Katie Duck Performs This Week in Amsterdam!

There's something about Katie Duck (Right) that convinces people to bend over backwards ...

September 16 Bim Huis Matching Monday
Dancers: Makiko Ito, Katie Duck, Kenzo Kusuda, Peter Kadár, Lily Kiara, Marije Nie, Melvin Fraenk
Musicians: Felicity Provan (trumpet), Maraatsj (violin), Michael Vatcher (drums), Oscar Jan Hoogland (piano), Alfredo Genovesi (guitar), Konstantinos Vasilakos (laptop), Monica Akihary (stem)
Lights: Ellen Knops

Go here to find a list of workshops and courses in Amsterdam and abroad

Go here to find a list of events and performances in Amsterdam and abroad

North Sea and Black Sea = SEAS

Chris Torch was an ally and acquaintance in my Amsterdam Daze -- He was a member of Julian Beck's Living Theater, and recruited beautiful Helena Van Danzig into their ranks. He also started a company in Sweden named Jord Cirkus (Earth Circus), and has been based around Stockholm since the late 70's. He's been organizing an incredible international exchange of artists between the Black Sea and Northern Europe for the last few years. The physical distances aren't really that great, but the historical and cultural divisions between the two regions are profound. I'm very proud to know a man who is doing such great work building human bridges!


From the SEAS/Intercult Newsletter:

SEAS Xpedition Turkey 15-22 September
SEAS X begins on the road. An expedition of over 30 people, SEAS artists and staff from all over Europe, will travel from Istanbul to Batumi. Along the way four stops are planned to spontaneously encounter local people and community groups. Animations - films, workshops, short presentations - will be the tools.
In August four pioneers made a trial trip as preparation for the SEAS Xpedition. The trip is reportedly bumpy at times, mostly welcoming and very exciting. Most of the SEAS artists have grown accustomed to new locations each with a different set of demands, this time eight new artists are joining the group.

The SEAS Xpedition stops and artists


SEAS X Batumi 22-25 September
The first ever international contemporary arts festival in Batumi and the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between SEAS/Intercult and Batumi State Drama Theatre, Caucasus Foundation and other local host organisations.
The program in Batumi presents contemporary art from the Black Sea North Sea regions. Performances, video and sculptural installations, theatre and more will be presented throughout the city. The SEAS artists are BADco., Mahir Gunsiray and Tiyatro Ouynevi, Anne Lise Stenseth, Katryna Radchenko, Vilna Scena, Nedyalko Delchev and Cristina David. Including two local performances by Ilia Chavchavadze Batumi State Drama Theatre and Valerian Gunia Poti State Drama Theatre.

The SEAS X Batumi programme

Anne Lise Stenseth to Artisterium Tiblisi
Anne Lise Stenseth has been invited to show the video installation The Kiss and Waste Project, 1-2 October at the Tbilisi International Contemporary Art Exhibition - Artisterium. The series of video essays portraying women across the Black and North Seas was developed during the SEAS touring. It gives a unique perspective on love, migration and family based on letters written to the artist as though she was their mother, sister or girlfriend.

Artisterium 1-2 October

As The (Single) Wheel Turns

Festival produced by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Poster Design: MikeSamuelGraphics.com
From the Brooklyn Eagle:
NYC’s first Unicycle Festival will be rolling across New York City this September -- The first day of the festival is in Brooklyn and is being proclaimed by Borough President Marty Markwitz as Brooklyn Unicycle Day. The festivities begin with a 13-mile journey across Brooklyn, on unicycle...

The New York City Unicycle Festival will place from Sept. 3 to 5. Festivities will begin Friday afternoon with a mass ride over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grand Army Plaza and then to Coney Island. Expect to witness amazing unicycle displays along the route, on the Boardwalk and around the Cyclone Stadium. This long-distance unicycle ride is being organized by the Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour.

Unicycle riders are invited to join the group ... scheduled to cross the Brooklyn Bridge at 3 p.m. on Sept. 3. They expect to be riding through Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park at 4 p.m. and arriving at Coney Island at 6 pm. The route is available on-line at http://nycunifest.com.

