LINE UP & ROSTER
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
green background = first time Norcal Noisefest appearances
click on any photo to see it in full size
AMBIGERE (tacoma, WA)
Ambigere is the drill noise project of sound artist Robert Moos. Half surveillance drone and half science-fiction danger signal. Utilizing an array of menacing effects, he creates a monolithic din that doubles as the musical accompaniment to mankind's ruination
SUN
BIG CITY ORCHESTRA (san francisco)
BCO has is a legendary avant-garde/art project originally from Los Angeles, California which embarked on in 1979. They have publicated about 230 hour-long releases and being an important chain in the cassette culture movement of the previous decades. They jumped out from the same nest as did other famous Californian cutting edge groups such as The Residents, and Negativeland, for instance. Their music has swerved in countless directions, veering from sound art and dada experiments and psycho-acoustic explorations to off-kilter electronica and sophisticated noise and acousmatic "folk" music.
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BLOOD OF CHHINNAMASTIKA (san jose)
Harsh cut ups, power electronics and dark ambient. Disorienting and horrifying soundscapes for the age of Kali Yuga.
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BURNT DOT (los angeles)
Burnt Dot is an LA-based noise and experimental jazz ensemble founded by Sarah Belle Reid (trumpet) and Ryan Gaston (modular synthesizer). Reid and Gaston started Burnt Dot to explore open forms of spontaneous creation. The group is a fluid ensemble of sound and visual artists who are committed to creating work that is as quirky, fiery, and thought-provoking as the world that inspires it.
SUN
CATHODE by Boris Allenou (davis)
Boris Allenou is an independant electronic musician and sound artist from Paris, France and living in Davis California. Improviser, sound hacker, instruments builder, and eternal dreamer his work is varied and goes in a lots of direction with only one goal at the end : experimenting. His work and research took place at a cross road between experimentation, sound ecology (creation of ecosystems), multi-media and electronic lutherie (the craft of building instrument).

Cathode is a sound and visual installation using the main symbols of waste and overproduction in our society: old cathode ray televisions.Like most of the electronic devices that we use, they become obsolete before even not functioning anymore. Re-using them is a way of questioning our existence as human-being groups producing and consuming.
Based on technical principles and researches such as interaction between sounds and images, feedback, sonic drones or spatialisation, this live performance is an ongoing exploration of inaudible vibrations that surround us in urban areas, focusing here on those of old televisions. Cathode fits in the wider domain of sound ecology. It constitute an attempt to answer how individuals, groups, or societies interact and live with sounds.
SUN
MONTE CAZAZZA & MERI ST. MARY (nor cal)
Monte Cazazza is an American artist and composer best known for his seminal role in helping shape industrial music through recordings with the London-based Industrial Records in the mid-1970s. Based primarily in San Francisco during his early career, He is credited with coining the phrase "Industrial Music for Industrial People". This was later used to encapsulate the record label and the artists representing it. Later, the noise collages and experimental sound manipulation coming out of Industrial records came to be known as industrial music. Cazazza had built up an underground reputation as a particularly volatile performer with a potentially dangerous and antisocial aesthetic. Re/Search Magazine's Industrial Culture Handbook described his work as "insanity-outbreaks thinly disguised as art events". We are damn excited to invite and welcome Monte back to play at NCNF once again!!!!

