Insomnia Festival

NEWS

Insomnia nominate Eight Change-Makers of European Culture

Tommy Ose
Apr 9, 2019

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As part of the second phase of the We Are Europe project, Insomnia has nominated eight Change-makers into a pool of 64. These are innovative artists, speakers and personalities who shape the future of European Culture.

They are: Aaju Peter, Avant Joik: Maja S. K. Ratkje, Katarina Barruk & Matti Aikio, Bendik Giske, Emilija Skarnulyte (pic), James Holden & the Animal Spirits, Juliana Huxtable, Maret Anne Sara, Nihiloxica.

Read more about and the other nominees here: weare-europe.eu/en/they-are-europe
2019-2021: We are Europe, Act 2

Jamie Bivard
Mar 26, 2019

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We are Europe is embarking on a new 3-year cycle, and Insomnia will once again be co-presenting a wide variety of artists and speakers to
appear in front of more than a million people in 8 countries.

more about this years participants here
Bendik Giske, Puce Mary, Astrid Sonne and Sunn O)))

Tommy Ose
Mar 1, 2019

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This weekend, Insomnia Festival visits our friends at the brilliant Elevate Festival 2019 in Graz, Austria. In addition to presenting a very strong and varied musical content, their discourse program is probably the best in Europe. We recommend you check it out: Elevate Festival.

We present artists as part of We are Europe: The intense, sexy saxophone of Bendik Giske, the cutting-edge noise attacks of Puce Mary, Astrid Sonne’s amped, layered violins and not least, the immense drones of Sunn O))).

Read more about: We Are Europe
Insomnia presents Avant Joik at CTM Festival in Berlin

Tommy Ose
Jan 19, 2019

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Up Node x CTM Festival

| 25 January – 03 February 2019 | Berlin, various venues |

Together with CTM Festival, the Nordic festival network Up Node, will present a selection of experimental artists from the Nordic countries throughout the festival. The six diverse performances span the mysterious, dark, selection of electro new wave from the finish DJ Kristiina Männikkö, to Maria W Horn’s haunted modulars and skilfully engineered intensity. The Danish composer Sofie Birch will be performing at MONOM in 4DSOUND, while Sami indigenous vocal traditions will be presented in the Avant Joik collaboration between Maja S.K. Ratkje and Katarina Barruk with visuals made by Matti Aikio. Both dj. flugvel og geimskip and Vanligt Folk are sure to deliver an eccentric performance on stage. With this selection CTM and Up Node present the Northern hemisphere’s great variety in music and sound.

Up Node is supported by Nordic Culture Fund and Nordic Culture Point

Up Node consists of the 7 Nordic festivals/promoters: Extreme Chill (IS), Insomnia (NO), Intonal (SE), Norbergfestival (SE), Nuuk Nordic (GL), Proton (DK), Turku Modern (FI).

More info: www.upnode-network.com
SHAPE platform announces 2019 list of artists

Tommy Ose
Dec 4, 2018

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Insomnia is one of 16 festivals that take part in the Creative Europe-supported SHAPE platform for innovative music and audiovisual art. The list of artists for 2019 have just been announced, and it includes the three Nordic artists that were selected by Insomnia this year: Astrid Sonne (DK), JESSE (FI) and Maria W Horn (SE). Check them out by clicking the links.

The artist selection for the platform’s fifth year traditionally places a number of audiovisual projects and sound artists alongside musical acts that range from post-grime and techno to free improvisation and acousmatic music.

The fifth year’s roster of SHAPE continues to demonstrate a kind of eclecticism that is clearly an outcome of all the 16 diverse festivals selecting artists and projects together – You may find French industrial techno DJ and Rinse FM host AZF sharing the stage with Portuguese electro-acoustic music composer Jonathan Uliel Saldanha or Latvian “cosmic analog synthesizer music” artist Marta SmiLga brushing shoulders with audiovisual artist and creator of participatory installations Sally Golding or artist Michela Pelusio, whose work has been described as “quantum physics meets audiovisual experimentation”.

A deliberate desire to detect streams of fresh ideas and unexpected influences beyond genre categories has influenced the choices of SHAPE’s curators. Interesting musical collisions and fusions are encouraged: Hungarian drummer Balázs Pándi is experienced in anything between dub, breakcore, free improvisation, noise, grindcore and jazz, whereas Swedish electronic music composer Maria W. Horn is oscillating between minimalist structures and piercing power electronics utilizing both digital and analog synthesis as well as acoustic instruments, and Perrine en Morceaux blends French pop music with electro-acoustic practices and other elements from the world of avant-garde music. Cellist Lucy Railton uses her experience as performer of post-war avant-garde music, including works of Xenakis, to create her own kind of electro-acoustic, minimalistic but diverse music. Similarly, the trio Plug, led by Nicolas Crosse, bassist of Ensemble Intercontemporain, melds the members’ knowledge of contemporary classical music with influences from rock music, drone and experimental electronics. French bagpipe player Erwan Keravec not only lends his talent as an instrumentalist to performances of works by contemporary composers, but is also one of the very few players of this instrument in the field of radical free improvisation.

