Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A note from the Decibel Festival President and Curator

I can honestly say that I've never been more inspired to explore the deepest realms of sound and vision as I am today. The music coming out, the visual art that surrounds me, the people in my life and the beautifully lush Pacific Northwest have all given me a new found hope in creativity and the role technology plays in bringing it to life. What I find most inspiring is this emerging, socially conscious, technologically driven group of artists, musicians and writers that have thrown out decades of tired ideas about genres to simply create their art as individuals. This "new eclecticism" is at the heart of Decibel and if you're curious about what I'm referring to, look no further than this year's festival program.

When I started plotting the curatorial course for the 2010 edition back in November of 2009, one of my many goals with this year's program was to present something fun and familiar to our all of our loyal attendees; a sort of reward for standing by us over the years. For you, I offer some of our most memorable performers and friends from over the past 8 years, including Modeselektor, Carl Craig, Fennesz, Monolake, Murcof, Mary Anne Hobbs and Vladislav Delay.

Now, it simply wouldn't be a Decibel Festival without a handful of critically acclaimed artists making their West Coast debut this September. This list includes, Scuba, Ben Frost, Mount Kimbie, Dinky, Oneohtrix Point Never, Clubroot, Untold, Ikonika, Trus'me, Mark Van Hoen, Moritz Von Oswald Trio, FaltyDL and Lawrence English. You combine this with an abundance of internationally renowned talent making their Decibel debut (i.e. Plastician, Cassy, Theo Parrish, Starkey, Distance, Catz 'n Dogz, Headhunter, Soul Clap, Tim Green, Kevin Saunderson, Gold Panda, Luke Hess, Mux Mool, Noveller) and you have our most exciting line up to date.

Last but surely not least, for all you left coast natives wishing to bask in the final glow of the 2010 festival season, I'm proud to announce our most engaging selection of West Coast performers to date, including Beats Antique, VibeSquad, Bluetech presents: Satori Social, Eskmo, Lusine, Alex B, Low Limit of Lazer Sword, Emancipator, Pezzner, Samiyam, LawnChair Generals, Lorn, Truckasauras, Grouper, Shlohmo, Phutureprimitive and Splatinum.

There is no a doubt in my mind that this year's program is our most comprehensive edition to date. In true Decibel fashion, we're paying homage to the artists and partners that have helped popularize what we've done over the years, while offering a broad scope of things to come in regards to electronic music, visual art and technology. As for the experience, regardless of whether you prefer to dance, sit, watch, learn, socialize or just listen, I can guarantee that you'll find a showcase that fits your mood, age and personal taste. With 10 venues, 28 showcases, a conference and close to 100 carefully selected music performers, visual artists, educators and speakers from across the globe (14 countries represented this year), I can't think of better way to close out yet another momentous summer on the beautiful West Coast.

Sincerely,
Sean Patrick Horton
Decibel Festival President and Curator

MODESELEKTOR TO HEADLINE dB FESTIVAL



Wildly diverse, infused with exuberance and inspired by a slap of the absurd, Modeselektor's inarguable grooves seem to emanate from every conceivable musical genre, creating a controlled chaos whose sonic expression elevates the eyebrows and heartbeats of critics and dance floors around the world...read more


Modeselektor feat. Pfadfinderei : Carl Craig : Fennesz : Beats Antique : Monolake : Plastician : Murcof : VibeSquaD : Theo Parrish : Moritz Von Oswald Trio : Scuba : Ben Frost : Mary Anne Hobbs : Cassy : Starkey : Dinky : Eskmo : Mount Kimbie : Headhunter aka Addison Groove : Kevin Saunderson : Catz 'n Dogz : Bluetech presents Satori Social : Untold : Trus'me : Vladislav Delay : Ikonika : Distance : Oneohtrix Point Never : Soul Clap : Alex B : Clubroot : Gold Panda : Robert Henke : FaltyDL : Low Limit of Lazer Sword : Mark Van Hoen : Lusine : Tim Green : Mux Mool : Emancipator : Luke Hess : Lorn : LawnChair Generals : Samiyam : Deepchild : Kyle Hall : Grouper : Sepalcure : Pezzner : Tanner Ross : Noveller : Monty Luke : Machinedrum : Lawrence English : Shlohmo : Praveen : Rafael Anton Irisarri aka The Sight Below : Phutureprimitive : Tarik Barri : Truckasauras : Splatinum : Michael Manahan : Kid Hops : Kris Moon : Ben Tactic : Nordic Soul : SunTzu Sound : Tracer Visuals : Ill Cosby : Monkeytek : Ctrl_Alt_Dlt : Recess : The Perfect Cyn : Ramiro : Ryan Organ : Lincolnup : Sappho : Lioncub : Struggle : Jeromy Nail : Jon A.D. : Deepvibez : Jagga Culture + more TBA

