Anniversary X
The tenth anniversary for MUTEK in Barcelona is ready to take place this March 6 -9, 2019.
Strategically positioned outside of the city’s bustling season of juggernaut festivals, MUTEK
in Barcelona has been cultivating a space for itself that privileges local artistry and
community, while curating new projects and offering exclusives and premieres from
world-renowned artists working at the ever-evolving intersection of music, visual art
and technology.
Underlining its mandate of live performance, discovery and connection, the architecture
of the festival is built around the familiar programs:
A/Visions for spectacular audiovisual works,
Play for contemporary experimental, extreme and playful projects,
Experience for an accessible mix of local and global talents, and
Nocturne for the big-room, big- name and club-oriented performances.
Plus the new DIGI LAB and AMBIENT.
All of them are he framework that serves as a prism to show what the festival wants to highlight each year, and under which promotes new partnerships, spectacular audiovisual presentations.
Expect a kaleidoscope of genres that take in ambient, rhythmic, mechanical, robotic, scientific, hardcore, modular, folkloric, noisnik, and ingenious scenographic elements.
“This last decade has been a rollercoaster of emotion and challenge, with Barcelona’s local community at the heart of all our decisions. We continue to work hard on bringing visionary international artists not normally presented here, while uplifting and spotlighting the rich local and national scene of talents we have. The mission is to remain rooted in Catalunya and further develop transcontinental synergies with our amazing global community. 10 years is a lifetime in this business, and next March we look forward to laying the groundwork for 10 more, with experiences and offerings that push us, and our audiences into new frames that alter perceptions, expectations and consolidate their confidence in the whole MUTEK project.”
Director Alberto Nerone
The Venues
L' Auditori
The venue is a reference point for different types of cultural proposals in Barcelona. MUTEK.ES will present two audiovisual pieces conceived as a whole: surprising, immersive, contemplative and of high artistic-technical quality, presented by Herman Kolgen and Line Katcho, in a stunning location.
Antigua Fabrica Estrella Damm
In operation since 1905, the Antigua Fabrica Esrella Damm used to be a beer production factory. Currently it has been re-built as a multifaceted space that was opened, above all, as a venue for festivals and concerts in the city of Barcelona, which became a reference location for different Catalan musical scenes. Precisely, the tenth edition of MUTEK.ES will host an extensive program open to different audiences, including spaces for families.
LAUT
In the heart of Barcelona is Laut, a great alternative venue of the Catalan
night for ravers looking for a more intimate and sophisticated dance floor.
The venue, which has an extremely sharp sound system that excels in the city, will welcome many local talents who will impart the necessary frequencies to warm up the first nights of the X edition of MUTEK.ES.
NITSA / ASTIN
Nitsa/Astin is undoubtedly a benchmark at European level, always attentive
to current events and the most advanced trends. Its beginnings in 1993 coincided with the birth of the indie and the electronic scene in Barcelona, promoting both styles with live performances and DJ sessions from the likes of Aphex Twin, Todd Terry, SBTRKT, DJ Shadow, Autechre, DJ Rush, Apparat,
A-Trak or DJ Krush.
The Artists
Celebrating the past, present and future
Leading the charge in this final wave is a brand new collaboration between conceptual and performance artist Alex Braga and keyboardist Francesco Tristano that takes its acronym
from Artificial Musical INTelligence. Joining the already electrifying A/Visions 2 program, algorithms designed by Braga interact with piano improvisations by Tristano to create
real-time AI orchestrations and generative video.
The A-Mint project is presented as part of the strategy of ITmakES, which values Italian talent
in the world and innovation in the cultural and creative industries, with the support of the
Consulate General of Italy in Barcelona and Maker Faire Roma.
Legendary German artist Substance—aka DJ Pete and one half of Chain Reaction’s Scion—
has released his first new material in 20 years which he’ll underline with a brand new live set
of his industrial dubby excursions during Nocturne 2 on Saturday.