Additional NYC Unicycle Festival events are on Governors Island (Sept. 4) and at Grant’s Tomb (Sept. 5). The New York City Unicycle Festival seeks to bring together recreational riders, world-class performers, mountain and off-road unicycle enthusiasts, mono-wheel vehicle inventors, and the thousands of people who have not ridden in umpteen years along with circus enthusiasts, extreme sports viewers, and anyone seeking an unusual sight — even for New York City!


In Amsterdam: Gerard Cornielje wil be playing with the Justin Hammer Band on the 7th of September at Schuim Spuistraat 189

Justin Hammer on the road with his Rock N' Roll mom and Friends Roadshow in the 70's.

Katie Duck's Agenda for the rest of 2010:

September 24 Amsterdam Friday Duck Projects - Kidnap Zaal 100

October 1-11 Iceland NORDPLUS Explorations in Music and Dance / EMD Network Improvisation Intensive Course Kedja Festival

October 11-15 Copenhagen, Denmark Skolen for Moderne Dans

November 8- 14 Bilboa, Spain festival - workshop performances L'Mono Fim

November 19, 20 and 21st Madrid, Spain -- Estudio tres workshop

November 22-26 Barcelona, Spain -- workshop La Poderosa

December 10 Amsterdam Friday Duck Projects - Happy Homicide Zaal 100

December 27-31 Amsterdam Christmas Workshop

Hmmm -- From the titles of some of her Duck Projects, Katie looks like she might be creating a new genre -- Dance Noir.

An Upcoming Katie Duck Performance in Amsterdam

One of my first Katie Graphics, from a performance with Michael Schumacher.
Thursday August 26 Dance performance: Katie Duck, Vincent Cacalano
Orgelpark Gerard Brandtstraat 26 1054 JK Amsterdam 20:15 (That's 8:15 PM)
Music Joos van der Kooy (chruch organ), Alfredo Genovesi (electric guitar + electronics) and maybe others.
Light: Makiko Ito

As July Turned Towards August

Today happens to be 8/9/10 -- in the early morning it was 05:06:07 08/09/10, but I was asleep then.

The Conductor of the Danish National Philupthecarmonic Orchestra, August 2010
Last week, Johnny Melville traveled from Berlin to Hamlet's own castle at Elsinore, Denmark in order to lead an orchestra/chorus of musical cars. Rather than tour drive-in movie theaters, he'll post a video on YouTube -- stay "tuned!"

Stuart Curtis made some music in Western Oregon:

Sven's Blowholes July Jam: Stuart Curtis (far left), John Bliss, Jeff Morre, Jim Guynn, Cheryl Leckie, Rob Birdwell, and Mike Beavington.

Paul Blackwell sang along and played with Andre Floyd on the docks of Lakeside, Montana in late July -- but I wasn't there to shoot pictures.

Andre Floyd with Blue Iguana at Rock for Ravenwood, near Ferndale, Montana, four days after he performed with Paul Blackwell.
In Great Falls, Montana, Cowgirl/Stiltwalker Karen Quest worked the fair!

In Amsterdam, musician Davey Norkett saw George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars at De Paradiso on July 31. Justin Hammer played at Schuim on August 3rd.
Dancer Katie Duck was and is getting ready for performances in August -- especially Sunday August 22 Duck Projects - Criminal Mind single studio Eerste Nassaustraat 7 Amsterdam (same building - up stairs as the Studio Seven) See a full list of her summer workshops/performances HERE.

The Funk Mob later toured France all the way to the Riviera.
In Long Beach, California, a there was a free day-and-night Funk Fest last weekend, featuring Dawn Silva, Jeanette Washington, and the Brides of Funkenstein, along with other members of the extended P-Funk Family playing in their band -- like DeWayne McKnight, Jeff Bunn, Barry Chenault, and Greg Thomas. DJ/Scholar Ricky Vincent was there, along with legendary Jimmy Castor, Patryce Banks, sTOZO tHE cLOWN, Lonnie Marshall & Weapon Of Choice, The Stone City Band, plus various & sundry P-Funk fans from the Internet Community, including Darryl (Funk Store) Moon, and DJ Soul Sister from New Orleans, who introduced Webmaster Michael to the cyber-mothership.

