell about the sensory experience of living in the land between the lakes and nearby sea. The music always arises ‘instantly’ during free improvisations. Several albums have been published of the collaborations of Jan and Romke. Those albums are all accompanied by a booklet with the poems in original Frisian and English translation.

With guitarist Anne Chris Bakker they soon release the LP “Griis” on the English Low Point, a comprised version of the music they played during their tour in Tokyo, Japan in 2010.

Date: March 18, 2012
Doors open: 15:00
Start: 15:30
Entrance: presale 5 euro, door 8 euro
Location: WILLIE in Havenkwartier, Mr.H.F. de Boerlaan 151 (rear entrance)

Order your tickets here.

The 19th edition of ass-crack stage-hack. On February 17 Lomechanik is our guest at WILLIE in Havenkwartier Deventer. Lomechanik is the friendly, high quality label from Nijmegen (remember this?). En they bring a whole array of Lomechanik artists with them.

With Sam A La Bamalot (who also released a track through esc.rec. by the way), Raadsel, Kijk Een Ster, Terugklap, Jorg and oXane this will be a night to remember. But don’t take my word for it, just click their names and listen to some of their tracks. Especially if you’re into phat beats and dito sounds, this night cannot be missed. Seriously. It’s a line-up filled to the brim with promises for the future. In a few years you’ll say: “What? All this on ONE night? No way! And for free? Whacky!”

Oh yes. You read that right. Due to an exhibition opening at WILLIE earlier that night, there is no entrance fee for this event. So all you cheapskates are welcome too ;)

Date: February 17, 2012
Doors open: 17:00
Start: 22:00
Entrance: free!!
Location: WILLIE in Havenkwartier, Mr.H.F. de Boerlaan 151 (rear entrance)

Like said before, composer and theatre maker Dick Raaijmakers is to receive the Witteveen+Bos Art+Technology Award 2011 for his entire oeuvre. The award ceremony takes place in the Bergkerk Church in Deventer on 10 November 2011, and will be celebrated with a Raaijmakers exhibition which will run until 4 December 2011.

On the last day of this exhibition, esc.rec. organizes a special 18th edition of ass-crack stage-hack with a complementary program about Dick Raaijmakers at WILLIE in Havenkwartier Deventer. You can attend this program after your visit to the exhibition in the Bergkerk Church; WILLIE opens at 15:00 hrs.

Starting at 15:30 with a screening of the film ‘Op zoek naar een vergeten toepassing – A portrait of Dick Raaijmakers by Jacqueline Oskamp‘. Jacqueline Oskamp is also the author of the book ‘Onder Stroom’, in which she vividly describes the history of Dutch electronic music. She is present at the screening, tells us more about Dick Raaijmakers and answers questions if needed.

After you’ve enjoyed a good meal at WILLIE, the program continues with three concerts/performances/installations which have an obvious relation to the work of Dick Raaijmakers. Performing artists are Cathy van Eck, Radboud Mens and Wouter van Veldhoven.

Cathy van Eck is a composer and sound artist. Her work includes compositions for instruments and live-electronics, as well as performances with sound objects, which she often designs herself. She studied composition and electronic music at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and at the University of the Arts in Berlin. She performs her works regularly during festivals like Gaudeamus Festival in Amsterdam, TRANSIT in Leuven, NYCEMF in New York, SPARK Festival in Minneapolis, Klangwerkstatt in Berlin, Performance Festival Der Längste Tag in Zurich, Hapzura Digital Art in Israel, Avantgarde Schwaz in Austria and Spaziomusica in Italy. She is currently doing a doctoral degree at the Orpheusinstitute in Ghent and University of Leiden in the DocARTES Program, her dissertation subject is Loudspeakers and Microphones as Musical Instruments. Since March 2007 she has a teaching position at the department for music and media arts of the University of the Arts in Bern, Switzerland.

Cathy van Eck is going to perform ‘Song No 3′ for us. Extensive documentation of ‘Song No 3′ can be found here.

Radboud Mens has been a sound-artist since the mid-eighties and is now living & working in Rotterdam. In 1988 he started creating audio-installations and noise-machines. As Hyware and Technoise he has done numerous noise-performances, standing-wave performances and concerts. Since 1997 he also started making music using his own name and has released a lot of vinyl and CD albums on many different labels like Staalplaat, Mutek and Touch. On labels like Audio-NL and Vynalogica he did a series of minimal-techno 12 inches. Together with Dan Armstrong he is the founder of the ERS label. He also was a dj for the Amsterdam free radio station Radio 100, where he did a show entitled “Earbitten”, for 16 years; between 1986 and 2003.

