Last night at Don Pedro’s on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, New York the 2009 infringement Festival circuit kicked off with an evening of music.  New York-based artists like The Open End, Red Clay, Wesley Jeremiah and Annie Palmer from Michigan played along with Orange Monsoon, a band with Steve Ferrara who brought the infringement to Brooklyn.

Orange Monsoon plays again tonight with Shugamilk, Have Blue at The Jungle and Anal Pudding will be making the trip down the I-90 from Buffalo along with Peanut Brittle Sattelite to play at The Electric Supply Co. (292 Flushing Ave).  This band features the Buffalo infringement’s music coordinator Curt Rotterdam.  This show will also be underground shows and the one at The Jungle will end with a jam.

This type of show and the infringement have a history.  In 2006, a good half of the theatre and music shows at the Ottawa infringement were basement shows and in Montreal last year, all of the fundraisers and even some events during the fest, namely visual arts and spoken-word were done this way.  There’s something about the free-flowing, jamming and no-need-for-a-“proper”-space nature of these events that just screams infringement.

This year’s Brooklyn infringement is a two-day affair.  Weekend infringements have happened before, most notably in Toronto 2004 and can be a real fun way to experience the infringement for the first time.  Also, this can whet the appetite for more infringing and lay the groundwork for future infringement festivals to take place in the same community.

An infringement in April (the first time this has happened) is also a great early way to kick off a circuit that will roll into Montreal in June and run at least into August when Buffalo wraps up and may even go longer and feature more communities rising up and infringing artistically.

To attend tonight’s show in Brooklyn, you need to RSVP to brooklyn@infringementfestival.com and to keep up to date on the 2009 circuit, keep checking this page.

PHOTO: Orange Monsoon on stage last night at Don Pedro (by Gwen Sanchirico)

Categories: announcements, artists, events
No Comments »

Six years after a group of artists and activists in Montreal, fed up with the over commercialized art-business-as-usual festival model, created their own event, the infringement movement is alive and well.  The roots already planted are  blooming and new seeds planted this year are starting to grow.

The 2009 International infringement circuit is gearing up.  Two festivals are planning, hosting fundraisers and accepting artist submissions while a third runs next weekend.  Plus, there is always room for more communities to join the movement this summer.  Here’s how things are looking…

Brooklyn, NY (April 17 and 18): The infringement is coming to Brooklyn next weekend for the first time.  Yes, there has already been a festival in New York City (Manhattan 2005) but this one is a different event entirely.

Brooklyn is home to a vibrant community of artist and activists who are used to speaking out and performing their work in both conventional and unconventional settings and the infringement promises to continue this tradition.

Founded by Steve Ferrara after his band The Neverbeens played the Montreal event last year, iF Brooklyn is turning into a very musical infringement.  It’s a two-day affair and organizers hope it will lay the groundwork for future years.

The full schedule is online at infringementfestival.com/brooklyn

Montreal, QC (June 18-28): The festival is alive and kicking in its birthplace.  The sixth annual Montreal event runs this June and planning is already well underway, but there is always room for more volunteer organizers and artists.

Theatre groups, musicians, visual artists, film and video makers, culture-jammers, street performers and anyone who wants to artistically infringe on the monoculture are welcome to join in the fun.  The deadline to be included in the festival program is May 22nd and the deadline to be included in the festival itself and have a spot on the website is as long as space is available (unless you’re bringing your own space).

Saturday, May 2nd will be our first infringement Social of the season.  It will happen at The Pound and feature live musical performances, theatrics, maybe some films and a BBQ fundraiser.  This will be a BYOB event and the lineup will be posted once it is known.

To get involved with the festival as an artist or volunteer organizer or for more info on the fest or the infringement Social, please log onto infringementfestival.com/montreal

Buffalo, NY (July 23-August 2): The largest festival in the circuit continues to grow.  They are going into their fifth year and are accepting proposals for theatre, dance, music, visual arts and film and video.  The deadline has been extended to May 15th and judging from recent years, this event fills up pretty quickly.

They have also done four fundraisers already, the most recent yesterday night and more are sure to come.  To get involved or find out more information, please log onto infringebuffalo.org

Start your  own: Does your community need an infringement Festival?  Probably so.  Whether it’s a weekend party, or a month-long adventure, whether it’s the first of many annual events or something that will happen once, all types of infringements are welcome.

If you want to start a festival or are thinking about it and would like more information, you can read our helpguide here.

Categories: events, news
No Comments »