red = live
// blue = DJ // green = visual
1ST ROUND OF SHOWCASE ANNOUNCEMENTS

We're pleased to announce the initial round of showcases for the 2010 Decibel Festival (several more to be announced). To read more about the showcases and artists or purchase tickets, just click on any of the showcase titles to be redirected the Decibel Festival website.

Thursday, September 23rd


Room40 Label - 10 Year Anniversary Showcase Ben Frost // Grouper // Lawrence English // Rafael Anton Irisarri Doors @ 6pm / All-ages / $15 adv. / $17 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Pravda Studios : 1406 10th Ave

LoDubs Showcase presented by LoDubs, Various & Decibel
Distance // Clubroot // Monkeytek vs. Ryan Organ // Jon AD // Jagga Culture
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $13 adv. / $15 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St


Friday, September 24th


OPTICAL 1 - The Space Between Murcof // Robert Henke // Mark Van Hoen
Doors @ 5pm / All-ages / $25 adv. / $30 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Nordstrom Recital Hall (Benaroya) : 200 University St

The Art of Rhythm presented by Starborne & Decibel
Beats Antique // Emancipator // Phuturerprimitive
Doors open at 9pm / 16+
$18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.

Planet Mu Label Showcase Starkey // Ikonika // FaltyDL
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $15 adv. / $17 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St

TRUST Showcase presented by SunTzu Sound & Decibel
Trus'me // SunTzu Sound // Kid Hops
Doors @ 9pm / 21+
$10 adv. / $12 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St

dB Afterhours - Mi Casa es su Casa
Dinky // Catz 'n Dogz // LawnChair Generals
Doors @ 2am / 16+ / $18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.


Saturday, September 25th

The Mothership Boat Party presented by Uniting Souls & Decibel
FLOOR 1 - Mothership Label Showcase w/ Catz 'n Dogz // Tanner Ross // Monty Luke
FLOOR 2 - Uniting Souls Lounge w/ Michael Manahan // Ramiro // Jeromy Nail // Deepvibez
Boarding begins @ 1:30pm - boat leaves @ 3pm / 21+ / $25 adv. / $30 at the door / PASSES NOT ACCEPTED
ADVANCE TICKETS @ The Islander Cruise Ship : 1611 Fairview Ave E.

OPTICAL 2 - Tactile Immersion Fennesz // Oneohtrix Point Never // Noveller
Doors open at 5pm / all-ages / $25 adv. / $30 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Benaroya's Nordstrom Recital Hall : 200 University St

D25 Showcase Carl Craig // Kevin Saunderson // Monty Luke
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $20 adv. / $25 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St

Beats Per Moment presented by Abstract Earth Project & Decibel
VibeSquaD // Alex B // Low Limit // Machinedrum
Doors open at 9pm / 16+ / $18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass

ADVANCE TICKETS @ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.

Hotflush Label Showcase
Scuba // Untold // Sepalcure
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $15 adv. / $17 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS
@ The Baltic Room : 1207 Pine St


Fwd Thinking Organisms presented by Alga-rhythms & Decibel
Tim Green // Tanner Ross // The Perfect Cyn // Sappho
Doors @ 8pm / 21+ / $10 adv. / $12 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St

dB Afterhours - Late Night Soul Kitchen Theo Parrish // Soul Clap // Pezzner
Doors open at 2am / 16+ / $18 adv. / $20 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Motor : 1950 1st Ave S.


Sunday, September 26th


Decibel Finale - Dub My Soul Monolake feat. Tarik Barri // Cassy // Luke Hess
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $17 adv. / $20 at the door
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Neumos : 925 E. Pike St

Bubblin' Showcase presented by Bubblin' & Decibel
Kyle Hall // Ben Tactic // Lincolnup
Doors @ 9pm / 21+ / $8 adv. / $10 at the door / Free with dB Pass
ADVANCE TICKETS @ Sole Repair : 1001 E. Pike St
PASSES / TICKETS

PASSES
The 2010 Decibel Festival All Access Pass gets you into everything except the The Mothership Boat Party and the OPTICAL 3 Showcase (TBA), due to limited capacity and production costs associated with each event. This is the only pass that will be offered in 2010. Tickets for these events can be purchased individually (see below). To purchase a 2010 dB pass, visit Brown Paper Tickets

Individual tickets for the 16 (out of the 28) showcases we've announced can be purchased online. Click on a showcase title below to be routed to the ticket page for each event.