The rest of the Nocturne programs are bolstered by local acts, DJ Fra, Ikram Bouloum and
Ylia who will open the nights at Nitsa and Astin.
Thursday’s PLAY program at Laut emphasizes thick and variable industrial sonics with
Colombia’s acclaimed Verraco, who runs the Insurgentes label and collective, joining
Spanish live hardware pioneer Umo, and the previously announced Boska for an evening
painted black. Saturday’s all day, multi-space extravaganza at Antiga Fábrica Damm adds pseudo-incognito, ornithologically inclined Spanish collective Birdsmakingmachine, who
come back to MUTEK to perform their catchy productions live. Part of the MUTEK Barcelona family since the beginning, and an alumnus of the Buenos Aires and Mexico City editions, Argentinian multimedia artist and Barcelona resident Microfeel, fittingly helps launch
the festival when he performs opening night at Roca Barcelona Gallery.
Full line-up:
Alejandro Mosso (AR) / Boska (NO) / Don Sinini (UK) /
Donato Dozzy (IT) Drakis (ES) ETM (ES) Flabbergast (CA/QC)
Gábor Lázár (HU) HDMIRROR (ZA) / Herman Kolgen (CA/QC)
Intercity-Express (JP) / Jacques Greene (CA/QC)
Kelly Moran (US) / Kode 9 b2b
Mala (UK) / Line Katcho (CA/QC) Low Jack (HN)
Maayan Nidam (IL) Map.ache (DE) Martin Messier & YRO(CA+FR) Michele Mercure (US) Mina & Bryte (UK+GH) Mumdance (UK) Nonotak (JP/FR) Olaf Blanch (ES) Push 1 stop & Wiklow (CA/QC)
Rafael Anton Irisarri (US) Sarah Davachi (CA) Slikback (KE)
Still (IT) T. Gowdy (CA/QC) Uji (AR) Wolke7(AR)
The Concept
Mutation
Since its first edition in 2000, the MUTEK festival has distinguished itself as an international rendezvous for original and avant-garde programming. In terms of content, the festival’s range strives to be diverse, with interests in both the experimental and the playful sides of digital creativity. This is a world of constant evolution and incessant refinement – the “MU” in MUTEK refers consciously to the notion of “mutation”.
A MUTEK network exists today, with ramifications in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia which provides an essential platform to promote and explore wide-ranging artistic content, all the while reflecting a cultural effervescence that is both real and global.
MUTEK.ES, based in Barcelona, is the only European partner of the network, strategically positioned to bridge with the Americas, Europe and Asia dedicated to the dissemination and development of digital creativity in sound, music, and audiovisual art. Its mandate is to provide a platform for the most original and visionary artists currently working in their fields, with the intent of providing an outlet of initiation and discovery for the audiences we seek to develop.
MUTEK Barcelona, together with MUTEK MX - which recently celebrated
its 15th edition - is one of the most prestigious branches of the
Canadian MUTEK festival, which since its inception in Montréal
20 years ago, has distinguished itself as one of the international
meetings of original and cutting-edge programming
on the planet.
A vibrant, eclectic and trendy program
And the inspiring energy of Barcelona, MUTEK.ES 2019 will be a unique opportunity to celebrate
10 years of innovation in digital creativity. The program will be richer than ever, offering a balanced mix of emerging artists, special projects that enrich the experiential side of the festival and renowned artists on the international scene.
For four days 45 projects by artists from 17 different nationalities will participate in this tenth edition with amazing live acts, audiovisual pieces, Dj sets, installations, presentations, conferences, A total of 23 premieres shows at the festival) and 18 debuts by artists who perform for the first time in Barcelona.
Each edition is an opportunity to renew its commitment to the public and contemporary art by reinventing live electronic music, audiovisual practices and their interpretation, in the dynamic and experiential framework that distinguishes the festival.
Tickets + More info
here
