Theatre 1308 presents: The 2nd Annual Bright Side Festival!

The 2nd-annual Bright Side Festival explores the theme of progress with six days of music, art, film and philosophy!

Theatre 1308 is thrilled to announce the line-up for the 2nd Annual Bright Side Festival which runs March 3-8. This year’s theme is progress and includes six unique events, featuring more than 25 amazing artist and performers! The festival itself is a progression that begins with a philosophical "look within" and concludes with a cross-cultural "look beyond." Hope to see you there!

(Note: a limited number of early-bird tickets are on sale now - act fast and receive 15% off the regular ticket price!)

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PHILOSOPHERS’ CAFÉ FEATURING THE LILY STRING QUARTET

March 3 @ 7:30pm

U of C philosophers Dr. Tinu Ruparell, Dr. David Dick, and Dr. Chris Framarin in conversation on the topic of progress in today's world. Features a mini-concert by the acclaimed Lily String Quartet performing works by Mozart, Arthur Bachman and Elizabeth Raum.

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ADAM’S RIB FEATURING NO STRINGS QUARTET

March 4 @ 7:30pm

A night of classic film and classic music! The 1949 film Adam's Rib stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, about a husband-and-wife attorney team, both drawn to a case of attempted murder. The evening also features a mini-concert from the No Strings Quartet, an award winning Sweet Adelines quartet!

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THE CALGARY JAZZ COMPOSERS COLLECTIVE, VOL. 2

March 6 @ 8pm

The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective returns to Theatre 1308 following its triumphant concert debut in November. This collective is a co-operative ensemble that creates and presents new music and showcases the current state of contemporary jazz composition in Calgary.

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THE BRIGHT SIDE ART SHOW OPENING RECEPTION

March 5 @ 5:00pm

Join us at Theatre 1308 for the opening reception of The Bright Side Art Show, a group exhibition by visual artists exploring the theme of progress. Curated by Julya Hajnoczky to coincide with The Bright Side Festival, the exhibit includes painting and photography by a number of talented local artists.

Free!

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TADPOLE #2: ROB MAGILL AND OUTSIDE HELP (NATE WATERS)

March 7 @ 8pm

Two solo sets from two creative musical minds. Rob Magill, from Ojai, California and Outside Help, the solo project of Calgary's own Nate Waters: exceptional multi-instrumentalists who freely roam between genre and project boundaries. A concert that is bound to delight and surprise!

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FRANK RACKOW AND THE BLACK SEA FEATURING AYA MHANA

March 8 @ 2pm

Klezmer meets Arabic music as Frank Rackow and the Black Sea join forces with Syrian-Canadian oud player and vocalist Aya Mhana. A lively, exotic and entrancing musical experience!

Tadpole #1: A night for open ears and curious minds

TADPOLE #1: UNA TETRA

DATE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

TIME: 8:00PM

TICKETS & INFO

Greetings! I’m Laura Reid, violinist and curator of the Tadpole series at Theatre 1308, and I am so excited about introducing this new series with our first concert on November 22. Joining me to perform in this first concert are flautist Jiajia Li, and electronic musicians Whitney Ota and Krzysztof Sujata. We have put together a program created specifically for this event that will explore connections between acoustic and amplified sound, between composed and improvised music, between solo and collective performance. I want this series to be about creating and supporting special performances, encouraging performers to try something new in a spirit of joyful creation. My aim is for this openness to extend to audiences and performers alike, having a shared experience that can stir an expressive spirit. Appreciating that in-between space and the unknown, discovering your own meaning amongst a communal connection.

I look forward to welcoming you to this new series!

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ABOUT THE MUSICIANS:

Classically-trained flutist Jiajia Li is being praised as "one of the city's finest and most adventurous flautists”. She was the 2019 recipient of the classical music residency at National Music Centre; 2016 recipient of Canada’s “Juno” music award micro grant; and the prize winner of “Prinzessin Margaret von Hessen” competition (Germany). Since her arrival in Calgary in 2014, Jiajia has forged her identity through music and performance, cutting across a wide range of modern musical experimentations and traditions. Currently a faculty member at the Mount Royal University Conservatory, Jiajia is an active performer in the city and has appeared in festivals including Sled Island, Calgary New Music Festival, and The Works.

