As a continuation of our previous episode, when we met Franq de Quengo,
co-director of the most important inclusive avant-garde festival in the
world Sonic protest, members of the French band
Les Harry's broadcast a special edition of Radio Tisto on 3rd March 2021 for Resonance's audience. The
history of this band and Radio Tisto started in 2013 when
Sonic Protest
invited Alan Courtis to lead an improvisation workshop with six autistic
adults from the group ‘Radio and Music’ at the day hospital of Antony
(through the association l’Elan Retrouvé), then Les Harry’s and a
bi-monthly radio show Radio Tisto on Radio Libertaire, which is a famous
anarchist independent radio in Paris, were born...the rest is history.
Jamaica! sent to them a file with their latest recording released by
Cafe Oto record
label
Takuroku
called
Leon
and Les Harry's made a wonderful improvisation over it, the voice and music
reminds me of many works by my favourite British avant-garde musician Robert
Wyatt from Soft Machine and his solo career from The End of an Ear and
Matching Mole. For further information about Radio Tisto please click
here.
Since 2003, Sonic Protest Festival has been the epicentre of the avant-garde, experimental and inclusive music scene in Europe. The festival is mainly based in Paris, France, and since its beginnings has been inviting extraordinary artists with learning disabilities such as the pioneering inclusive band Reynols or Les Harry's and 2Decks plus musicians from the underground such as Peter Brotzmann, Tony Conrad, Joelle Leandre, Einstürzende Neubauten and Keiji HAINO.
Today our special guest is Franq de Quengo, the co-director of Sonic Protest, who talks about the festival and brings new music made by different bands with members with learrning disabilities such as Les Harry's and L'Orchestre De Nous Mêmes. Enjoy this super edition of the programme!
Left to right, top row: Duane aka Mr Amazing; Javier; Franq de Quengo Co-Director Sonic Protest Festival, France. Bottom row
L-R: Richie aka MC Top Richie; Darren aka 2 Decks and Labake Anisere.
On the seventh of March 2Decks and myself (Javier) boarded the Eurostar for Paris, we were invited to talk about our radio programme Gate Kicks* at the Sonic Protest Festival 2018.
After nearly 3 hours sitting on the now vintage fast speed train, we crossed the English channel to reach Gare Du Nord. The bad thing was the exchange rate which in the station were paying just 45 euros for 60 pounds, unbelievable!!! But that was compensate with the cheap one day tube ticket for just 1,90 euros (something like £1.80).
When we reached Les Halles station we found this brand new building and shopping centre were the Mediatheque of Paris is located, the building design looks inspired by the London Aquatics Centre designed by the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid for the London Olympics 2012.
This was the beginning of Sonic Protest 2018, a 10 day festival, which has been running since 2003. The festival mixes the best of experimental musicians from all around the world with bands formed by people with learning disability or menthal health issues. During the festival there are lots of different events like conferences, round tables, exhibitions, work shops, etc, giving an special place to the art and music made by people with learning disabilities which they call Art Brut, or Raw Art.
The first thing we saw was a photo exhibition where pictures taken by 2Decks were the inspiration for a French disabled artist to do some art. Also they were exhibiting a large collection of music, cds and vinyls produced by musicians with LD from all around the world.
That afternoon there was a four hours live radio programme called Radio Tisto & Bruits Coloir, they broadcast music made by people with learning disabilities, including some tracks sent by us like the Fuzzbomb flash band and 2Decks.
2Decks was invited to talk about Gate Kicks and his own music. We were amazed to discover the large number of 2Decks fans in the room , they told us that the track Whacky Baccy was a sensation among the listeners of Radio Tisto which is produced by Les Harrys, who are young autistic adults, from their nomadic studio for Radio Liberte.
After the 2Decks interview he performed some of his classic songs including "something new for the old school"
This marvellous evening finished with an amazing gig which included the talented piano improviser Fabrice Foster, Glenn Marzin and Les Troupes De L'Imaginaire, please check them out.
After a nice walk to our hotel the only thing we regret was not having enough time and money to stay the 10 days and enjoy more.
Gate Kicks which is broadcast every Tuesday at 10pm on Resonance FM104.4, https://resonancefm.com/
For more information about the festival: http://www.sonicprotest.com/
