Without a doubt the highlight of ZXZW 2008 (yes, before we were even called Incubate. That long ago.) was Sun Ra Arkestra, who did up to six shows that week.
Sun Ra was one of the main innovators in jazz. The Arkestra is his future dream and his ancient body. It never was as popular as jazz’s best-known big bands, but it did have a steady following and was highly regarded in jazz circles. It appeared on “Saturday Night Live”, played a Central Park concert with Sonic Youth and was named best big band in Down Beat magazine’s critics poll five times. Sun Ra influenced the whole contemporary music scene and was a true independent mind.

Now, while we were digging through our archive, we found the recording of the Tuesday show in Paradox. It’s such a great show that we couldn’t keep it to ourselves. So here it is. The complete show. One of the six and the only one we could find. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

9 shows. That’s how many shows we gave tickets to. And for our 10th show, we have something special: Cinema Soloriens.

db’s in Utrecht present an unusual, special film- and concertnight about Sun Ra Arkestra (ZXZW 2008) with leader of the first hour Marshall Allen. Next to music of the cosmic master himself with James Harrar & Eric Thielemans, we see early and rare footage from the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 60′s and 70′s. So this is unmissable! And everyone who was there at the ZXZW-show in 2008 knows it is unmissable. This Saturday! October 22nd!

And the only thing you have to do is mail to win@incubate.org and hope we mail you back! What are you waiting for?

The amount of people responding to our Bonanza keeps rising, and even more popstages participate in our extravaganza. So we would like to introduce to you: the lovely people at db’s Utrecht! We give away tickets to not 1, not 2, but 3 (!!) shows!

2 x 2 tickets for Blood Ceremony + Yama on October 12th!
2 x 2 tickets for the Sun Ra Arkestra evening with Marshall Allen (Sun Ra) and the screening of Cinema Solariens on October 22nd!
2 x 2 tickets for  MC Dälek’s new project IconAClass on November 18th!

So please visit their Facebook and tell them how awesome they are!

We’ve already previewed this gig of Marshall Allen from Sun Ra playing at Paradox, Tilburg, but we can also give away free tickets! You can also pre-order your tickets on the Paradox website.

We’ve already had Marshall Allen playing with the Sun Ra Arkestra at ZXZW 2008 and now Marshall Allen will play at Paradox with Eric Thielemans and James Harrar, as well as local guitarist Jasper Stadhouders (played at ZXZW 2008 with The Black Napkins).

How to win
We’ll keep it simple this time, all you have to do is send an email to win ATT incubate DOTTT org with your full name. Please mention “Marshall Allen” in the subject line. Good luck!

Sun Ra legend Marshall Allen will play in the Paradox on March 16 2011. Check out more about this here and expect a contest to win tickets for this show very soon!

We all still remember the stunning performances of Sun Ra Arkestra at ZXZW in 2008 and it’s a pleasure to announce the return of Sun Ra legend Marshall Allen in the Paradox on March 16 2011.

After the deaths of Sun Ra in 1993 and John Gilmore in 1995, saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Marshall Allen took over the lead of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Allen, who just passed the age of 86, is still in the picture, especially after cooperating with electronic/indie rock artist Caribou last year on the live album Caribou Vibration Ensemble featuring Marshall Allen. On this tour, Allen got together an impressive lineup of artists including Belgian drummer Eric Thielemans and James Harrar. Besides this touring lineup, Allen invites local guitar heroes to play with his band as well which in this case happens to be Tilburg’s own Jasper Stadhouders (played at ZXZW 2008 with The Black Napkins )

Besides the performance we can expect a huge visual part as well, arranged by James Harrar who restored and reassembled rare 60s and 70s footage of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Under the name of Cinema Soloriens & The Cosmo-Drama ft. Marshall Allen, the ensemble will play in Paradox (where the Sun Ra Arkestra at the ZXZW festival in 2008 played five sets!) on March 16! More information (in Dutch) and ticket sales here. Expect a ticket contest very soon!

With my mloody valentine curating the 2009 Nightmare Before Christmas ATP event you can expect a nice lineup. On the bill are artists like Sonic Youth, A Place to Bury Strangers, the hero’s from Sun Ra Arkestra (ZXZW 2008), Primal Scream and De La Soul.

Incubate Erik will visit the festival. Expect some blog updates and photos of the acts from him during the festival!

To get you in the mood, here’s a little video of my bloody valentine’s show in Effenaar Eindhoven last May. Earplugs recommended

We wish Sun Ra’s Arkestra bandleaderMarshall Allen “one of the most distinctive and original saxophonists of the postwar era” a very happy 85th birthday. The bandleader of the fabulous Sun Ra Arkestra, which you have seen at ZXZW 2008 ofcourse.

On this cool blog you can find several very interesting jazz downloads, and also the most famous movie of Sun Ra: Space is the Place.

A short summary of Space is the Place:
A jazz innovator for decades, Sun Ra created a sound that could easily have come from his home planet–Saturn. The legend around Sun Ra is bizarre and complex, and it’s one element in John Coney’s insane 1974 film SPACE IS THE PLACE. Conceived as a vehicle for Sun Ra and his music, the film blends 1950s sci-fi, ’70s Blaxploitation, and Ingmar Bergman’s THE SEVENTH SEAL in an intense, provocative mix.

Check it out.

We’re very happy with making such a timeless document possible. Frank says: “It’s a piece of quality where I like to be affiliated with.”  Joost says: “Hell yeah, a dream coming through.” Barry says. “I want one!” and Erik already made a couple of tweets about it. Get the cd right here.

There also was an accident during the Sun Ra Arkestra rehearsal. Check Jacqueline’s video of it here!

The great Marshall Allen preparing for his performance.

