Rough Idea Presents VTO5 - curated in association with Michele Levasseur, artistic director of Quebec¹s notorious Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville. FIMAV is a remarkable gathering, now in its twenty-second year. Veiled in mystery to most Canadians, this annual musical event is celebrated and admired worldwide - the coveted destination among fans and innovators of outside, adventurous new and improvised music.
Every May since 1998, Rough Idea has hosted its own unique, innercity version of the festival - VTO - providing performance opportunities for Canadian and international artists and a challenging palette of music for Toronto audiences.
VTO5 will occupy five venues over eight nights in Toronto from May 17 through 24. Concerts will take place at the Goethe Institut, the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, the Edward Day Gallery, the Silver Dollar Room and, in association with Amy Hersenhoren of Root Mean Square, the Rivoli. Over the course of the week, artists will also be performing and signing at Soundscapes, VTO5¹s like-minded retail sponsor.
The Goethe Institut will launch and close VTO5, hosting Xu Fengxia (guzheng) and two films featuring the late Peter Kowald (Tuesday May 17), then a double bill the following week (Tuesday May 24), with Hubbub + Queen Mab Trio (featuring VTO4 veteran Lori Freedman). Kinowelt Hall is an elegantly understated performance space - an intimate concave fishbowl, complete with grand piano and a streetfront gallery foyer. The Institut¹s Doina Popescu is a key partner in Rough Idea¹s year-round programming.
Jerry Granelli will bring his Sandhills Reunion Septet to the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom on Wednesday May 18, featuring CBC Radio's Paul Kennedy (Ideas) reading Rinde Eckert¹s Billy the Kid musings. The weather-worn Gladstone Hotel Ballroom is a perfect setting for Wild West words and a blowing band.
On Thursday May 19, Stefano Scodanibbio and Joseph von Wissem will set their strings to echo off the walls of the Edward Day Gallery courtyard. EDG Director Mary Sue Rankin has a long-trusted reputation for her keen eye and ear. She has hosted countless musical events at her various locations over many years in Toronto and Kingston. This is her first co-pro with Rough Idea at her new Queen Street W Gallery.
On Friday May 20, Nels Cline Singers will rock the Silver Dollar Room.
On Saturday May 21, Rough Idea, in association with Root Mean Square, will present the Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet in an early two-set show at the Rivoli. Most notable among past collaborations with RMS/Amy Hersenhoren, is VTO4¹s monumental The Ex at Lee's Palace. Other signature co-pros include Ken Vandermark, AALY Trio, Lee Ranaldo, Erik Friedlander and Sonore at the Goethe Institut in October 2004. The Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet show promises to be gargantuan and gorgeous.