Improvisation is a key concept also in the music of guitarist Nina Garcia, who, with her noise rock oriented solo project Mariachi explores the limits of her instrument, or Katharina Ernst, a multidisciplinary artist and drummer, experienced in the vital free improvisation scene of Vienna, who works more in a rhythm-based and electro- acoustic mode within her solo project “Extrametric”, based on drum exercises requiring deep concentration to propel separated elements forward into richly patterned grooves. Kikimore, a group of six female researchers of sound and analogue electronics, is held together not only by their interest in improvising with electronic instruments, but, in their own words, also “raw sound, noise and the smell of solder”.

Projects, such as Bear Bones Lay Low a.k.a. Ernesto González, born in Venezuela and residing in Belgium, or WIDT, a duo of sisters Antonina Nowacka and Bogumiła Piotrowska from Poland, demonstrate an interest in highly psychedelic musical – in the latter case, also visual – experiences. WIDT participate in SHAPE with a new collaboration – they will be joined onstage by Christoph de Babalon, an acclaimed German DJ and producer whose late 90s album “If You’re Into It, I’m Out of It” is counted among the classics of experimental club records of that period.

Classic labels of experimental electronic music are also represented by minimalist Robert Curgenven, who is best known for his works on LINE, and patten, the genre-swapping project, signed to Warp Records, also known for immersive audiovisual shows.

Continuing the path started in 2017, the new artist list of SHAPE puts a large emphasis also on seeking out interesting DJs – this year SHAPE welcomes Spanish- born and Brussels-based DJ Clara!, known for her innovative investigations into the reggaeton genre, Crystallmess, whose mixes may oscillate between, for instance, dreamy ambient parts and subtle but surprising shifts to French rap, and Sentimental Rave – a self-taught DJ, producer and photographer, whose sets are based in her equal love of rave, gabber and experimental music.

Full list of SHAPE artists for 2019

Arash Azadi (IR/AM)
Astrid Sonne (DK)
Avsluta (UK)
AZF (FR)
Balázs Pándi (HU)
Bamao Yende (FR)
Bear Bones Lay Low (BE) Betty (FR)
Chaines (UK)
Clara! (BE)
Committee (HU/NL) Crystallmess (FR)
Erwan Keravec (FR)
Hatis Noit (UK)
JESSE (FI)
Jessica Ekomane (FR/DE)
Jonathan Uliel Saldanha (PT)
Katharina Ernst (AT)
Kikimore (SI)
Lucy Railton (UK)
Lutto Lento (PL)
Lyra Pramuk (DE)
Maria W Horn (SE)
Marta SmiLga (LV)
Myako (FR)
Michela Pelusio (GR/IT)
Nina Garcia/Mariachi (FR)
Obsequies (BE)
Oceanic (NL)
Od Bongo (FR/BE)
patten (UK)
Peach (UK)
Perrine en Morceaux (FR)

Plug (FR)
Resina (PL)
rkss (UK)
Robert Curgenven (IE)
SAD (DE)
Sally Golding (UK)
Schanell (DE)
Schtum (AT)
Sentimental Rave (FR)
Soho Rezanejad (DK)
Tim Shaw (UK)
Violet (PT)
Volition Immanent/ Parrish Smith (NL)
WIDT & Christoph De Babalon (DE/PL)
Audience Survey and Merch Giveaway

Jamie Bivard
Nov 15, 2018

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As a part of our We Are Europe collaboration, we are conducting an audience survey, to find out more about your relationship with music, festivals and forums.

We greatly appreciate your feedback, and hope that the results will help us all provide a better festival experience for you.

The survey is completely anonymous, and independently verified by the University of Lumiere Lyon.

https://tinyurl.com/yddybdqe

As an extra incentive, we will be giving away Insomnia Festival merchandise to the first 10 respondents who complete the form and share this post on social media.

Photo: Tina Derakhshan
We are in good company, We Are Europe!

Jamie Bivard
Nov 2, 2018

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Last week Insomnia Festival invited all the participating members of the We are Europe family to celebrate the end of our three-year collaboration with an event at the prestigious Verdensteatret in Tromsø.

We are delighted to announce that the initiative has been granted another three years of funding and we will continue to collaborate on projects and creative events across Europe. Special thanks to our partners, benefactors and the Creative Europe programme.

Photo: Mats Gangvik
Insomnia Festival 2018 is over!

Jamie Bivard
Oct 31, 2018

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The Insomnia Festival 2018 crew would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of our staff, volunteers, artists, partners, funders, venues and many more, for coming together and making such an incredible festival this year. Our biggest thanks goes to YOU the public, this wouldn’t have been possible without your support. We truly hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, and look forward to welcoming you all again next time!

