In its ‘real’ live format, Le Guess Who? Festival, one of the more unique festivals around, which is usually held this time of the year in Utrecht in the Netherlands (considered country’s central geographic point), has decided to operate during the pandemic too.
Of course, it will be a ‘live’ streaming affair which will be held from November 13-15, 2020. Yet, it seems the festival will keep up with its forward-looking concept. It will feature new original programming, video of past LGW performances, film screenings, and other video content curated by past performers, new interviews, and more – for free.
ON/OFF is showing previously unseen video recordings from throughout Le Guess Who?’s history, including a 2017 performance by Mary Margaret O’Hara (curated by Perfume Genius), the 2019 debut of AEAEA (Nicolas Jaar & Patrick Higgins), Circuit des Yeux’s 2018 performance with members of Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Sons of Kemet’s 2018 set where they performed as an ‘XL’ lineup featuring four drummers, and more.
In addition to the full sets, there are seven compilations of highlights featuring Neneh Cherry, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Juana Molina, Wilco, Swamp Dogg, Protomartyr, Lightning Bolt, Shabaka Hutchings, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Sudan Archives, Cass McCombs, Cate Le Bon and more.
Also on the program, filmmaker Vincent Moon, of La Blogotheque’s “Take-Away” show video fame, will premiere two music documentaries, both about Southeast Asia: Hanoise, an examination of the vibrant, underground experimental music scene of Vietnam’s capital and Jakarta Jakarta!, a poetic look at the Indonesian hyper-city and its music, from ancient Buddhist and Sufi rituals to traditional pop, rock, electronic and more.
Specific to this year’s event, correspondents from around the world offer profiles on arts, music, culture, and the day-to-day life in their home countries.
The complete festival schedule is available HERE.