With ZXZW artists like Sun Ra Arkestra, Chops, Todd, Shitmat, Dethscalator, Hey Colossus, Zun Zun Egui, and Arabrot and favourite bands like Acid Mothers Temple, Fucked Up and Gravenhurst the London based Hokaben festival is definately worth a visit. Frank, Tijs and Joost will go there. Hope to see you there!!!

Or just read it here (if you can read Dutch)

Marshall Allen viert tijdloosheid in een universum van muziek

MUZIEK Zijn ogen priemden de zaal in, hij spoorde zijn musici aan tot energiek doordenderen en hij speelde heerlijk glijdende en sputterende solo’s. Marshall Allen, de leider van het orkest van de in 1993 overleden componist, toetsenist en spaceguru Sun Ra is 84. Hij oogt vijftien jaar jonger. Heeft het jarenlang verorberen van Sun Ra’s vegetarische en extreem goedkope gerecht moon stew toch geen slecht effect gehad.

De conditie van Allen is kenmerkend voor het Sun Ra Arkestra. Wat een stoffig aftreksel van een roemrucht verleden had kunnen zijn, werd dinsdag een levendige viering van tijdloosheid. Voor een paar uur vielen alle aardse beslommeringen weg. Je was niet meer in Tilburg, Nederland of op deze planeet, maar in een universum van muziek.

De veertien in glittercapes en hoofddeksels getooide muzikanten van het Sun Ra Arkestra spelen elke dag een ander programma op het festival Zxzw. Dinsdag viel het publiek met zijn neus in de boter met een selectie van de beste en meest aansprekende werken van Sun Ra. De naïeve, hartverwarmende kwaliteit van de stukken en de ongedwongen benadering maken het Arkestra niet alleen leuk voor kenners en freaks, maar indrukwekkend voor iedereen. Zo natuurlijk komt muziek zelden over.

Hoewel een deel van het orkest er onderkoeld bij zat, straalde het van speelplezier. Zowel de oude garde, onder wie de zingende en trommelende saxofonist Knoel Scott, als de krachtige nieuwe aanwas, onder wie de aanstekelijk grijnzende en dansende trombonist Dave Davis, speelde met overgave.

Wie in de directe nabijheid van Marshall Allen zat kreeg geregeld op zijn kop. Er waren misverstandjes en slordigheden. Als die er niet waren geweest, dan was het concert goed geweest. Nu was het perfect.

Koen Schouten

On saturday September 20th they will be dj’ing after the Sun Ra Arkestra concert at the Paradox. The next day, sunday September 21st, they will provide the sounds to ZXZW’s “Rollerdisco” at the Stadhuisplein (afternoon). Don’t let that name fool you. No weak disco shit, only the best soul, ska and beat that will make you rollerskate even faster.

this is Marjolein, working on the Sun Ra Arkestra project for the ZXZW-festival.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sApYx27yfnw&hl=en]

So, if you like this kinda stuff, see you from 15 – 21 september 2008!

Ciao!

Marjolein

Here’s some info about all days:

Monday 15th program:
SUN RA ARKESTRA
+ concert (013) + movie (Filmfoyer) + Kraaklink (Squad) + theater (NWE Vorst)
2 time slots (20.00 – 21.45 & 22.00 – 0.00)

Tuesday 16th program:
SUN RA ARKESTRA
+ concert (013) + movie (Filmfoyer) + Kraaklink (Squad) + theater (NWE Vorst) 2 time slots (20.00 – 21.45 & 22.00 – 0.00)

Wednesday 17th program:
SUN RA ARKESTRA
+ concert (013) + movie (Filmfoyer) + Kraaklink (Squad) + theater (NWE Vorst)
2 time slots (20.00 – 21.45 & 22.00 – 0.00)

Thursday 18th program:
SUN RA ARKESTRA
+ concert (013) + movie (Filmfoyer) + Kraaklink (Squad)
2 time slots (20.00 – 21.45 & 22.00 – 0.00)

Friday 19th program:
The Shape of Breakcore to come (different venues)
+ movie (Filmfoyer) + Kraaklink (Squad) + theater (NWE Vorst)
2 time slots (20.00 – 21.45 & 22.00 – 0.00)
Breakcore: Whole night !

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st program:
Music program, starting at 14.00

Ticketprices untill May 31st:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday tickets: €5
Saturday or Sunday tickets: €10
Weekend-tickets (Valid Friday – Sunday): €15
Week-tickets (Valid Monday – Sunday): €35

Sun Ra Arkestra
http://www.myspace.com/thesunraarkestra

Trash Talk
http://www.myspace.com/trashtalkfu

Paint It Black
http://www.myspace.com/paintitblack

Ars Dada
http://www.myspace.com/arsdada

Tortuga
http://www.myspace.com/tortugakings

Kid Kishore
http://www.myspace.com/kidkishore

Arquettes
http://www.myspace.com/arquettes

Aguynguerran
http://users.pandora.be/nguaroth/index.htm

Lakes
http://www.myspace.com/lakeslakeslakes

Enablers
http://www.myspace.com/enablers

Yeah! From 15-21 September Tilburg is the place! We’ve just booked the mighty mighty mighty Sun Ra Arkestra and this really feels like a dream coming true. It’s the full Arkestra, including Marshall Allen. They will play EVERY day (except Friday) at ZXZW as our own Arkestra In Residence.

For those who don’t know: Sun Ra was one of the true innovators of contemporary music. Different artists, from Sonic Youth to Moodyman to the whole jazz scene see him as their main influence. To us he’s important because he created totally different music. Some records are totally hardcore experimental, sometimes he’s very smooth and sometimes it’s everything in between. He has been one of the true innovators of independent culture. Yeah! Yeah!