Radboud Mens will play one of his installations for us, in which he controls three guitars simultaneously by making them resonate to sinewaves from his computer.

Wouter van Veldhoven was a guest in one of the previous ass-crack stage-hacks, some years back. Using reel-to-reel tape recorders, home-build music machines, cassette walkmans and toy instruments he creates musical oddities. Meticulously detailed sounds and simple, but beautiful melodies. Currently he’s building new instruments from second hand junk (like a prepared toy piano, modified taperecorders, automated violins and circuit-bend cassette walkmans). These instruments are gradually showcased in his new performances… He has released his music through Staalplaat, Digitalis and Eat This Media and frequently collaborates with the likes of Greg Haines and Machinefabriek.

All in all this is an extremely impressive line-up in my opinion! And a well deserved tribute to Dick Raaijmakers, especially when consumed together with the Raaijmakers exhibition in the Bergkerk. A day equally interesting for Dick Raaijmakers experts ánd for people who are not yet familiar with his inspiring work and the impact it had and still has on other artists and electronic music in general.

Havenkwartier Deventer is a 10 minute walk from the Bergkerk Church and parking is free.

This ass-crack stage-hack is realized with financial contributions by the City of Deventer, Foundation Havenkwartier and Esc.rec.

Date: December 4, 2011
Doors open: 15:00
Start: 15:30
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: WILLIE in Havenkwartier, Mr.H.F. de Boerlaan 151 (rear entrance)

In this 17th edition of ass-crack stage-hack you can listen to the old fashioned radio play ‘De Planeet van de Oeroude Kinderen’ in an archaic setting, performed live by Coolhaven.

Coolhaven is a flexible group that flows in a realistic-kapitalistic way where it is needed and dries up where moisture is unnecessary. Since about 1999, Coolhaven is active in all directions: performances, movies, rock music, radio plays, theater and very dry, hermetic art. Anything goes. Coolhaven consists of Hajo Doorn, Peter Fengler and Lukas Simonis. Fortunately, they have something to say about themselves:

Hajo Doorn: “I myself love playing with attraction and repulsion. Trying to lure people in only to kick ‘m down later. That does not always work. Sometimes you notice that people are struggling. In our performances it’s all about confusing the audience so much, that at some point they can’t tell whether what we are doing is intended or not, or whether something is good or not. It requires a kind of virtuosity to give the public the idea that there is real craftsmanship in our actions, without being able to define exactly where. Every audience is looking for a satisfying moment. And we want them to be satisfied, but not in the way they know. We want to loosen them – yes, ambitious – and create a new framework. Within this new framework we feed them with good things or nothing at all.”

Peter Fengler: “The audience… there is a part that drops out and that is disappointing. But the part that isn’t deterred slowly enters another realm, where little guidance is offered. Some go home with a kind of doubt about whether that experience was something or nothing. The part that doesn’t care much for security is less troubled by this.”

Lukas Simonis: “An important feature is chaos, the refusal to reassure the customer, which we could if we wanted to. We provide no safety nets. We almost never make unstratified things. If you are experiencing a performance by Coolhaven you can be sure that there’s a tipping point in there somewhere.”

The bizarro radio play ‘De Planeet van de Oeroude Kinderen’ consists of three parts. Lyrically this play has some explicit content, which may not be entirely suitable for young children.

This ass-crack stage-hack is realized with financial contributions by the City of Deventer, Foundation Havenkwartier and Esc.rec.

Date: October 30, 2011
Doors open: 15:00
Start: 20:30
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: WILLIE in Havenkwartier, Mr.H.F. de Boerlaan 151 (rear entrance)

Oh yeah! The 16th ass-crack stage-hack is the very first JUNIOR edition of this adventurous concert series! An edition suited for children (of all ages) ánd adults. Nothing childish, expect challenging music in the line of previous editions of ass-crack stage-hack.