Meri St. Mary is a musician, writer, artist, radio personality and a punk poet chanteuse who, in 1984, started her seminal avant-garde punk Housecoat Project. She has released two LP's on Subterranean Records, WIDE EYE DOO DAT (SUB61) and her current project girlFIEND (SUB66). She has also produced and released a solo acoustic CD, I'M BACK. Since the early 80's, she has performed live, doing music & spoken word across the USA. She's an award winning DJ at KVMR radio and is the hostess of The Underground Sound and Hallelujah Hollaback.
http://meristmary.com/
SUN
CELLISTA (san jose)
Cellista is an American experimental cellist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist. Her work is deeply rooted in her musicological studies of Olivier Messiaen as well as the French Surrealists. Her penchant for performing music in unconventional spaces, and her devotion to collaborating with artists across various media traverses the walls between disciplines and disrupts the borders between spectator and audience.
She is currently on a national tour for her latest multimedia project Transfigurations; a political stage poem that includes an LP and a full-length accompanying book. The album features original compositions that utilize sound collage, found sounds, noise, thrash metal, and minimalist hip hop.
For more information please visit: cellista.net
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CHOPSTICK (sacramento)
Chopstick creates soundscapes, drone music, long ambient pieces, non-music, environment pieces. Utilizing binaural rhythm concepts a Chopstick performance is a meditative and sometimes scary experience that will not be duplicated. Each piece and performance is unique to the date. The composition usually scrapped after performances.
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COLLAPSIST (sacramento)
COLLAPSIST is a new Sacramento-based noise project performing for the first time at Norcal Noisefest and hot off the griddle from an Audio Waffle appearance.
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COLONY COLAPSE (los angeles)
Plant-based//earth-loving lifeform//exploratory cosmonaut birthing shamanic-soundshapes//
est. 2007 in requiem for the loss of bee colonies planetwide
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COMPACTOR (nyc)
COMPACTOR is an interconnected set of mostly obsolete machinery that is manipulated by an anonymous everyman figure known as The Worker for a faceless corporation. The sounds of the machinery form soundtracks to the daily grind in the urban wasteland. Each Work Document has a different subject and corresponding sonic focus, and each live shift or installation is slightly adapted to the site requirements.
Documents have been licensed to Phage Tapes, Ohm Resistance, Low Noise Productions, Annihilvs Power Electronix, and several others since 2011.
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CRANK STATIC (sacramento)
CRANK STATIC is the buzzing, screeching, poetry-reading, sample-slashing alter ego of Sacramento industrial “musician” Seth Draven. Spoken (shouted) word introductions and interjections meld with feedback, distortion-upon-distortion, sample-maiming, analog synthesizers and sounds of things falling apart to make for a jaw-gritting 5-15 minutes
FRI
CRANK STURGEON (claremont)
Foaming at the gills with pockets full of thrift store novelties, homemade transducers, and costuming collaged from mailbox weeklies usually reserved for the cat box, Crank Sturgeon utilizes such finery to marinate a commingling of noise and lower case art interruption.
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DEMONSLEEPER (oakland)
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DIFF TECH TECH DIFF (sacramento)
Diff Tech Bio: My name is Ron Legowik and I am Diff Tech - Tech Diff short for Difficult Technologies - Technical Difficulties. I've been building electronic noise gadgets and make'n noise since the '80s . Now I'm bringing my unique style of audio experimentation to the big stage Noise Fest. I try to change it up a little each show but you can expect quality noise and of course lots of stage blood.
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EAR SPRAY (san francisco)
Electro Acoustic Noise. Synthesizing electronics, acoustic percussion,
voice, and electric cello into dynamic and strange aural landscapes and
improvisations. Live processed vocals. Layering lots of different
sounds. Never play the same music twice. Playing together since 2010.
- Carlos Jennings – Electronics and Conduction
- Ann O’Rourke – Vocals, Electric Cello and Instagator
- Mark Pino – Intense Percussionist and Entertainer
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EDEN MONONYM (medford, OR)
eden mononym, maker of electronic music thingies and coding of such - will be presenting a demonstration of new
musical instrument prototypes for a range of experiments into unheard sound.
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ENDOMETRIUM CUNTPLOW (los angeles)
Forest electronics queen and goddess of nectar. Queer noise from the valley. Plants and animals. Tree hugging devil music from everybody's least favorite ghost. Touching for sure and perhaps even a kiss or two. Get in there super close, please. Tip her, always. #angrygirltime #sadgirltime
This will be her 6th appearance at NorCal Noisefest.
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FABI (sacramento)
Fabi has arrived as a newcomer to the noise scene with a glitched out drum machine and various electronic devices, but not a stranger to the realm of music. Fabi is sprouting out of the soil and into the air to uproot what the definition of a sequence is. Always seeking out genres, any drop of musical water is welcome sustenance to the root system that is Fabi's.

