At the Open Ears — Festival of Music & Sound, you can listen to a cutting edge experimental electroacoustic performance, find out how to foley, explore cultural heritage, and more. The Kitchener festival takes place May 30 to June 2.
“It is very, shall I say, one of a kind experience. It is not a traditional festival,” says Artistic Director Richard Burrows.
Formed back in 1998 by composer Peter Hatch, then a professor at Laurier University, the festival was designed under the auspices of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, and ran biennially. It was paired with an installation by CAFKA — Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area. Nowadays, it operates as a separate entity.
We spoke to Richard Burrows, who has built an international career as a percussionist outside leading the festival. He holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Toronto, and performs wth TorQ Percussion Quartet as a founding member, among many other ensembles and collaborators. He’s been with Open Ears since he started as a junior artistic associate in 2012.
“We began to do what we called “between the ears””, he says, meaning events that took place between the biannual. “I’m now in my 8th year as AD of the festival.”
Open Ears — Festival of Music & Sound
“This is more of a bespoke cultural experience,” Richard explains.
While many music festival are associated with fields and portable bathrooms, Open Ears takes places across various venues in the Kitchener Waterloo area. “But, you’re also going to come across outdoor… interruptions, let’s say,” he comments.
“We kind of try to stay away from the traditional recital vibe. We try to break the norms of what a traditional concert is.”
He lists a couple of examples.
One of the highlights of the festival is headline act Vicki Chow, who will be presenting her work using two projectors that highlight her on stage as well as add images, with speakers that will surround the audience for a 360-degree sound experience. She’ll be performing the work Sierra by composer Jane Antonia Cornish, with immersive light design by Ben Toht.
creek, by composer Deborah Carruthers, will be performed outdoors near the historic Schneider House. The performance reflects on the history of the community, and on the history and evolution of Schneider Creek over the decades.
“Through the evolution of industries and housing – it’s a kind of ecological reflection of how the creek has changed,” he explains. The musicians react to those changes, the erosion of the bands, and the audience experiences the music as it flows along with the water.
“It’s a really interesting artistic experience.”
Guerrilla Pop Up Concerts
Richard calls it the flagship festival in Canada, “for doing these kinds of experience based guerrilla kind of pop up concerts,” he says “There is definitely something to be said for Peter Hatch and his vision. He really was a visionary in that regard,” he says. “We have kept that vision alive.”
It’s not only about experimentation, it’s about offering audiences immersive experiences. “Our audience expects novel experiences,” he says. “It’s the curious ear that brings them to the fesival.”
Arriving without expectations is the best policy. “That is a part of what makes Open Ears so special.”
Along with the concerts, the festival builds in outreach and interactive experiences, such as a self-guided audio walk that complements the Creek performance. Foley artist Michelle Hwu will lead workshops on how to create the sounds of video games. Workshops are free, and open to the public. A sound installation at the KW Art Gallery features drone footage of the region with audio accompaniment.
“There are some very interesting things to experience during the four days of the festival.’’
Many of the performances and installations incorporate elements of social relevance, like the environment, with a viewpoint that’s current. “I think a lot of the inspiration — it’s a common thing in this festival — artists who are being very reactive to social and political events,” he says.
“Everything that you’ll see in this festival has been written in the last decade, and in some cases, within the last year.”
- Find out more information about the Open Ears — Festival of Music & Sound , running May 30 to June 2, and tickets, [HERE].
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