Loop The Balloon
Wherever there’s a party, there’s balloons. And wherever there’s balloons there’s Loop The Balloon! A unique act by multi instrumentalist and professional (jazz)drummer Jeroen Elfferich. That you don’t need sophisticated equipment to make beat driven music is best illustrated by this balloon hero. Using different kind of balloons and a loopstation he builds a groove, layer by layer. Besides performances at several small festivals and venues he also played Lowlands and Mysteryland, two of Holland’s biggest festivals. And since his smashing performance in Holland’s Got Talent, he’s also a regular TV celebrity.

Heug
Heug is Jan Schellink and Danibal. They improvise complete performances and have been described as “stand up musicians”. Or as Kindamuzik once wrote: “Heug is a cross between a comedy act and a serious sound performance”. Spontaneity and improv is key for this duo. Schellink is one of Utrechts most adventurous musicians and plays practically everything. Jewish harp virtuoso  Danibal yodels, sings and growls. Armed with loop-pedals, a suitcase full of jewish harps, trombone, bass guitar and evryting else within reach at the time.

Date: September 11, 2011
Doors open: 15:30
Start: 16:00
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: WILLIE in Havenkwartier, Mr.H.F. de Boerlaan 151 (entrance Scheepvaartstraat)

Just like with the previous ass-crack stage-hack opportunity came knocking and esc.rec. opted for hosting yet another EXTRA ass-crack stage-hack in Havenkwartier Deventer.

Paul de Jong, classically trained cello player and half of the renowned American duo The Books is in The Netherlands and gladly returns to the city of Deventer. He was here a few years ago to compose a piece about Okkenbroek and perform this composition at the Herfsttonen festival there. He was invited by esc.rec. for this project and it resulted in an audience moved to tears and a contribution to the Herfsttonen release (listen to it here). This time he comes over to improvise on cello, especially for us. Pure enjoyment awaits you here, you just have to show up!

If Bart Folmer is DJ-ing he usually does so under his Radion moniker and wastes no time letting the audience know it is time to shake their booty. This time however, Bart shows us his sensitive, melancholy side. Expect anything ranging from modern classical and minimal music to singer/songwriter and subtle, melodious electronica. Lean back and let yourself drift off into bliss.

Date: July 17, 2011
Start: 15:00 hrs.
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: Havenkwartier Deventer

Opportunity knocked, so esc.rec. organizes/improvises this extra(!) ass-crack stage-hack in June. Yan Jun just so happens to be in The Netherlands (for Poetry International). Besides poetry he also makes music and – together with Roel Meelkop and BMB con. – he comes to Havenkwartier Deventer to perform for us on Saturday, June 25.

Yan Jun was born in Lanzhou in Northwest China and studied Chinese literature at the university there. Besides being a poet, he’s a hub in the Chinese electronic music scene and founder of the influential labels Kwanjin and SubJam, where he releases his own music and the work of other Chinese artists. He organizes musical events, gives concerts in China and abroad, and he writes critical essays on music.

Roel Meelkop is one of the Dutch pioneers of experimental electronics. He released his impressive oeuvre through many quality labels, esc.rec. included. Meelkop is also part of several groundbreaking groups such as GOEM, Kapotte Muziek, Zèbra and THU20, together with some other important players in Dutch experimental electronica, like Frans de Waard, Jos Smolders and Peter Duimelinks.

BMB con. are the most mysterious sound and performance collective to be found in The Netherlands. For this performance BMB con. is Justin Bennett and Roelf Toxopeus. A BMB con. performance consists for a large part of improvisation: action, re-action and interaction. Because BMB con. build up an audio/visual system especially for each space, each performance is unique. People from Deventer may have encountered Justin Bennett’s work in the recent exhibition ‘Sporen’ in Kunstenlab, Deventer.

This experimental evening will be introduced by John Heymans, a specialist in early electronic music. His introduction could provide a useful reference or context when listening to these artists and experimental electronic music in general.

UPDATE: It seems that Dennis de Bel has made a last minute surprise decision to tag along. So he might be present here too. Chech here for one of his latest works.

Date: June 25, 2011
Doors open: 20:00 hrs.
Start: 20:30 hrs.
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: Havenkwartier Deventer

Stranded Horse
The French musician Yann Tambour started his soloproject Stranded Horse in 2005. Quite unexpectedly actually, since he was still very succesfull with his group Encre at the time. Between 2000 and 2005 Encre was by far the most interesting avant-rock band in France, with several impressive albums on the Clapping Music label.