Photo: Mats Gangvik
Ume Sami Joik and Sonic Layers at Verdensteateret

Tommy Ose
Oct 19, 2018

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This year the seated concerts at Verdensteateret will take place on the Saturday during our festival week: 27^th October, 19:00-20:45.

Insomnia presents two performances to tickle your senses and your minds:

Maja Ratkje and Katarina Barruk: Avant Joik.
These two artists join forces for the first time, presenting a unique commissioned work. The work combines joik in Ume Sami, a critically endangered language, with experimental vocals and electronic soundscapes. Sami artist Matti Aikio also presents live visuals made especially for this performance, which promises to be a powerful and unique experience.

Kara-Lis Coverdale
A classically trained organist and composer, the critically acclaimed Kara-Lis Coverdale from Canada weaves intricate sonic layers, offering her audience dynamic, explorative experiences. Her work is consistently met with critical acclaim, The Guardian heralding her as the most exciting composer in North America.

With a Saturday-pass or a Festival-pass you get access, but individual tickets for just these two concerts can also be bought at the door on the night of show; 200 NOK.

Welcome!

Read more about the artists on our artist pages:

Ratkje & Barruk

Kara-Lis Coverdale
Introduction to our Visuals and Decor teams

Jamie Bivard
Oct 18, 2018

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In addition to our musical acts, we also employ a talented mix of Visual Artists, VJs and a Decorations team who will be creating works throughout our main concert venue Driv. You can read more about each artist through the page link below, with a curatorial note from Andrea Conradsen, who brought them all together.
Become a volunteer at Insomnia Festival 2018

Jamie Bivard
Oct 9, 2018

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Volunteering is a great way to contribute and experience the festival. Available positions include clean-up patrol, runners, drivers, backstage and artist contacts. We are looking for responsible and serviceminded people who can represent the festival in a good manner.

Being a volunteer comes with many perks: You will receive free entrance to our KICKOFF PARTY this Saturday 13th October, a festival pass for your days off, an exclusive Insomnia t-shirt, meals will also be provided during your shifts, and we will even throw you all a special volunteer party at the end of it all!

Sign up today and learn more about volunteering HERE
Satellite events during Insomnia 2018

Jamie Bivard
Oct 8, 2018

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Throughout the week of Insomnia Festival there will be much to experience in town, we would like to share with you our partner events that we recommend you check out:

Hello X Story Laboratory

Wednesday 24th October – 19:00 / Kafe Globus

Can stories help us shape our future? We think so.

Join the Ice-9 crew: Christine Cynn (mashup artist/filmmaker), Valentin Manz (visual artist) along with the hello X creative team with: Leo Kay (dramaturg and baker of slow ideas), Ismet Bachtiar (game designer), Sammuel Ambroise (3D animator) to try and solve an augmented reality puzzle where you and a team of friends (or strangers) play a living AI and advise X, a woman living in Tromsø in 2068. Bring your iPhone 6S or above or use our test devices. We’ll be there to cheer you on. This augmented reality puzzle is the first prototype for a bigger augmented reality story experience being developed by Ice-9 for launch 2019/2020.

Not into puzzles or augmented reality? Join the conversation at hello X talkaoke, a pop-up talkshow that is open to all and controlled by none. Chill out with a beer or glass of wine and chat about the future or simply listen. Lounge among new sculptures and visuals by Valentin Manz and learn about the evolving story worlds of X, and dig into the science and real-world people and places that inspire the fiction.

hello X is a story laboratory on the future with a podcast, website, live events, and youth workshops. Check us out at www.helloX.me. Subscribe to the hello X podcast on apple podcasts, soundcloud, and all Android podcast apps. hello X is produced by by Ice-9, a Tromsø media arts organisation. The hello X experimental platform is made possible by the generous support of Framsenter, Norsk Kulturfond, Sparebank Nordnorge, Innovasjon Norge, Tromsø Kommune, and Fritt Ord. Ice-9 works in partnership with Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum and Polaria science centre.

Blest!

Saturday 27th October – 16:00 / Tromsø Domkirke

Arctic Sinfonietta will perform a newly written work by internationally award winning composer Knut Vaage, presented by Tromsø Internasjonale Kirkefestival. The piece invites the audience to reflect over the human relationship to the elements and nature. Wind and storm. It does so by exploring soundscapes in the border between improvisation and composition. The piece is performed by Sten Ivar Frydenlund (trumpet), Ola Rokkones (saxophone), Hallgeir Pedersen (electric guitar), Odd Kyrre Alsvik (percussion), Hijoo Moon (organ), Knut Vaage (grand piano) and Torje Fagertun Spilde on electronics, who participated in Insomnias own Cloud Exit project last year. Children from the local culture school will participate, and Tuve Frydenlund will read texts written by Eva Jensen. Expect a complex and artistically unique performance. The concert is supported by Fond for Lyd og Bilde.

Tickets can be bought at Aurora billett or at the door. Ordinary: 250kr/ Student: 150kr/ Insomnia wristband: 100kr

New date !

NEWS