 
FRI
FILTHMILK (san francisco)
The best job FiLTHMiLK ever had was driving cars of a train and parking them in a row and riding in a van back to the train . He quit after almost catching his hand in between the huge doors between the trains. FiLTHMiLK has been creating wickedly original & infectious human-robot hybrid synth attacks in the bay for about 30 years (!!) with those hands.
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JOHN GROSS (denver, CO)
John Gross is a noise musician based in Denver, Colorado. He has been active for twenty five years as part of the group Page 27 as well as operating the venue Rhinoceropolis and curating the Denver Noise Festival.
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HANS VON BARTLES (santa rosa)
Hans Von Bartles began in the summer of 2012 in Santa Rosa, CA. Hans has generated upwards of seven independent releases to date in association with Arcane Visions Collective, with more in the works. Hans can be best described as “cascading noise terror”, similar to North Bay contemporaries RAEPUSBARABUS and MAGGOT THERAPY. Having seldom left the confines of Sonoma County, having little-to-no online presence, interested listeners may aquire Hans' work on cassette via Arcane Visions' webstore.
This will be Hans Von Bartles' 4th NF appearance
SUN
JIM HAYNES (nevada city)
Jim Haynes is a Calfornia artist who defines his work through the phrase, “I rust things.” This statement is applied across a number of media including his cross-contaminated sound constructs and increasingly brutalist abstractions. Detuned shortwave reception, moribund radiophonic research, and electro-magnetic disruptions are but a few of the tools at his disposal. Haynes has exhibited and performed internationally, and his work has been published by Editions Mego, Ghostly International, Drone Records, Monorail Trespassing, and many others. He is a staff writer for The Wire magazine and is also the lone occupant at the Helen Scarsdale Agency.
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HOLIDAY SPECIAL (sacramento)
What is a Holiday Special?
Awkward. Ham-fisted. Ill-advised. Lacks flow and comprehension from the median narrative. Yet all of these negative qualities somehow make a Holiday Special a more captivating and amusing recess from your regular broadcasting content.
Holiday Special is rooted in musique concrete, absurdity, and two idle film degrees.
FRI
HUMANFLUIDROT (pompano beach,FL)
Jennifer wrestled her friend playfully to the ground in front of the snowcone stand and began licking the girls eyebrows as if they were sugar cubes. Human fluid rot is a burst of sound wave manipulation caused by inner emotion and feeling from creator, Robert Wilson Brantley III. Described by many as harsh noise or experimental soundscape, Robert just puts it as inner-most-feelings and expressions through sound. Using various pieces of hardware, Human Fluid Rot creates audibly colorful moods at intense volumes in what to him seems like a long period of time but in a matter of 3-7 minutes leaves he and his crowds mentally and audibly exhausted.
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INFINEXHUMA (san francisco)
Dark Ambient rooted project by Lucas Levyliotar out of SF and the Northern Bay Area. The project details the encounters and journey of a human soul between life and full death. Field recordings, sound design, sonic exploration, noise and heavy beats are explored while the foundations for the music remain as dark ambient, which even that varies in sub styles.
FRI
INSTAGON (sacramento)
(...a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...)
INSTAGON was founded in chaos theory during 1993, and has for 24 years now continued on with sonic exploration with that chaos. Never the same experience for the band as well as the audience, always changing, never stable, but all under the conceptual direction of LOB, it's founder... .
Instagon has appeared at ALL previous Norcal Noisefest happenings
SUN
J3M5 (calabasas)
J3M5 (J-three-M-five) is a multi-disiplinary project which combines methods of sound design and instrument modification. This fusion of circuit bending and processing techniques ranges in style from rythmic noise, glitch to left field. This Live PA act has made appearances at International Noise Conference in Miami and events in South East Asia such as Jogja Noise Bombing.
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JOHN FRANK (klowd) & DON HAUGEN (corvalis/eugene, OR)

klowd is a drone project of John Frank started in Sacramento Ca 25 years ago with a focus on contact mic'd sound sources and homemade instrumentation made of re-purposed objects. Klowd is now based in Corvallis Oregon
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JUICE MACHINE (eugene, OR)
JUICE MACHINE is the live action electronic + tape improvisational wife and husband duo of Heather Chessman + Roger Smith
- Working in and around the confined genres of noise, glitch, found sound + drone - focusing on minimal tonal + maximal textural audio
- Rhythmic pulses with sharp jabs of uneasy waves and slurred motivational speeches
SUN

KEY WEST (san francisco)
bay area free jazz trio with an emphasis on vitriol, volume and velocity

