11th Edition of the Electric Eclectics Festival Set For This Weekend

Stephen Vance, Staff

Meaford’s popular festival of sound and experimental music, Electric Eclectics, is set for its 11^th edition this weekend from July 29 to 31 at the Funny Farm on Scotch Mountain.

Over the years, the festival has gained a reputation for programming performers on the cusp of international success, as well as long-established legends in a range of genres.

Past performers have included Mykki Blanco, Silver Apples, AIDS Wolf, Katie Stelmanis (Austria), Julianna Barwick, The Gories, Holy Fuck, Damo Suzuki, HEALTH, MYTHS, Tony Conrad, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Chelsea Wolfe, Noveller, Let’s Paint TV, Nicolas Collins, and Edwin van der Heide.

Held on the grounds of the aptly named ‘Funny Farm’, Electric Eclectics is a music festival unlike most others. While the focus of the festival is on what festival organizer Gordon Monahan has described as “avant-garde and crossover musicians and sound artists”, a visit to the increasingly popular festival brings unique entertainment to more than just your ears.

Many of the festival-goers are as unique as the sounds wafting from the stage. More than a few of those who attend the festival each year are decked out in colourful costumes, ranging from vintage 70’s garb to abstract creations that would have shown well in any Halloween costume competition.

“Attendees at Electric Eclectics 11 can expect to see an expansion of our truly unique blend of main stage performers, installation artists, DJs, and films, all under the open skies of rural Ontario. All festival tickets include free camping,” said organizers earlier this year.

Deeply-discounted advance tickets are on sale now. Visit www.electric-eclectics.com or their Facebook page at http://facebook.com/EEFestival for links and pricing details.

The lineup for this year’s event includes:

Lydia Lunch and Weasel Walter: Brutal Measures (New York)
Dreamcrusher (New York)
Faun Fables (Oakland)
Maria Chavez (New York)
Jennifer Castle (Toronto)
APA (Shanghai/Toronto)
AH MER AH SU (Oakland)
Apetechnology + Cotton Casino present The Gongulator 2 (Detroit)
Lary 7 (New York)
ANAMAI (Toronto)
Doom Tickler (Toronto)
Bile Sister (Toronto)
Castle If (Toronto)
Darknesses (Toronto)
Fog Spirits (Toronto)
HSY (Toronto)
Hexzuul + Mandlebrut (Toronto)
Ice Cream (Toronto)
Katelyn Clark (Montreal)
L CON (Markdale)
Melody McKiver (Ottawa)
Not the Wind, Not the Flag (Toronto)
Scattered Clouds (Gatineau)
Sourpussy (Hamilton)
Scott Hardware (Toronto)
Xuan Ye (Toronto)

As in previous years, in addition to the stage artists, scattered around the property will be several sound-art installations for visitors to take in.

Artists who have created installations to be featured this year include:

Camille Jodoin-Eng (Toronto)
Matt Rogalsky (Kingston)
Julia White (Walter’s Falls)
Dwight Siegner (Windsor)
Laura Kikauka, Algis Kizys, Carl Hamfelt (Radio Funny Farm) (Meaford, Brooklyn, Toronto)
Maria Karam (Toronto)
Maya Ben David – Supersaiyan (Toronto)
Ottilie Mason (Toronto)
Jennifer Warne (Toronto)
Trinketron (Guelph)