TICKETS
Thursday, September 23rd

Room40 / 10 Year Anniversary Label Showcase
Ben Frost, Lawrence English, Grouper & The Sight Below

LoDubs Showcase

Distance, Clubroot, Monkeytek, Ryan Organ, Jon AD & Jagga Culture


Friday, September 24th

OPTICAL 1 - The Space Between
Murcof, Robert Henke & Mark Van Hoen

The Art of Rhythm
Beats Antique, Emancipator & Phutureprimitive

Planet Mu Label Showcase
Starkey, Ikonkia & FaltyDL

TRUST Showcase
Trus'me, Kid Hops & SunTzu Sound

dB Afterhours - Mi Casa es su Casa
Dinky, Catz 'n Dogz & LawnChair Generals


Saturday, September 25th

The Mothership Boat Party
Catz 'n Dogz, Tanner Ross, Monty Luke, Michael Manahan & more

OPTICAL 2 - Tactile Immersion
Fennesz, Oneohtrix Point Never & Noveller

D25 Showcase
Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson & Monty Luke

Beats Per Moment
VibeSquad, Alex B, Low Limit (Lazer Sword) & Machinedrum

Hotflush Label Showcase
Scuba, Untold & Sepalcure

Fwd Thinking Organisms
Tim Green, Tanner Ross, The Perfect Cyn & Sappho

dB Afterhours - Late Night Soul Kitchen
Theo Parrish, Soul Clap & Pezzner


Sunday, September 26th


Decibel Finale - Dub My Soul
Monolake, Cassy & Luke Hess


Bubblin' Showcase
Kyle Hall, Ben Tactic & Lincolnup
VENUES

This year we're pleased to announce four new venues, which include an outdoor weekend stage (all-ages with a beer garden - TBA), a prestigious recital hall (OPTICAL 1 & 2), a downtown afterhours warehouse and a centrally located loft space (dB Conference, will call and additional A/V programming). As in previous years, Decibel will outfit these venues with premium sound, lighting and visuals. Overall the 2010 Decibel Festival will be more centrally located than past years and offer a wider spectrum of venues in which to cultivate lasting experiences.

Baltic Room (newly renovated / label showcases)
1207 Pine St (21+)

Chop Suey
1325 E. Madison St (21+)

Illsley Ball Nordstrum Recital Hall @ Benaroya Hall (OPTICAL 1 & 2)
200 University St (all-ages)

The Islander Cruise Ship (2010 Decibel Boat Party)
1611 Fairview Ave E (21+)

Motor (16+ dance events and Decibel Afterhours)
1950 1st Ave S (16+)

Neumos (Premier club showcases)
925 E. Pike St (21+)

Pravda (dB Conference / Will Call)
1406 10th Ave (all-ages)

Sole Repair (NW showcases)
1001 E. Pike St (21+)

The Triple Door (OPTICAL 3)
216 Union St (all-ages)
SPONSORS / PARTNERS
Here is a list of confirmed sponsors for the 2010 Decibel Festival. Many more will be announced in the weeks to come.

Main Sponsors
4Culture : Pravda Studios : Shunpike

Media Partners
90.3 KEXP : Big Up : Dance Fever 5000 : Friends of Friends : Resident Advisor : Seattle Show Gal : The Stranger

Promotional Partners
Abstract Earth Project : Alga-rhythms : Bubblin' : Desiderata : 11-11 Agency : Made Like a Tree : Shameless : Starborne : SunTzu Sound : Surefire Agency : Sweatbox : Uniting Souls : Various

Label Partners
Ghostly International : Hotflush : LoDubs : Mothership : Planet Mu : Room40

Hotel Partner
The Hotel Max

Transportation Partner
Barbie Dream Hearse

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Take a look at our 2010 Decibel Festival Sponsorship Pack

2 comments:

  1. I would like to cover the festival... but seems like getting a press pass for this one is mission impossible ive been writing emails to sean to no response :(

    ReplyDelete