International Festival Musique Actuelle. Wow.

I first heard about this festival a couple of years ago via an ad in Grooves Magazine, and I even alluded to it in the preamble to my MUTEK diary last year (re: going to "avant-garde" festivals, I was rambling (which was the point of that preamble) and couldn't remember the name).

At least I think it was Grooves, because the lineup more accurately suits the tastes of Wire, i.e. improvised music (including jazz), noise, and freeform electronics. Anyhow, IFMA is considerably more expensive than MUTEK (Passports are 2 X) higher, but the lineups are consistently top-notch and you have the option of CAMPING there in Victoriaville. Glasto for improv freaks? Obviously, my mission is clear : start making proper money so I can go to IFMA, and then continue on to MUTEK the weekend after, which is a two week music-laden vacation that would be difficult to top.

What's so special about this year's festival?
1. Acid Mothers Temple. Japan freakout psychonoise YEAH!
2. Derek Bailey and John Zorn need little introduction (in the sense that their work is so well known, even though I have heard almost none of it and am badly in need of an introduction in the musical sense).
3. Han Bennink! Dutch drum abuser extraordinaire.
4. Sam Shalabi, Fly Pan Am, Morceau de Machines (mainstays of the Montreal improv scene)
5. Pita, Tina Frank and FENNESZ (mainstays of the Vienna improv scene). And Fennesz is performing twice!! Once solo, and once in collaboration with Oren Ambarchi, Keith Rowe, and Toshimaru Nakamura, which should be out of this world.

A comforting symbol : the CBC logo is all over the website and schedule, suggesting that CBC radio will be taping and hopefully even broadcasting some of the shows.