Footsbarn continued to perform at Polzeath in their old home grounds of Cornwall, England. The Mir Caravan 2010 is still in Namur, Belgium, but I'm worried about their next stop -- Moscow and Russia are having some terrible problems with wildfires and deadly smokey air.

The Tours Move ON!

(In no particular order or completeness) Cast & Crew of Sorry -- That's Life: Brahim Arar - Technician - Eavan Brennan - Technicienne - Dominique Brunier - Musicienne - Pierre Byland - Actor & Director - Joseph Cunningham - Actor - Sylvie Falzone - Administratice - Vincent Gracieux - Actor - Fabien Granier - Producer - Frédéric Granier - Technician - Freddy Hayter - Scénographe & Technicienne - Kes Hayter - Set Construction - Paddy Hayter - Director & Actor - Bruno Hocquard - Sound Design - Maurice Horsthuis - Musician & Composer - Thierry Meslin - Technician - Pawel Paluch - Musician & Musician - Tim Pearce - Producer - Emilie Pecunia - Administratrice - Pascal-Ritchie Perot - Lighting Designer & Technical Director - Haka Haris Resic - Musician & Actor - Marieke Schnitker - Actrice - Florent Seffar - Technician - Hannah Sjodin - Création costumes - Mas Soegeng - Actor - Caroline Tigeot - Administratice - Azania Werdyn - Acrobate - Christophe Werdyn - Actor - Loreley Werdyn - Acrobate - Marie Werdyn - Actrice (... and Paddy's tractor)
After Amsterdam, Footsbarn is now enroute to our old stomping grounds in the Southwest corner of Great Britain:
Polzeath, Cornwall, United Kingdom
31 July at 19:30h - Sorry ! That's Life to 14 August at Carruan Farm Centre (in the Footsbarn Tent)

Mir Caravan 2010 -- Namur, Belgium
The Citadelle of Namur / Namur : Royal Theatre of Namur / Namur : City of Namur
August 5 to 15 Sponsored by: ICE Colectivo and the City of Namur
THE VILLAGE -- MIR CARAVAN 2010:
Theatre tents, theatre mobile, outdoor shows or under stars, the village MIR Caravan 2010 comes to life every day around different places, in an incomparable atmosphere of exchange and discovery. Situated in the heart of the village, the tent - bar welcomes mini-concerts and improvisations for unexpected surprises throughout the day and into the evenings … The village installed on the Esplanade of the Citadel and opens its doors every day, one hour before the first show, from August 6th.
(Days off on Monday 9th August and Tuesday 10th.) For 10 days, there are 15 different shows, 50 representations from the 11 companies of MIR Caravan.
My friends in Ton und Kischen Wandertheater are doing a workshop the first day at the Community Arts Centre. The brilliant Buchinger’s Boot Marionettes start Yaga's Fire on August 8.

Posters for Yaga's Fire at Avignon 2010

ALSO: George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars are touring in Europe starting this week. Via Shaunna Hall -- 1st stop Dorset, UK at Bestival, followed by Amsterdam, next to Paris, with 4 more dates in France ending in Lille.

Rod Goodall Directs "The Quare Land"

... The quick–fire banter between the two characters escalates into an epic finale as both try to reason each other into submission. The Quare Land examines motivation, greed and money in a very humorous, caustic and incisive way. John McManus’ play A Lock of Fierce Roars featured in the 2008 Druid Debuts. The Quare Land is his first full professional production.
Rod Goodall couldn't make Footsbarn's 35th Anniversary Celebration, because of his daughter's wedding, but Chris, one of "The Irish Girls," told me about his many activities in Galway. He was always an energetic man!

