NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB
Presented by JOLT Arts
STELARC + MIRANDA HILL/HAMISH UPTON/SOOJI KIM (BOLT ENSEMBLE) (ON FIRST)
HUH (JPN) (ON LAST)
JAMES HULLICK + HAMISH UPTON + KARL WILLEBRANT (BOLT ENSEMBLE)
INTERSTIAL DJ:
ABBY SUNDBORN
Internationally pioneering performance artist Stelarc will team up with the BOLT Ensemble to unleash machine industrial machine sounds. Supported by Japanese stars, noise drums and guitar duo, HUH, and with Hullick also hollering with the BOLT Ensemble.
13 February, Thursday: 7:30pm
TICKETS $36
STELARC + THE BOLT ENSEMBLE
Striding forth from the history books, internationally pioneering Cyprus-born Australian artist Stelarc will be sharing some of his latest wearable machines: wrist synthesizers designed in collaboration with JOLT Arts engineers (Richie Allen & James Hullick) and the Noise Scavengers (artists living with neurodiversities).
“Legendary Australian performance artist Stelarc is known for going to extremes, from aggressive voluntary surgeries and robotic third arms to flesh-hook suspensions and prosthetics. For more than four decades, he’s used his body as a canvas for art on the very edge of human experience.” Wired.
Presented as part performance art and part avant-garde sound show, Stelarc will be sharing the stage with a trio from the BOLT Ensemble:
Hamish Upton: drums
Sooji Kim: synths
Miranda Hill: double bass
The performance will launch the album Stellar Metal Arc, by Stelarc and the BOLT Ensemble.
HUH (JPN)
And welcoming trailblazing Japanese free form noise/rock/avant duo HUH, who put the unfettered scream back into punk. HUH is one of the major shining lights in the Japanese avant-garde. They will perform last on the night in a crescendo of liberation from the daily grind.
Kyosuke Terada: electric guitar
Takuma Mori: drums
HULLICK & THE BOLT ENSEMBLE
Following on from Stelarc will be James Hullick and a different configuration of the BOLT Ensemble, launching the album Strange is the New Normal:
“his face painted in garish colours and head dusted with glitter – wringing thunderous sound from his electric guitar, channelling Bowie and Hendrix. Sung by the composer in guttural, sometimes screaming tones in a powerful, heartfelt performance of fractured sound and fury.” Limelight.
2024 was a huge year for Hullick and the BOLT Ensemble who topped it off with an acclaimed performance at the Sydney Opera House
BOLT Members in this set:
Hamish Upton: Drums
Karl Willebrandt: bass
Hullick: voice/guitars/electronics
About the BOLT Ensemble: Founded in 2002, this unique ensemble is a collective of outstanding orchestral, rock and other musicians who perform avant-garde projects generated by JOLT Arts.
This project is supported by the Australia Japan Foundation.
SHOW RUNNING TIMES
Doors Open: 7.30pm
Stelarc & BOLT Ensemble: 8.00-8.40pm – album launch
James Hullick & BOLT Ensemble: 9:00-9-40pm – album launch
HUH: 10:00-10.50pm – Japanese international act
ALBUMS
SUPPORTED BY
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Japan Foundation.
ARTISTS
Abby Sundborn
ABBY SUNDBORN CELLIST /// DJ A fixture of Melbourne/Naarm’s electronic and art music scenes, Abby Sundborn’s music fuses her background in classical cello, academic degrees in sound production and interactive composition, and her presence in Naarm’s underground...
Sooji Kim
SOOJI KIM electroacoustic practitioner/composer Rachael Sooji Kim is a Naarm-based, electroacoustic practitioner whose process-driven approach merges improvisation, collaboration, and experimentation. In 2024, she had 3 releases through ‘Modulisme’ (France),...
HUH
HUH Noise Band HUH is...A freeform-freakout / noise improvisation duo formed in July 2007 in Tokyo by Kyosuke Terada (guitar/voice) & Takuma Mori (drums/voice). Huh seek melting points within the groove, noise, junk rock, no wave, punk, free jazz through...
KARL WILLEBRANT
KARL WILLEBRANT bass Karl Willebrant is a Naarm/Melbourne bassist and producer. In 2020, Willebrant entered the home studio and delved into his love of ambient, emerging with a myriad of releases to critical acclaim, featuring collaborations with artists from...
STELARC
STELARC Performance Artist Stelarc is a performance artist who has visually probed and acoustically amplified his body. He has made three films of the inside of his body. Between 1976-1988 he completed 26 body suspension performances with hooks into the skin. He has...
James Hullick
JAMES HULLICK JOLT Director & CEO / Composer / Musician HULLICKSTUDIOS.COM James Hullick is an auditory creator like no other in Australia. Recently James’ artistic identity has been shifting from cutting-edge composer to that of an all out iconic...
Hamish Upton
HAMISH UPTON percussionist Hamish Upton is a percussionist who thrives as a contemporary percussion collaborator and educator. He holds a Master of Music Research from Griffith University, where he used four case studies to explore the use of laptop-based sound...
Nat Grant
NAT GRANT sound artist / percussionistNat Grant is a multi-instrumentalist, sound artist, composer and teacher from Melbourne, Australia. She works predominantly as a freelance artist, and has been employed as a composer and performer in the fields of puppetry,...
Miranda Hill
MIRANDA HILL bass Described by the ABC as “a woman changing the face of classical music”, Miranda Hill is dedicated to championing the work of under-heard musicians, and bringing new music to diverse audiences. After studying at the VCA, University of Michigan, Hartt...