Whitney Ota has been exploring sonic possibilities for over a decade, performing and recording in many formations including the transcendent psychedelia of Burro, the blissful synthetic soundscapes of Yankee Yankee as well as many other projects. Ota has also run an experimental cassette label and distribution company called Unit Structure Sound Recordings, which has recently closed down. He also recently completed a five year term as the Music Director of campus and community radio station CJSW, located at the University of Calgary. Ota has been creating exploratory and adventurous sounds on modular synthesizers for the last seven years in solo and collaborative settings.

Classically trained violinist Laura Reid is a versatile and active member of Calgary's music community. She has an established place in Calgary's Classical scene, with eight years playing as a member of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and countless performances and collaborative work with small ensembles in the city. Her musical efforts extend beyond standard Classical repertoire, having recorded for film scores Empyrean and Circle of Steel, albums for Cam Penner, AM Static, Rachel Fannan, Ethan Cole, The Northwest Passage, performed with Patrick Watson, Sarah Slean, Hermitess, Astral Swans and for the experimental music series Bug Incision. Not confined to performance pursuits, she teaches violin and coaches student chamber groups and hosts the NCRA Best Classical Programming award winning radio show Unprocessed on CJSW 90.9FM.

Krzysztof Sujata is a local musician working within the ambient and electronic genres. Sujata’s works largely involve the use of loops and repetition, creating variety and change in often static elements, and weaving those elements into dynamic structures. Making use of synthesizers, guitars, piano and voice, it is highly melodic music hinting at stories that never quite materialize.

Jazz @ 1308: The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective, Vol. 1

DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019

TIME: 8:00 PM

Tickets & Info

The Calgary Jazz Composers Collective is a co-operative ensemble that creates and presents new and original jazz music and arrangements. The personnel of this group changes, morphs and evolves from concert to concert, featuring various forward thinking members of the Calgary jazz community. The constant theme of this group is the creation and presentation of new music, providing a showcase for local jazz artists to present their original works in a concert venue. Future editions of this on-going collective will present a various roster of artists and instrumentation. Musically, "the future is now!" and the music and artists presented in this series represent the current state of contemporary jazz composition in Calgary. Bringing together a diverse and variety of sounds and musical influences, the Calgary Jazz Composers Collective seeks to explore new sonic territory and become a forum for original music by Calgary jazz composers and performers.

The November 23rd edition of this ensemble will feature:

Nate Waters - Tenor Saxophone
Carsten Rubeling - Trombone
Mark Limacher - Piano
Jonathan Wielebnowski - Bass
Jon McCaslin - Drums

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About Jazz @ 1308

Curated by jazz drummer Dr. Jon McCaslin, the original and creative voices of Calgary's jazz scene come alive, on stage at Theatre 1308.

This concert series features a diverse collection of sonic ideas, visions, styles, instruments and ensembles, all of which of fall under the wide reaching definition of jazz music. The central theme that binds these diverse and eclectic sounds together is that the artists involved represent the creative and forward thinkers of Calgary's Jazz community. These are the artists who have committed themselves to their craft, as improvisors and composers, and seek to create, collaborate and inspire. These local jazz artists aspire to share their diverse experiences and talents, and to create dynamic and original music in their own community. Come witness the present and the future of jazz in Calgary at Theatre 1308.

Jessica Armas Noda exhibition: Oct 18 - Dec 15

Jessica Armas Noda is an emerging contemporary artist. Originally born in Cuba, she now makes Calgary her home. We are thrilled that her show "JUMPING FROM THE BUILDING INTO THE GARDEN" will be exhibiting at Theatre 1308 from Oct 18 - Dec 15, 2019.

Meet the artist! On Friday, Oct 25, Jessica will be hosting a reception. If you are interested in being added to the guest list, please RSVP to info@theatre1308.com. Admission is free!

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Jessica Armas Noda

JUMPING FROM THE BUILDING INTO THE GARDEN

Oct 18 - Dec 15, 2019

I have been interested in art & creations my entire life. Since I was a little kid, I used to get things done fast at the school to start drawing and sketching on the back of my notebook. I always playing to create something! On the other side, I was sometimes too hard with myself being under a misconception that art was a special gift that only some people were born with. I figured out that I was totally wrong! My creations are the result of something that I cannot hold inside of me, it simply pops up through my pores. So, I used to create dried floral arrangements, fashion and interior designs and mixed media paintings, as a hobby.