If you happen to be in Ireland soon -- check out the Galway Arts Festival and The Quare Land!

What about Amsterdam (besides Footsbarn at Theater Carre?)
Katie Duck's Improvisation Summer Course continues:

These events are performed by the student artists of the course under the direction of the artists/teachers listed below. All events take place at the Studio Seven Amsterdam at 21:00 for the exception of ... Agustin Bellushi July 30 (studio seven in the garden 18:00). One event will take place on the Wednesday August 18, performed by Duck Projects artists with the piece Criminal Mind. Entrance to all events is 3 Euros.

July 23-24 Performance: Sharon Smith (Director) Dancers: Kristin Hatleberg, Nayana Bhat, Anne Wilson, Stina Nilsson, Talya Epstein, Laura Witzleben, Luanda Carneiro Jacoel, Giselda Ranieri, Zakia el Abodi, Astarte Athanasiadou, Joel Fritzon, My Grönholdt,, Susana Salazar, Sheri Burt, Raakesh Sukesh. Musicians: Alfredo Genovesi (guitar and electronics), Santiago Botero Rodriguez (bass)

July 24-25 Workshop: Manuela Tessi, Alfredo Genovesi -- Lightness Weight

July 30 Agustin Bellushi

August 18 (Wednesday) Criminal Mind (Duck Projects) Direction Katie Duck / Dance Merel Roozen, Vincent Cacialano, Carla Bahal / Music Alfredo Genovesi / Video Ilaria Honsinger

August 20-21 Performances: Improvisation Summer Course -- Studio Seven Amsterdam Course artists

August 23-27 Collective Workshop: Orgelpark Amsterdam

Davey, Jango, Spain, and "Spumonie"

Early 1970's: "Tony Spumonie" Murchland in performance. Inset Upper Right -- Salvador Dali (1904-1989) in Figueras, Spain
When I first met the Friends Roadshow at the International Mime Festival in 1974, their letterhead listed companies in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and the USA. Jango told me a story of how their patron Salvador Dali (who was enamoured of the Art of Theatre at the time) saw them in Paris -- he was particularly impressed by the act where a man (Tony Murchland) blew Can Can slowly on the harmonica, then played faster, and faster, and faster -- until his very tall top hat exploded at the climax of the number.

Thanks to Davey Norkett, I was able to acquire a couple of photos of this legendary act. (At least it was legendary to ME!)
Jango also stepped up to add some names to the International Friends Roadshow satellite page, and I'll probably introduce myself to "Mr. Spumonie" soon via the internet -- I only saw him ONCE, performing in Michael Spaghetti's Circus at the first Festival of Fools in 1975, when there were Friends Roadshows in both Europe and Amerika. Somehow, it seems appropriate that he was the person who found and disarmed THE BOMB!

Davey called me on the phone earlier today, and said that he and a bunch of A'Dam Theatre veterans gathered together to see Footsbarn's Sorry, That's Life at Theater Carre last Wednesday, and they'll be socializing early next week -- GOOD TIMES!

Friends Roadshow "Won" The World Cup

International Friends Roadshow (in Amsterdam, Holland) circa 1973. We're ALL Schnozzes NOW!
Well, Jango Edwards lives in Spain, so he has bragging rights if he wants them. Davey Norkett, Gunga Purves, and Justin Hammer are in Holland, where the gin may be flowing for the opposite reason it was ordered. Helena Van Danzig was last spotted in France. Nola Rae is a C.B.E. -- she and Matthew Rideout are still residents of England. Lenny Kovner's in Australia. Dutch Ted Van Zutphen lives not too far away from old Friends Farm in Michigan. Ced Curtis is gigging in the wine country of Napa, and Michael Novotny works in Hollywood -- the group is so spread out most anyone could have had a chance to root for a winning team.
Condolences to African and South American fans -- except for South Africa, who hosted the tournament. The guys in Ladysmith Black Mambazo invited me to stay with them, but they made the same invitation to the WHOLE AUDIENCE.

