FIMAV 2023 Lineup Announced

[Brad 2 the Bone]

FIMAV announced the programming for their 2023 edition this morning. As usual I've only heard of about half the artists but will go anyway.

POIL UEDA
Pretty sure I've seen this name-dropped here, but I don't know what it is.

IKUE MORI « Tracing the Magic »
This CD has a bunch of pretty famous guest-stars playing on one track each, but I assume they won't be part of the live show.

ZOH AMBA « Bhakti »

EMILIE ŠKRIJELJ / TOM MALMENDIER « Les Marquises »

CAMILLE BRISSON / ISABELLE CLERMONT « Collectif Tendancielle »

JOE SORBARA / MATTHIAS MAINZ « Aurealities »

FRED FRITH « Drawing Sound »
This appears to be a collaboration with a visual artist.

SIMON HANES « GNR8RZ »
Quartet with Anthony Coleman, Calvin Weston, and someone else.

NOORG

GUY THOUIN & L'ENSEMBLE INFINI
Thouin was a member of L'Infonie; maybe this is a modern revival?

TASHI DORJI / DAVE REMPIS

LORI FREEDMAN « BeingFive »
Quintet with Andrea Parkins, Axel Dorner, and two names that were unfamiliar to me.

ELLIOTT SHARP / COLIN STETSON / BILLY MARTIN / PAYTON MACDONALD « Void Patrol »
Hey, it's a CD I actually own!

BUÑUEL

FUJI||||||||||TA / YAMATSUKA EYE
Was the vertical bar stuck on someone's keyboard?

FRANÇOIS HOULE / KATE GENTILE / ALEXANDER HAWKINS

NINA GARCIA / ARNAUD RIVIÈRE « Autoreverse »

JOHN ZORN NEW MUSIC FOR TRIOS

JOHN ZORN NEW MASADA QUARTET

[markwoll]

Wow. That's like RIO on some performance enhancements. Worth a thought anyway.

[NogbadTheBad]

That looks very damn appealing, Victoriaville is only a 5 hour drive from me. I've already got the Big Ears festival, a boys canal drinking trip in the UK and a boozy weekend on Montreal planned. The wife would probably kill me if I even raised it.

I am seriously tempted to go see Poil Ueda.

[Steve F.]

FIMAV @ 39 - The departure of the “Mighty Oak Tree” and the “Quiet Force”


Thursday, March 9, 2023 – The Board of Directors of Productions Plateforme Inc., the non-profit organization that oversees the organization of the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV), is announcing today, with a heavy heart and loads of gratitude, that the 39th FIMAV will be the last edition for Michel Levasseur and Joanne Vézina.

Michel Levasseur has been the general manager and artistic director of FIMAV since the very first edition in 1983, and he was a founding member of Productions Plateforme Inc. in 1982. Joanne Vézina started at the festival as a lighting designer and stage manager, before taking on an administrative role in 1991. Both will be leaving their positions at the general, artistic, and administrative departments after closing the books on the 39th FIMAV 2023. These two pillars of our organization, one often publicly compared to a “mighty oak tree” for his resistance and vigour, the other nicknamed the “quiet force” by the staff for her rigour and calm, have marked the history of Productions Plateforme Inc. and FIMAV, but also the history of Musique Actuelle and avant-garde arts. Both have contributed enormously to Quebec’s cultural dynamism and have left a mark on hundreds of event workers, in addition to having helped propel countless careers in the arts.

Producing an event of international scope outside large urban centres requires unparalleled expertise. Thanks to unfailing professionalism, a constantly renewed sense of resourcefulness and boundless creativity, the duo at the head of Productions Plateforme Inc. and FIMAV, Michel Levasseur and Joanne Vézina, are leaving an organization in excellent financial health. The President of the organization’s board of directors, Annie St-Jean, would like to sincerely thank Michel Levasseur and Joanne Vézina “for having carried the mandate of this unique festival all these years, without any artistic compromise! The duo they form together deserves all our admiration. The values conveyed by FIMAV are forever imprinted in the hearts of everyone who have experienced the festival. Michel and Joanne have passed on their passion and their openness to diversity through their power of attraction and their rigour since 1983, with well-calculated risk management. We thank them for their authenticity and for the spark that animates them, the spark that makes us all want to attend the party. The 39th edition will certainly be a good vintage!” On this note, the members of the board are inviting artists, staff, volunteers and festival-goers to join them in warmly thanking Michel Levasseur and Joanne Vézina for their dedication over the past four decades!


Turning a new leaf, starting a new chapter


The board of Productions Plateforme Inc. is actively looking for two or three individuals to take the reins of FIMAV’s general, artistic, and administrative departments. “FIMAV is of immeasurable importance and relevance to the cultural landscape that forges our identity. The Board of Directors is therefore open-minded and actively looking for a succession to keep the noble mission of our organization alive,” said Annie St-Jean. Those interested in taking over are asked to contact the board’s transition committee by email.

[Brad 2 the Bone]

Saw the retirement announcement in my inbox earlier today. The festival also lost their principal venue from the past 30+ years, for at least this year and next.

Hopefully everything works out for the long-term. After the long-time programming manager of the Ottawa Jazz Festival retired back in 2010 it quickly turned into another generic summer music festival, featuring such main-stage headliners as Boz Skaggs, Huey Lewis and the News, and the Steve Miller Band.

[smcfee]

After the long-time programming manager of the Ottawa Jazz Festival retired back in 2010 it quickly turned into another generic summer music festival, featuring such main-stage headliners as Boz Skaggs, Huey Lewis and the News, and the Steve Miller Band.

I guess you are referring to Jacques Emond? I got to meet him once filling in at the station before he passed.

[Brad 2 the Bone]

Thursday, March 9, 2023 – The Board of Directors of Productions Plateforme Inc., the non-profit organization that oversees the organization of the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV), is announcing today, with a heavy heart and loads of gratitude, that the 39th FIMAV will be the last edition for Michel Levasseur and Joanne Vézina.

FIMAV announced today that Scott Thomson will be taking over as programming director beginning next year. Thomson has been the executive director of the Guelph Jazz Festival since 2017 and will be resigning from that position after next month's edition. In his time at Guelph the festival has become more of a low-key, home-grown event with fewer International artists and more Canadian content, but it's hard to say how much of that was due to programming preferences vs. budgetary constraints vs. ongoing COVID and post-COVID travel challenges.