Later, I came to Canada looking for a better future for my family and for myself. I took courage to face my new life in all senses. I started my new artist career I like to call “I let myself go” and I decided to do what I always wanted, express my creativity and feelings through the canvas. I am an emerging contemporary artist, working primarily on acrylics. I usually employ negative intuitive painting technique (I let myself go) and I use it as a background. I make use of very diverse tools to create background shapes and textures, from kitchen utensils until my daughter’s toys. Then, I work on top of the canvas using gel skins – collage technique, if I am on a more realistic mood. When I have my emotional side activated, I draw zen-doodles instead, on top of my intuitive background. I am working hard to show the entire world that if you can feel art, you can create art.

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Coming soon to Theatre 1308…

Beyond Borders: Avataar

Sunday, October 20, 2019

7:00 PM 10:00 PM

“...serpentine grooves, nimble melodies and unending pleasure. The music is intricate without being overbearing and showy, and the result is blissful." - World Music Central

"...stellar compositions executed by surging talent." - Downbeat

Tickets & Info: click here

Avataar: World-Jazz ensemble melds the music of India and Brazil.

Date: Sunday, October 20, 2019

Time: 7:00pm

I'm very pleased and excited to be able to present Sundar Viswanathan and Avataar from Toronto, as the inaugural concert in the Beyond Borders series at Theatre 1308.

This group of highly accomplished and creative musicians embody the mandate of the series - to present music that is fresh, defies easy categorization and is entertaining.

Avataar includes multiple JUNO nominees playing music that blends the sounds of India and Brazil with contemporary jazz improvisation. It's going to be a very special evening of enthralling music on October 20. I hope you can join and help kick off the series. My thanks to my fellow curators and to Graham Neumann for his vision and drive in creating something new for Calgary at a great new, intimate venue, Theatre 1308.

- Frank Rackow

““...serpentine grooves, nimble melodies and unending pleasure. The music is intricate without being overbearing and showy, and the result is blissful.”
- World Music Central

”...stellar compositions executed by surging talent.”
- Downbeat

”...the music conveys a spiritual quality while remaining infectiously listenable.”
- Jazziz”

About the musicians…

Award-winning and multiple Juno nominated saxophonist/flutist/vocalist and composer Sundar Viswanathanhas shared the world stage with national and international artists alike. He has performed extensively in Europe (including stints with the Grammy-nominated Charles Tolliver Big Band at several Jazz Festivals), Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, and the USA. Musical associations from Jazz and World music arenas include Wynton Marsalis, Vijay Iyer, KennyWheeler, Jaffa Road, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Marcus Roberts Trio, Kiran Ahluwalia, Rez Abbasi, John Abercrombie, Suba Sankaran, Terry Clarke, George Cables, Joe Lovano, John Hicks, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart, Jim McNeeley, Hip Hop artist GURU, and Dave Douglas. He has been commissioned to compose and perform with Dance companies in Canada and the USA that include Sampradaya Dance Creations, Arzoo Dance Theater, MOSAIC and Trilok Fusion. Sundarand his work has been reviewed and/or profiled in the Boston Globe, Toronto Star, New York Times, Ottawa Citizen, allaboutjazz.com, DOWNBEAT, JAZZIZ, EYE magazine and several other Canadian and international publications. His music has been featured on CBC radio, JAZZ FM, WBAI, Radio Bombay and college and commercial radio nationally and internationally and he can be heard on over 20 recordings as a leader or side man.

Felicity Williams is a Toronto-based musician who sings. Since graduating from York’s music program in 2006, she has been performing widely in Toronto’s music community and establishing herself as a valuable collaborator. She has toured in Canada, the US, and Europe with a number of projects including Hobson’s Choice, Bernice (Robin Dann), the Alex Goodman Chamber Quartet (with Andrew Downing and Michael Davidson), and Bahamas (Afie Jurvanen). Her compositions and/or performances have been played on CBC radio and NPR; Hobson’s Choice, T H O M A S (Thom Gill), and Alex Lukashevsky have been on rotation on CBC radio’s the Signal; she has performed live on Q with Snowblink (Daniela Gesundheit and Dan Goldman), Bahamas, and Royal Wood; she has performed live on WNYC’s Spinning on Air (host David Garland) with Alex Lukashevsky and Bernice.

