” Don’t start if you think money or fame is more important than music ” - Tobias Freund ..

To all our devote followers, supporting us over the course of many years in the realm of audio-visual culture, we thought i’d be time to deliver an update on what’s happening, and being planned this very instant, concerning initial plans for the Resonance Ghent festival, edition 2012. The past few weeks have been hectic, and continue being so. The news we received last week made us review and re-think the plans we had in store, and inboxes have been regularly checked, phonecalls have been made, and appointments all-over are being set as i type. We hope to supply you with more news over the course of next week, or the following. 

If all goes accordingly to plan, we can offer our devote audience a double-bill, bringing two audiovisual acts, deservingly received wide recognition recently in the world of contemporary electronic music, on worldwide music festivals such as Labyrinth, Transmediale Berlin etc. - Keep an eye out for updates and more news soon! It’s all in the pipeline.. 

Last, but not least, we noticed that our good friend from Berlin, Tobias Freund, took the honour of uploading the Resonance Ghent 2010 performance of Non Standard Institute on Soundcloud - check it out in its entirety here (as other live performances by Non Standard Institute - with Max Loderbauer - in Dusseldorf & Sternhagen) - Comes highly recommended!

Walking down the street, whistling, you might find yourself in case of violation… The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP in short, a performance rights body that licenses copyrighted works for non-dramatic public performances) believes it’s not entirely OK for little campers to sing “Happy Birthday” and/or “Row, Row, Row” around the campfire for free… Now add personal use of mobile communication means to that..

Frankly, a clear reminder of certain recent actions of ASCAP’s Belgian counterpart SABAM, who’ve led the media headlines recently with an outlandish claim towards private daycare centres, eventually resulting in more of the same. Rules and regulations, in all of its absurdity.

Luckily, less of the same landing on my lap recently, via a professionally torn-out newspaper article, courtesy of the steady hands of one of my Resonance collegues (thx Jan). Joining cities as Bologna, Sevilla and Glasgow on a select list, Ghent has been recognised by UNESCO as ‘City Of Music‘. Here’s what was officially published on the 11th of June: “The city of Ghent was foremost acknowledged for its reputation as a well-established centre for music with a rich tradition and inclusive approach to culture. The city possesses a complete infrastructure of creative and performing activities, with an impressive number of concert halls, education facilities and research centres. There is a solid support given to a variety of music genres, through a wide range of festivals and organisations. In addition, training and research activities are considered of core importance to the city with diverse education possibilities for local young artists, enabling them to develop their interest and career in the music field…”

Taking in the last sentence, i had to think of a set of tracks that have been sent my way shortly. Simon Halsberghe, going through blog- & Soundcloud-life as Simon Hold (one half of dj duo Pitch & Hold, one of my biggest surprises at last year’s Ten Days Off festival, playing a unmistakable, undeniable brilliant track such as this when least expected…) has been making a widening variety of electronic music in the past few years, ending up recently in 3 compositions that fairly impressed me, and would not feel out of place in a dark, cavernous environment, say 8 A.M. in the morning… Listen for yourself here.

Winter has (officially) passed, spring has come, and all things come to a good end. Or beginning. Depends what one’s view on things is. First of all, an enormous ‘thank you’ to all people involved in the succesfull ResonanceGhent 2009 festival, including all artists, collegues, supporters & volunteers. You know who you are, our gratitude is eternal..

An overview of imaginary & video-footage ::

SpinEarth.TV  - video report by Justin Toland

ResidentAdvisor - day 1

ResidentAdvisor - day 2 (set 1) / day 2 (set 2)

Flickr.com - courtesy of H-N-S

Youtube.com - “Resonance at Limonada” by Francois Van Liefferinghe

Youtube.com - Mokira live (in 5 parts)

Youtube.com - Deepchord presents Echospace live

NightCode.be - Review by Dave Volkaerts

If there’s any visual material you’re willing to send us, please don’t refrain and contact us via info(at)resonanceghent.be

So, what’s next. Not much to tell at the moment, besides some ideas we’re developing as i type. Our goal is to offer some minor-scale - whether in coöp with other like-minded promotors/organisations or not - events during the year until the clock strikes twelve again, and a larger, multiple-day festival is presented once again over the course of the new year.

Also note the two-weekly residency at Bar Limonada where dj’s such as Special K (we hope to upload his intriguing opening dj-set of Day 2 sometime soon with his permission)  & 0106 play out the best in contemporary electronic music..

More news soon.