Campbelltown Arts Centre will further cement its reputation as an edgy venue when it hosts Pixel Sounds this weekend.
It comes hot on the heels of controversial exhibition Another Day in Paradise, the collection of paintings by Bali Nine leader Myuran Sukumaran.
Pixel Sounds will showcase some of the finest chip tune creators in Australia and the world today.
A co-curator of the event, Alex Yabsley, who performs under the name Dot.AY and is presenting one of the Pixel Sounds workshops this Saturday, has paid tribute to the bold approach of the Campbelltown Arts Centre.
“To have an organisation and venue in Australia that has consistently supported a fringe art form like chip music has been incredibly encouraging for me both as a performer and curator,’’ Yabsley told the Voice in Macarthur.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Over the last five years the Australian and global chip music community has grown and evolved and Campbelltown Arts Centre has always been open to exploring the edges within an already narrow niche.[/social_quote]
“The platform for discussion and sharing of ideas that happens amongst artists that come to play, as well as workshop participants, has regularly led to a surge of inspiration and creative output following the event.
“Reaching the fifth year of doing this event drives home the fact that chip music has well and truly become a unique art form that no longer needs connotations of video games or nostalgia to provoke interest.’’
For those not familiar with it, a chiptune, also known as chip music or 8-bit music, is synthesized electronic music produced by the sound chips of vintage computers such as the Commodore 64 or Atari, video game consoles and arcade machines – think Nintendo Game Boy and others during that era.
As Yabsley said it will be the fifth year Pixel Sounds will be held at Campbelltown Arts Centre this Saturday, March 11 as part of its renowned contemporary music program.
It will feature performances by some of the big international names in the chip tune world such as Cymba (France) and Raquel Meyers (Spain-via-Sweden).
Australia’s own Dot.AY, Tom Foolery & The Family Jewellery and J∆M∆T∆R are also on the card.
As well as chip music performances from 7pm, workshops during the day will be an opportunity for fans to learn how to create their own chip music.
The director of the Campbelltown Arts Centre, Michael Dagostino, said: “We are proud to host Pixel Sounds for a fifth year as part of our contemporary music program.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The only event of its kind in NSWs, Pixel Sounds b[/social_quote]rings together the best in chip music and gives the public an opportunity to experience a unique and exciting music form,’’ he said.
“I can’t wait to see what comes from the workshop program, it’s great to see artists sharing their talents and passion with an audience of up and coming music makers and enthusiasts.”
PIXEL SOUNDS SNAPSHOT:
Where: Campbelltown Arts Centre
When: Saturday March 11
Tickets: $10 Adults, $8 Concession, $5 friends and UWS students. Tickets available at the venue or by calling 4645 4100.
