SummerWorks Music Series Announces 2012 Line-Up, Aug 10-18

SummerWorks Performance Festival announces a new twist on the Music Series lineup for the 2012 festival, which runs from August 10th to August 18thin venues across Toronto.

Based on an idea which evolved from two Hidden Cameras concerts in SummerWorks 2010, this year’s Music Series will be the most ambitious to date, featuring four artistic collaborations that pair established music artists with artists working in other performance-based disciplines.

The SummerWorks Music Series will present a work-in-progress collaboration from Juno award-winner Hawksley Workman and 2b theatre company director Christian Barry entitled The God That Comes, an original one-man-band rock ‘n‘ roll cabaret. The performance fuses rock concert revelry with theatrical intimacy, telling the story of Bacchus (or Dionysus) the Greco-Roman god of wine.

Experimental artist, MC and turntablist Buck 65 collides artistic worlds with dancemaker Ame Henderson to present an avant-garde performance, starring Buck 65 and his music.

The Magic will partner with theatre and film artist, Jordan Tannahill to present the CD release of their debut album Ragged Gold, joined by Maylee Todd and Dan Werb, The Magic and Tannahill will create a space-disco-pop party inspired by variety dance shows from the 70s and 80s.

Evenings Hymns releases their new album, Spectral Dusk with the help of design-artist Sean Frey. Frey, who recently did an installation for the ROM with Tasseomancy, will design an intimate, installation tailor-made for Evening Hymn’s album featuring large set pieces and video projections.

In addition to the collaborations, SummerWorks will also be presenting two double bill concerts. The first concert, on Thursday, August 16th, will feature experimental songwriter Sandro Perri, whose newest album, Impossible Spaces, has been hailed by critics internationally as the strongest of his career. Perri will be joined by Brazilian born, Aline Morales, whose debut album Flores, Tambores was Juno nominated this year for World Music Album of the Year.

The second double-bill, on Saturday August 18th, will feature former Constantines frontmanBry Webbwho has made the move from soul-punk to folk-rock with the release of his album Provider. Webb will be joined by Toronto favourite, Doug Paisley whose bluegrass/American-traditional infused music has been critically acclaimed in Rolling Stone and The New Yorker. Paisley’s album, Constant Companion, was listed in the top 10 for 2010 in Mojo magazine.

SummerWorks also presents Musical Works in Concert, an initiative created to provide a platform for original Canadian works of musical theatre. This year will showcase two pieces; presented on August 13th, Through the Gates, is a musical adaptation of the Buddhist legend of Siddhartha featuring music by Scott Christian and lyrics by Daniel Cummings. Blood Ties, presented on August 14th, is a darkly comic chamber musical which tells the true story of four friends cleaning up after a suicide, featuring music, book and lyrics by Anika Johnson and Barbara Johnston.

Opening and closing parties for the SummerWorks festival will also not be short on incredible musical talent. The opening party, hosted on August 9th, will feature performances by Chrome & The Ice Queen, Warm Myth, OG Melody, ShelDon Holder and DJ Get It/Got It/Good. On August 19th SummerWorks will mark the closing of the Music Series with performances by Rival Boys and DJ Caffrey.

FULL SCHEDULE:

Thursday, August 9th
Opening Party featuring performances by Chrome & The Ice Queen, Warm Myth, OG Melody, ShelDon Holder and DJ Get It/Got It/Good

Friday, August 10th
The Magic, directed by Jordan Tannahill featuring Maylee Todd and Dan Werb (Woodhands)

Saturday, August 11th
The God That Comes, performed by Hawksley Workman, directed by Christian Barry

Monday, August 13th
Through the Gates -Musical Works in Concert

Tuesday, August 14th
Blood Ties - Musical Works in Concert

Wednesday, August 15th
Buck 65, in collaboration with Ame Henderson

Thursday, August 16th
Sandro Perri and Aline Morales

Friday, August 17th
Evening Hymns, designed by Sean Frey. Opening by FIVER

Saturday, August 18th
Bry Webb and Doug Paisley

Sunday, August 19th
Closing party featuring performances by Rival Boys and DJ Caffrey.

For more, visit www.summerworks.ca, email info@summerworks.ca, or find the festival on Twitter @Summerworks and Facebook: SummerWorks Performance Festival.

As the largest juried performance festival in Canada, featuring predominantly new Canadian work, SummerWorks programs a festival of groundbreaking and provocative performance that uniquely reflects Toronto and Canada’s cultural zeitgeist. Since 1991, SummerWorks has continued to explore and respond to the needs and wants of audiences and the theatre community. The festival has grown to become one of the country’s preeminent multi-disciplinary hubs, featuring a Music Series, a mentorship program (SummerWorks Leadership Intensive Program –S.L.I.P.); and the National Series, showcasing works from across Canada. The festival adds new initiatives yearly, including performance-based programs such as the Live Art Series and the Performance Bar. The 2012 SummerWorks runs August 9th to 19th in venues across Toronto.