Stranded Horse is an extremely gifted singer/songwriter accompanying himself on kora (a beautiful instrument from West-Africa reminiscent of a harp) and guitar. His music is sober, intense and has roots in folk and old country blues, but also in the tradition of the French chansons. On the arrival of his latest album ‘Humbling Tides’ (Talitres Records 2011) Yann Tambour enriched his kora play with arrangements for cello and violin.

Live performances by Stranded Horse are an enchanting experience…

The Diamond Exchange
After a very succesfull first edition of The Diamond Exchange in Het Burgerweeshuis, it has become clear that this is a more than viable concept. In this second edition Jan Willem Broek (DJ Senzor/Caleidoscoop) and Fokko Jan Dijksterhuis wil play their best records for eachother. Jan Willem Broek also wrote this inspired review about the latest album by Stranded Horse and has a vast music collection. Fokko Jan Dijksterhuis has an equally vast music collection and is a frequent visitor of ass-crack stage-hacks. Esc.rec. estimated a considerable overlap in matching musical interests between these two an they never met before, so this Diamond Exchange is bound to be an interesting first introduction. The Diamond Exchange starts early (18:00 !) and is scheduled to take place before and after the Stranded Horse performance.

Goestingjockey diner
Like before, there’s a dinner table in the concert room again. Jean Klare will treat the lucky few who managed to reserve a seat at this table to a delightful three course diner. Those of you who have attended a Goestingjockey diner before know I’m not kidding… this is pure tastebud pampering. During your meal you can listen to Fokko Jan Dijksterhuis and Jan Willem Broek getting acquainted musically in The Diamond Exchange. Please make your reservations in time (mail harco@escrec.com), there aren’t that many places available!

Date: 3 June 2011
Open: 18:00
Entrance: 5 euro
Diner: 25 euro (reservation required, mail harco@escrec.com)
Location: Havenkwartier

Visual artist and singer/songwriter Melle de Boer (The Hague) goes by the name of John Dear Mowing Club for his solo and group performances. For his show in Havenkwartier Deventer, he only brings his guitar and organ with him. De Volkskrant (Dutch national newspaper) writes about John Dear Mowing Club: “sinister jewels, resting on a bed of well articulated suffering”. His gnawing voice is a pleasant reminder of Neil Young, while his tormented lyrics reminiscent the work of the manic depressive songwriter genius Daniel Johnston. The latter seems no coincidence. De Boer and Johnston know eachother well. Whenever opportunity knocked John Dear Mowing Club has toured as backing band and support act for Daniel Johnston. On the self-released CD+book ‘Melleville’ you’ll find the song ‘Devils’. Recorded with Daniel Johnston at his home in Texas.

Sir Ian (Rotterdam) was in Deventer recently for a solo performance. At the opening of the exhibition by Hidde van Schie at Kunstenlab. A grand performance and the first time music really came into its own in the acoustics of Kunstenlab. Unfortunately, there was hardly anyone there to enjoy it… Hence now a second chance in Havenkwartier for anyone who missed out on this performance. Sir Ian is Bart Hoevenaars, also known as singer of the now defunct band Mono. Visitors of Oerol Festival last year, probably heard Sir Ian play in the forest, where he performed twice every day, together with Hidde van Schie. The songs of Sir Ian are carried by harmonious melodies, but never get sweet. His lyrics are introspective and Hoevenaars’ singing voice is impressive in it’s purity. Goosebumps.

Date: 22 April 2011
Open: 21:00 uur
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: Havenkwartier

The brothers Kleefstra performed here before in an earlier edition of ass-crack stage-hack, then together with Machinefabriek and Soccer Committee. That was such an impressive performance that esc.rec. cordially invited them back again. This time, the Frisian poetry of Jan Kleefstra and soundscapes of guitarist Romke Kleefstra are combined with the enchanting sound of renowned bass clarinetist Gareth Davis (UK).

The second concert of the evening is provided by Bela Emerson (UK). She plays (electric) cello with a fascinating virtuosity. Her solo performances are very intense and exciting. Using electronics and effects, this lady from Brighton builds layers of rhythm and sound, making use of every part of her instrument.

Date: 18 March 2011
Open: 21:00 uur
Entrance: 5 euro
Location: Havenkwartier