Brian Pedersen-sax
Jay Korber-drums
Randylee Sutherland-cell
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LIVER CANCER (rocklin/roseville)
BOBBY HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF +DOG+ SINCE THE MID 90'S AND TOOK HIS FRIEND GEORDAN TO THE NORCAL NOISE FEST '08. GEORDAN WAS INSPIRED AT THE LIMITLESS SOUND OF NOISE AND IN THEIR MINDS MADNESS, THEY JOINED FORCES AND THUS CREATED LIVER CANCER! ...TAKING HARSH POWER ELECTRONICS TO A VIOLENT ...E X T R E M E ! !
Liver Cancer is always a NF favorite !
SAT

LUCIDBEAMING (san jose)
Lucidbeaming is the art and performance name of Joshua Curry, a multimedia artist living in San Jose, CA. He builds most of his instruments from discarded technology and equipment. The resulting sound art embraces noise and glitch audio as the "new folk music". His music is released on two full-length albums on bandcamp and performed at art festivals and fringe spaces.

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MAJOR TINNITUS (sacramento)
Major Tinnitus is the noise project of Stephen Doyle. Amongst his weaponry are circuit bent toys, killer thrift store finds and homemade effects boxes. He has played at Sacramento Audio Waffle and will be performing at his first Norcal Noisefest this year. He looks forward to permanently damaging your hearing soon.
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MANDOM (eugene, OR)
Power drone duo from Eugene, Oregon started in 2011 consisting of Don Haugen and Roger Smith
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MASTER MORYA (sacramento)
In the Ascended Master Teachings Morya is considered one of the "Ascended Masters," also known as the "Chohan of the First Ray". H. P. Blavatsky originated the belief, professing that Morya and Master Koot Hoomi were her guides in establishing the Theosophical Society. Blavatsky also wrote that Masters Morya and Koot Hoomi belonged to a group of highly developed humans known as the Great White Brotherhood. Master Morya is working on an album and plays shows in the Northern California area.
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MEDICINE CABINET (tracy)
Medicine Cabinet is an ongoing electronic music project from Tracy, CA resident Marc Schneider. The project started in the mid 90's with nothing more than the now famous Roland 303 Groovebox and a heavy delayed microphone. Marc has been active in the Northern and Southern California noise scenes since 2006. True to Marc’s fascination with the history of the genre, Medicine Cabinet shows are typically noise or noise drone based improvisations using analog synths and circuit bent devices.
FRI
MICROWAVE WINDOWS (oakland)
"Microwave Windows" is an Experimental Minimalist Sound Art and Noise project which initiated in the bay area of California in 1995. For over 20 years Microwave Windows has lived in obscurity and also in the public at various times performing live frequently and infrequently releasing self produced material and releases as well as pieces in collaboration with other artists. A nomadic project as a whole Microwave Windows has traveled far and wide for two decades, performing and collaborating live at many festivals, on radio stations, television and over seas. Microwave Windows continues to perform and collaborate to this current day. A must see performance for those that love minimalist noise, field recordings and electronics."
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MINI-MUTATIONS (salem, OR)
Leaning on collage and mash-ups, Austin reproduces on stage a version of his radio broadcasts (as heard on midvalleymutations.com), offering bite-sized productions about guns, social media, mental health, all through a sci-fi lens. Occasionally joined by guests and pick-up players, the core of the performance is sample & reverb heavy explorations of sonic audio essays.
FRI
MOURNING DOVE (washington DC)
sound art compositions of organic field recordings, experimental voice, and minimal instrumentation- a noise and freak folk ensemble that tends toward the otherworldly. elena botts has collaborated on, released and exhibited visual, sound and moving image art, as well as had six poetry books published. more information here: sites.google.com/view/elenabotts
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NICOTINE MANTIS (ashland, OR)
Nicotine Mantis is a hyperbolic representation of the depression of Jacob Sykes.
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NOVACAIN (stockton/modesto)
Novacain is the Central Valley(maybe the west coast premier Jazz-Noise Combo.) Formed n October with their first show on November 11, 1995, from the ashes of Los Diablos del Mar and the Culoos came a band of misfits the like unseen in the stale safe world of popular music. With influences ranging the entire musical spectrum but not limited too. Clashing sounds, far away notes and a rhythm that was not at all times syncopated this was and is Novacain. Playing shows as far away as Chicago and a mainstay in the Central Valley Indie Music Festival, Novacain has played with a wide variety of bands from Souls of Mischief, Link 80, Agent Orange, Wilhaven and The Hippos. The original lineup consisted of John Kelly on Bass/Vox/Percussion, Austin Riggs on Guitar/Vox/Drums, Middagh Goodwin T-Bone/Clarinet/Vox/Drums. The band has had many guest players(mostly on drums) Denny, Merle(longest running drummer), Bubba, Matt, Chip, Derek, and the Tounian Brothers. Remember to always bring your earplugs because you never know when or where we might strike again. The current lineup features Jim Ricks Piano, Dan Tounian Bass, Andrew Hemans Drums and Middagh Goodwin Brass/Woodwind and ringleader.
SUN
PAROUSIA (south sacramento)
My name is Arrian Delabahan and this is my noise project, Parousia. This will be my sixth noise fest performance.
My influences are: Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot, VoiVod, Godflesh, Vio-lence, metal ( thrash, death metal, black metal, grindcore ), and classical music ( J.S. Bach ). The word Parousia is a greek word meaning, the return. In the Catholic Church, and all other christian denominations, the word is used to signify the return of Jesus at the end times. The Parousia For myself, I don't get into performance art or anything theatrical. When I'm on stage its all about the music (noise). Yes, noise is music.
FRI
PROTOFRUSTRATION (sacramento)
protofrustration is a one man noise project started by zack wheaton in october of 2017. he has released seven albums to date and is continuing to coast by on his rugged good looks and devil-may-care attitude.

