BRISBANE — Performers, bands, artists and DJs combine with computer network jockeys on September 24, transforming Brisbane into FIERCE with virtual tentacles reaching round the planet.
FIERCE is Brisbane's first "journey into cyberspace", a live interactive, international "chat" session in which participants communicate to people across the globe. Pegasus Networks, a national computer communications network, will link FIERCE with raves (large underground dance parties) in San Francisco, New York, London and Amsterdam.
The InterRAVE will link ravers to rave about issues such as current music, fashion, politics, related rave arts, rave schedules, philosophy, technology or whatever. In addition, scripts from some performances will be relayed through the computer matrix, allowing both virtual artists and virtual audiences to mingle with the physical participants.
While raving in cyberspace, participants can rave in the real world simultaneously at a FIERCE Dance Party created by Impact Image in association with producers of Brisbane's most well-known dance events. It's fun and funk until dawn with the rhythm and sound of DJs Peter Mogg, Jane Grigg, Michael Nolan (Pure Bunk), Thommo, and Shane Garvey, some Hip Hop House from Recipe 4 Disaster, industrial techno from Bass-X, spectacular visuals by Kino Ruin and a hypnofunk "Hairy Dog" fashion performance.
Prior to the cyberspace experience FIERCE presents a magnificent program of cabaret, bands and performers featuring — the Dream Poppies; the burgeoning intensity of Greenacres (formerly Grim Rippers); the mellow crooning of Michael Eison together with the lilting grunge of the Hooray Henrys; tribal seventies funk performers Little Crow; jazz and blues in a Touch of Evil with Chris Maver and Pandy; the confrontational and mind-bending Cultivart; haunting and intense Annie Lee; performance poet Kelli Dipple; '70s Karen Carpenter-style Kylie Gaffney and Fishbox; Bill Rough, Mark Shortis; and from the cool waters of Byron Bay, Julian St John and Russell Hibbs.
All proceeds from FIERCE will go toward aiding the indigenous people of South-East Asia in their struggle to preserve their culture.
Green Left Weekly is pleased to be a sponsor of FIERCE. It's all happening at Boulder Lodge, Wickham St, the Valley on September 24. Bands and performance from 7 p.m. to 12, dance party/InterRAVE from 12 till dawn. Tickets are $8 ($6 conc).