Review:_
Becks Fusions and the
Daily Different_
By Jenny Soep_
F
lashback to a hot summer’s day 2007.
A multi-sensory experience with live music, art and great beverage._
Speed-walking past a slick street sign
in tourist-teeming Glasgow, I abruptly
backpedal after noticing an electro- I should probably state my motives in
coloured poster indicating an upcoming being all the way down here in deepest
major live visual art and music event. Manchester: I’m a Glasgow based
With related happenings all over the UK visual artist who specialises in drawing
and Ireland involving performances by live performances by original musicians
the Chemical Brothers and Calvin Harris and arts events; so of course, I’ve got
together with music inspired art, I think to a jar full of reasons why I’d want to
myself, ‘This sounds AMAZING - I need witness and document Becks Fusions.
to find out more!’ Drawings attached!
Flash-forward a distracted but exciting Becks Fusions came about in a bid
year ‘and a bit’ later, to the first Saturday to bring contemporary art to a wider
in September 2008, the drizzle soaked public through music. Piloted last year
evening buzz at the open-air/canal side in Trafalgar Square and with smaller
Castlefield Arena, Manchester, in the lee gigs occurring elsewhere around the
of Hacienda days, and the jam-packed UK and Ireland, I managed to miss it all
final night of this three day music/art fest. - including the only Scottish gig on the
tour where The Errors supported Calvin
Old-school Fusionists Massive Attack in Glasgow’s Fruitmarket – so I made
dominate tonight’s line-up with their damn sure this year’s was a ‘Must-See
classic Trip Hop/Bristol Acid Rap anthems, (or ‘Must-Experience’ if one is to carry on
supported by an array of alternative and in the same vein).
international artists including Santogold,
Midnight Juggernaughts, visual/audio However, this year it’s a single, bigger
devotees Juneau Projects, Zoe Walker and more focused event in Manchester
and Neil Bromwich, and topped up with – chosen for its current ‘vibrant cultural
mighty DJ appearance by ‘Madchester’s’ scene’ - with the art being brought into
own Mike Pickering – although locating his the same arena as the music, compared
whereabouts is a little confusing behind with last year when it was housed in a I wish I’d been there during the three
the ‘giant soon to be art extravaganzic pod that travelled with the tour. days to view the different creations and
screens’ drawn across the stage in prep collaborations going on, but for the
for the headlining performance. As well as about 14 different music average punter this could be a challenge
artists, there are around 20 visual artists since the only way to get tickets are to
It’s Massive Attack vs. heavy weight throughout this year’s three day event, ‘win’ them via registering on the website.
live visualists the UVA (United Visual producing projects daily in the form of Overall though, I think it’s a brilliant As it is, in my present capacity and taste
Artists) and the city-lit night is impacting film, installations and some collaboration initiative: the website will be updated for multi-media/sensory experiences, it’s
with the fusion of sonic pulses and the with each other. The various creative with documentation from the event - see been a fulfilling one: though of course
simultaneous varied monochromatic sites included a quirky wooden dome www.becks.co.uk where you can also Becks Fusions Art/Music can’t be
and mind twistingly stunning light show/ with many odd doors, the ‘Skystation’, try your hand at mixing! – and hopefully imagined simply through one person’s
eye-feastage. The thronging audience is The Love Parade and Zevs (French their future plans including a gig closer words - you have to get immersed in it
suitably transfixed. street artist). to home. yourself. Drink Up!
Substance_32_
www.scotcampus.com_
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