#PGNB2018

Roomtone is an exploration of sonic interactivity. The work lives somewhere between site-specific sculpture, sound art, and interactive installation. While the configuration of the piece–4-speakers, software, and a microphone–is nearly identical in every installation, the nature of the piece is such that the materiality of the space–the size and material of the room–and the inputs to the system (people and atmospheric noises) have a significant impact on how the work expresses itself. In other words, the work is intrinsically site specific with properties emergent from the interaction of many elements. Through the use of feedback, every word, cough, boot scuff, etc enters the system and–mediated by the software–is extended, expanded, and integrated into the sonic “body” of the system. Thus, upon entering the space, people become part of the piece, hearing the sounds, changing the material properties of the space (through physically absorbing and reflecting in different ways), and adding sounds to the collage. Every phrase said in the space becomes trapped and reflected, looping again and again, stretched across time. This is a reminder of the power of words; be careful with what you say because once something is said it can live on. Eventually a limit is reached and the system collapses, beginning the cycle anew.

This installation is free to attend.
Thursday, May 17th – Sunday, May 20th
10am – 6pm

Japanese laptop noise demigod Merzbow will be joined by longtime collaborator Balázs Pándi on drums.

Experimental Vancouver Island duo Anunnaki will open.

Presented in partnership with the fine people at the Fifty Fifty Arts Collective.

Indigenous hip-hop duo The See Monsters and Kayla Briët will perform live at Copper Owl.

EXPERIMENTAL DUO SOUTHWOODS RETURN TO THE PRETTY GOOD NOT BAD ROSTER WITH THEIR SWIRLING FEEDBACK AND ESOTERIC DISTORTION.

The evening is rounded off with the dark ambience of Victoria’s Arctica, Vancouver’s Gran Am, and the new project from prolific Declan Huges and Zayn Wiwchar, Vague and multimedia artist Toby Green.

PALBERTA MAKE THEIR DEBUT IN VICTORIA AT PRETTY GOOD NOT BAD SUPPORTING THEIR 2017 RELEASE, BYE BYE BERTA. 

Their angularity and crisp style is beyond categorization and not to be missed. Joined by Vancouver’s Swim Team, Victoria’s Wayst, and Formidable Liquorice.

625 Hillside Ave.
Please respect the space. Alcohol will not be permitted at this event.

STANDING ROOM WILL BE AVAILABLE, AS WILL THE SPACE TO SIT OR LIE DOWN. ATTENDEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING PILLOWS.

Pretty Good Not Bad is proud to present an immersive audio/visual experience in a truly unique venue. Crag X Climbing Centre is home to one of North America’s most contemporary gymnasium designs, with gigantic vertical walls covered in modular triangles. Exploring this geometric expanse, the evening’s artists will transform the space through immersive ambient music and large scale visual creative mapped to the wall’s triangular frames.

In our third year, Laine Butler and Arya Hawker expand our visual content program over the four-storey climbing walls, creating an experience specifically for the venue.

Montreal artist Jessica Moss (Constellation Records) will perform her stunning violin compositions live, prefaced by Edmonton’s Pyramid//Indigo.

Xiu Xiu returns to Victoria, supporting Jamie Stewart’s 1st solo release An Aggressive, Chain Smoking Alcoholic.

Jamie Stewart’s performance will be supported by Winnipeg’s Joanne Pollock, Vancouver Island electronic artist Antwood, and visual artist Elizabeth Charters and Toby Greene.

AMBIENT PICNIC, an afternoon of free ambient music in the heart of downtown Victoria. In partnership with the City of Victoria, PGNB presents the opportunity to casually wander into a permeable cloud of soundwaves. A selection of artists from across BC will share the stage, projecting sounds from the arches at City Hall, offering open exposure to new sounds. DJ sets and live performances will fill the sun-lit, open expanse of the capital city’s downtown core. Bring the kiddos. Enjoy some Eno outside.

Food trucks will be on site (vegetarian options will be available) as will a beverage garden serving beer and cider.

Pretty Good Not Bad, Primary Colours, and RPM.fm present:

As the Snotty Nose Rez Kids, we speak back to the stereotypes that present us as untamed, ill-mannered and vulgar savages, reclaiming ourselves as the 7th generation on the rise. We tell our stories to show that we may be a little rough around the edges but that roughness makes our lives interesting. We don’t carry certain privileges afforded through colonialism -fenced in backyards, green grass suburbia- but we are privileged in other ways. We were privileged to be raised by the ocean with a forest in our back yard. We are rich through learning our traditional way of life while being raised on our ancestors’ territory – there is a great deal of wealth in knowing who and where you come from. We were able to learn by doing, to run around the reservation, get stung by devils nettle and not cry over it but wipe our snot on it and keep going.  We learnt about the ocean’s depth and the rivers’ current. We learned how to survive without actually having to only survive. We ran in packs. We were raised by our parents; we were raised by our community. Our culture is strong and continues to shape us into who we are today. We are storytellers, dancers, singers and artists. We are survivors. Our ancestors live through us and as individuals, we have a platform to communicate this with our community. With whatever lens you see us through, we will always be the snot nosed kids from the rez and that’s what makes us beautiful.

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DJ Kookum

Cheyanna Kootenhayoo also known as DJ Kookum is a Dene/Cree Filmmaker and DJ. She is a member of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, originally from Cold Lake First Nations and is based out of Vancouver, BC. This hip hop, rap, trap, r&b, edm DJ is blowing up.
This past year Kookum has opened for Princess Nokia. Threw down a back-to-back set with Dj Shub at the celebration of lights festival. Held it down on the decks at the first Vancouver Indigenous Fashion week and at the 18th Annual ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival in Toronto.
She is also a resident DJ at the Biltmore Cabaret Friday nights and was nominated for break out DJ of the year at the Golden Owl Awards. Between DJing and Filmmaking, she will be working on cooking em beats in music production, stay tuned!

PRESENTED BY THE ACTION INDEX

Unhinged and visceral, Flatbed brings their noise from Nanaimo to Victoria alongside Vancouver’s Crotch, Clarence (Puzzlehead solo), and the electronic dance of SIGSALY.

Laura Gildner compliments the program with a physical, interactive installation.

Join us for Kara-Lis Coverdale’s Victoria debut as she supports her 2017 chart-topping album, Grafts.

Supported by Calgary’s Valiska, Montreal’s Alder & Ash, and multimedia artist Sammy Chien.