The annual Kazoofest launched in Guelph last night to usher in five fun-filled days of art, music, film, dance and community. Kazoo, which is a Guelph-based non-profit artist run organization, started putting on these annual festivals in 2008 and have been met with ever increasing success, resulting in this, their third, and most ambitious, year yet. The festival runs through Sunday with a variety of musical shows, a zine fair, a film screening and even a sporting event.
Kazoofest officially begain last night at the Ed Video Media Arts Centre gallery, and included a projected installation by Broken City Lab, music videos by Colin Medley, photography by Sean Richardson and a dance performance by Lindsay Roe. The action then moved to the ebar where the D’Urbervilles performed with Gregory Pepper & His Problems and Ben Gunning. Intrigued yet? Fortunately there’s still four full days of activities. Here’s the schedule:
Sean Nicholas Savage, Silly Kissers and Pop Winds
The Attic, 14 Northumberland St
7 pm
We start off this Royal City Beats with the early show from Kazoofest. This set’s all about Montreal with the duo of Sean Nicholas Savage and Pop Winds, who are currently touring Ontario together, with the additional charm of Silly Kissers.
Lullabye Arkestra, Brides and Soft Copy
ebar, 41 Quebec St
10 pm
For the late show, Kazoo is giving us the obvious complement to an all-Montreal band show: an all-Toronto band show. First, there’s the husband and wife rock duo of Lullabye Arkestra, which is followed up by former Guelphites Brides and wraps up with pop punks Soft Copy.
Bruce Peninsula, Flowers of Hell and Katie Stelmanis
Dublin St. United Church, 68 Suffolk St W
8 pm
Any show anchored by Bruce Peninsula is bound to be a can’t miss proposition. Joining them are fellow rock orchestra, albeit with a transatlantic edge, Flowers of Hell and the artist formally known as Katie Stelmanis, Private Life.
PS I Love You, Diamond Rings and Rich Aucoin
Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonell St
10 pm
It’s experimental music from far-flung places as Kingston pop metal duo PS I Love You joins forces with Toronto real deal Diamond Rings and Halifax’s visual pop sensation Rich Aucoin for the Kazoo late show.
Zine Fair
Ed Video, 40 Baker St
11 am
Kazoo’s regular zine fair will feature over 20 tables of locally-produced zines and small publications from all over the country covering the arts, comics, politics, and other assorted bric-a-brac. Also featured are guest speakers, Ben Dugas and Maggie Macdonald.
Bike In Film Screening
St. Georges Square
8 pm
You know what a drive-in movie is? Same difference, only with bikes.
Bocce, Noah 23, Green Go and Miles Jones
Albion, 49 Norfolk St
10 pm
Kazoo makes it a tough call tonight with both shows starting at the same time. First up though is a stellar collection of local favourites. Waterloo’s Bocce comes to town with a new CD to release, while Guelph’s hip-hop maestro Noah 23 and electro punks Green Go help them celebrate. Toronto artist Miles Jones joins the fun with his own hip-hop/soul/fusion.
Sarah Mangle Buys A Bear, Rat Tail, Cousins, and Weird Weather
Jimmy Jazz, 52 Macdonell St
10 pm
Only those prepared to two-step had better come to this show because featured artists Sarah Mangle Buys a Bear and Cousins will definitely make you want to. It’s all grunge from there though thanks to Toronto’s Rat Tail and the Guelph-connected Weird Weather.
Rae Spoon and Ghost Bees
Breakfast House Show @ 32 Edinburgh Rd. S
10:30 am
If you’re not Kazooed out by Sunday morning, then come out and have breakfast with Calgary’s Canadian Gothic Rae Spoon and Halifax folk stars (and twin sisters) Ghost Bees.
Basketball Tournament
GCVI, 155 Paisley St
3 pm
A basketball toury on two courts complete with accompanying DJ, and there’ll be prizes for the winning team.
Richard Laviolette & the Oil Spills, Ryan Driver, Eric Chenaux and Lisa Bozikovic
ebar, 41 Quebec St
10 pm
Wind down Kazoofest with Guelph’s favourite son Richard Laviolette and his compatriots, the Oil Spills. The unique talents of Ryan Driver, Eric Chenaux and Lisa Bozikovic, one of CBC’s 10 artists to breakthrough in 2010, will round out the night.
For more information go to the Kazoofest website.
Written By Adam A. Donaldson