An eight-time JUNO Award nominee for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, guitarist/composer Michael Occhipinti's inventive approach to creative music of all kinds has earned him a broad array of listeners and the respect of critics and musicians alike. Crossing genres that include jazz, chamber music, funk, world music, and anything involving modern guitar sounds, Michael is both a versatile musician and an imaginative band leader. His Sicilian Jazz Project has been called "a masterpiece of cross-cultural fusion" and has thrilled audiences in Canada, the U.S., Italy, and Mexico. Starting with field recordings of forgotten Sicilian folk music and reinventing the music as a mix of global genres, the project earned Michael a JUNO nomination, the 2009 Ragusani nel Mondo Award (which he and his musician brother Roberto received together in Ragusa, Sicily for their contribution to Sicilian culture), and a Chalmers Award that allowed him to live in Sicily from March-June 2010.

Justin Gray is an Acoustic and Electric Bass Player, Composer and Band Leader. His main influences include Jazz, R&B, Indian Classical and Contemporary Music. Justin has played with and worked with a number of internationally renowned artists including; Dave Liebman, Dave Douglas, Kurt Elling, Mike Stern, Cutis Fuller, Ingrid Jensen, Seamus Blake, Dan Weiss, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Greg Osby, Shantanu Bhattacharrya, Subankar Banerjee, Bikram Ghosh, Tejendra Mejendar, Henry Hey, John Riley, Quinsin Nachoff, Ravi Naimpally, George Koller and Chitraveena Ravikiran. Justin is currently the band leader for two well-established groups in the international music scene. Justin performs regularly with his own group Gray Matter; a contemporary Jazz ensemble that is heavily influenced by modern groove music. Monsoonis a contemporary Indo-Jazz ensemble that features original compositions that blend aspects of North Indian Classical Music with Contemporary Jazz. Both of these groups feature Justin’s original compositions and have been featured in many Jazz Festivals and feature concerts across Canada and India.

Juno winning drummer/percussionist Max Senitt is a highly regarded and in-demand freelance musician on the Toronto and international scene. He brings a wealth of experience and versatility gained from performing across Canada, USA, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe with such Grammy and Juno award winning artists as: Alex Cuba, Hilario Duran, Odessa/Havana, and Carol Welsman. Presently a member of Tzadik Recording artists “Zebrina” and Urugayuan singer Valeria Matzner’s bands, he also leads his own Trio. A Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Headhunter Drumsticks artist, Max is also quite active as an educator.

Theatre 1308 Presents!

Dear friend of Theatre 1308,

Last year, we set about creating a new performance venue that was to be intimate, fully-equipped and affordable. Turning this vision into reality required countless volunteer hours as well as substantial financial support from both Calgary Inter-Mennonite Church and The Calgary Foundation. Everything came together last February when we launched Theatre 1308 with our first annual Bright Side Festival. It was a fantastic "eight days of optimism" and we are so grateful for the enthusiastic support we received - thank you!!

What's next?

In the weeks that followed the festival we were approached by a number of local artists who were interested in using our venue. From our conversations emerged the concept of artist-curated programming. The idea was that Theatre 1308 would collaborate with a small number of progressive artists who would each create a unique concert series. These would feature exceptional performers and be decidedly forward-looking. Our model would seek to minimize the financial risk to performers, with an eye towards community building and long-term sustainability.

Thankfully, this idea has taken wings and we are thrilled to announce the inaugural season of Theatre 1308 Presents, featuring four unique concert series, curated by four amazing musicians - and one amazing philosopher!

We invite you to click the "Learn more" links below to meet our curators and see the excellent programming they have in store. Be sure to stay tuned to this email channel as we will be announcing many fantastic events in the coming weeks.

See you @ 1308!

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Jazz @ 1308

Curated by Jon McCaslin

A new music concert series that features local Calgary jazz artists. Curated by jazz drummer Dr. Jon McCaslin, the original and creative voices of Calgary's jazz scene come alive, on stage at Theatre 1308.

Learn more…

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Beyond Borders

Curated by Frank Rackow

The Beyond Borders series at Theatre 1308 features musicians and ensembles reaching across musical styles, traditions and borders to create new sounds and rhythms. From fusing Indian classical music with jazz, to exploring common elements in klezmer and Arabic music, the series offers new discoveries that will delight, surprise and move audiences.

Learn more…

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Tadpole

Curated by Jiajia Li & Laura Reid

A genre-blurring series providing a stage for new sound creation.

Learn more…

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Philosophers’ Cafe

Curated by Dr. Tinu Ruparell

U of C philosopher Dr. Tinu Ruparell and guests in conversation on a variety of topics. Each event features a mini-concert from a special musical guest.

Learn more…