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars performed at their old home base of Detroit, Michigan on July 9, 2010. This is a digitized adaptation of an onstage pic by my colleague Caddy Carol.
(From Far Left) LaShonda "Sativa Diva" Clinton, Gene Anderson, Kim Manning, Quaze, and Carlos MacMurray. "Red Hot Mama" Manning re-appears in her roller-skating costume to fill a big gap, and then there's my friend Mike Hampton, plus MC/Singer Michael "Clip" Payne in the 'way back.

Happy Birthday USA & Life On THE ROAD

My friend Michael Hampton, and his REALLY LOUD Flying V guitar, starting P-Funk's Brussels, Belgium concert with the great instrumental Maggot Brain. (I spoke with him on the phone just before writing this post.) Travel safely, Michael!
Short eyewitness review of the concert pictured above:
On a hot summer day in Belgium a day before Garry's funeral the P-Funk played at an open air festival, capacity 28.000 people.
Words can not express the feeling we all got that day.....no tears, just keeping the Groovalliance alive.
They opened with Maggot Brain!!!
Playlist:
-Maggot Brain
-Cosmic Slop
-Red hot Momma
-P-Funk
-Flashlight
-Something Stank
-Dr. Feelgood
-Atomic Dog
-Give up the Funk
-Thumpasaurus people

RIP Garry....unbelievable....Unreal.....Un-clone-able

George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars Current Touring Schedule:

Jul 4 2010 5:00P Oxford Fairgrounds Oxford, ME (That's tonight!)
Jul 5 2010 8:00P Fest. Int’l De Jazz Montreal, Quebec, CA

(It's a HAIL of a drive between Quebec City and anywhere in Maine -- I've done it!)
Later Update: Good thing they weren't going there -- the road runs fairly straight to Montreal.

Jul 7 2010 8:00P Hampton Beach Casino Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, US
Jul 8 2010 8:00P Northern Lights Clifton Park, New York, US
Jul 9 2010 8:00P Chene Park Amphitheatre Detroit, Michigan, US
Jul 10 2010 6:00P All Good Music Festival Masontown, West Virginia, US
Jul 12 2010 8:00P M.L.K. JR. Concert Series Brooklyn, New York, US
Jul 14 2010 8:00P Bottle and Cork Dewey Beach, Delaware, US
Jul 15 2010 8:00P Alive At 5 Stamford, Connecticut, US
Jul 16 2010 8:00P Starland Ballroom Sayreville, New Jersey, US
Jul 17 2010 8:00P Trump Taj Mahal Arena Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
Jul 23 2010 8:00P Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, TX

Here's where it gets jet-lag CRAY-ZEE!
Jul 31 2010 8:00P Paradiso Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
(But then they maybe get a day or two off)

Aug 4 2010 La Plage Paris, FRANCE
Aug 5 2010 Sete Theatre de la Mer Montpellier, FRANCE
Aug 6 2010 Festival, Antibes, France
Aug 7 2010 Les Escal St. Nazire Festival, Nantes, France

Back in the USA, but all the way to the West Coast, see jet-lag above:
Aug 13 2010 8:00P San Jose Jazz Fest San Jose, Ca

A week later:
Aug 21 2010 10:00P Mississippi Coliseum Jackson, MS
Aug 28 2010 9:00P Chaifetz Arena St. Louis, MO
Sep 11 2010 9:00P City Hall Main Stage Hampton, Va

A lighter P-Funk moment -- fellow cyber-correspondent "Thumpasaurus" holds the amps steady while Carlos (Sir Nose) McMurray drives the ladies insane with his dancing last month:



Oh yeah, thanks to Nina Cheney -- If you're closer to Chicago, try to hear the Eric Boeren Quartet -- tonight at 10:00PM for Sunday Transmission series held at The Hungry Brain, 2319 W Belmont Avenue -- Eric Boeren - cornet; Michael Moore - reeds; Wilbert De Joode - bass; Han Bennink - drums