Thingamajigs presents
20th Annual Music For People & Thingamajigs Festival (MFP&T)
Performance series of music made with found objects and alternate tunings
Dec 15, 2017 - May 19, 2018
Oakland, CA - Dec 4, 2017 - Thingamajigs kicks-off 20th Annual Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival, a series of performances and presentations of music made with found objects and alternate tuning systems, on Dec 15, 2017. Like every annual festival in the last 20 years, the gala will be a power-pack of musical works of homemade instruments, found objects, and alternate tunings by some of the most innovative artists, based within and outside the United States. However, unlike the previous editions, the 20th will open in the Acoustic Space of Oakland Museum of California in Dec 2017, and continue with shows in Spring 2018.
20 years is a milestone for the community of artists who have been an integral part of Thingamajigs, and have helped transform an art-project of 1997 into an organization. The spotlight brightened as the programs made it to the Top 10 Music Festivals list on 7X7 and were featured on Rachel Maddow show. The event highlights and artist interviews have been on radio channels such as KPFA, and in popular Bay Area publications such as SF Weekly, SF Classical Voice and East Bay Express. Through the artistic collaborations Thingamajigs has hosted musicians from around the world, including two MacArthur Genius Award recipients - Walter Kitundu and Trimpin. The various programs have enjoyed the support of partner organizations such as Zellerbach Family Foundation, New Music USA, California Arts Council and many more. The occasion of the 20th year warranted an expanded format, to recognize and acknowledge this growth. The multi-season, multi-event festival will bring together musicians from past group works, latest collaborations and new works submitted earlier this year.
The 20th Annual MFP&T Festival will commence on Friday, Dec 15 in the art gallery of OMCA. The evening will showcase presentations by eminent artist and groups such as Northern California Gagaku Group, Soo Yeon Lyuh, Euphotic and Pet the Tiger. The performances, that will also mark the inauguration of The Acoustic Space Project of OMCA, will feature a metallophone created by Leon Schneiderman.
The months of March through May in 2018 will see the second edition of Alt-Tuned Rock - a night of alternately tuned music on amplified electric instruments; Pacific Exchange with international performers, Preludes, Fugues and Things with Joo Won Park and Dennis Aman of The Living Earth Show, and a final event The Nature of Notation in partnership with Becoming Independent
The extended festival will, like before, celebrate music created with found objects and alternate tuning systems, but will offer a wider platform to connect cultures beyond SF Bay Area.
Browse our website for more details.
All events, concerts and activities of the 20th Annual Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival were made possible through the support of California Arts Council, New Music USA, Zellerbach Family Foundation and generous donations by individuals across the Bay Area.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
20th Annual Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival
Dec 15, 2017 - May 18, 2018
Friday - Dec 15, 2017 | 5pm - 8pm
Opening Night
Northern California Gagaku Group, Soo Yeon Lyuh, Leon Schneiderman, Euphotic and Pet the Tiger
OMCA : 1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607
Saturday - March 24, 2018 | 8pm
Alt-Tuned Rock
Vegan Butcher, 'Fraid o' Freyja and Kevin Thompson
The MilkBar Richmond, CA
Sunday - April 15, 2018 | 4pm
Pacific Exchange
Sophia Shen and Cornelius Boots
Moderated talk with artists to follow performance
NOHspace (Theater of Yugen), San Francisco, CA
Friday - May 18, 2018 | 8pm
Preludes, Fugues and Things
Joo Won Park, Dennis Aman and The Living Earth Show
Solespace, Oakland, CA
Saturday - May 19, 2018 | 4PM
The Nature of Notation
Thingamajigs Performance Group and Becoming Independent
Chalk Hill Artist Residency - 13427 Chalk Hill Rd, Healdsburg, California 95448