FRI
REAPER (So Cal)
REAPER IS A SOCAL HEAVY HN/PE DUO WITH MEMBER/FOUNDER A.R. & A.C.
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rEEk (seattle, WA)
rEEk hails from Seattle by way of bay area; audio oddity accumulate of half-started ideations; symptoms may include harsh electroacoustic body movements, pervasive pedal pushing, and freak improvisation.
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SKRUNT SKRUNT (Edmonton,CANADA)
SkruntSkrunt presents a mad scientist approach to noise. SkruntSkrunt offers a unique and varied combination of audio and visuals. From harsh noises to ambient, SkruntSkrunt explores the soundscape of the modern desktop, the auditory aspects of bodies and gravity, and the interaction of physical simulation and granular synthesis. SkruntSkrunt is a long-running project of Edmonton, Canada-based Abram Hindle who leverages a wide range of custom software and stolen software ranging from office applications, physics sims, video-games and custom-built user interfaces, in order to produce jarring synthesis. SkruntSkrunt has been a regular act at the former Victoria Noise Festival
SUN
SWORD OF KAHLESS (fargo, ND)
SWORD OF KAHLESS is the Power Electronics project of Klingon Warrior Vak'tek, son of Khasoth. Vak'tek battles the enemies of the Klingon Empire with sonic sound destruction. The result is always HONOR AND VICTORY FOR THE EMPIRE. Born in the Ketha Lowlands on Qo'noS, Vak'tek is a certified Dahar Master and wields the Bat'leth in personal combat to slay his foes.
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SYMDRONE (sacramento)
Symdrone is a guitar player from Sacramento who improvises and composes using various sounds he creates by incorporating seemingly random objects as part of his guitar.

FRI
TANUKISPIDERCAT (san francisco)
TanukiSpiderCat (SF) is an improvisational blend of electronic cello,
synth, and samples. Looping, layered, and staggering ever forwards,
haunting melodies emerge. It’s a fragmented, unlikely animal, dealing
in dissonance and slivered voices.
FRI
THE STOLEN ELK (sacramento)
Stolen Elk is Matt Kretzmann of Sacramento, lover and creator of sounds....
MK has played solo at the Norcal Noisefest several times, and with the long running psychedelic band, Delayed Sleep
SUN
THIRTEEN HURTS (florence,OR)
Thirteen Hurts is an experimental noise project that utilizes modified guitar pedals, handmade sound source devices and synthesizers to create an ever-evolving harsh noise soundscape. The earliest experimental recordings occurred in 1977, with sporadic experimental output burbling beneath the surface of efforts to create "normal" music. Years of performing and recording within the Rock and Progressive genres, it was not until 1999 and the formation of subcutaneous studios that the first full recording of experimental music took place, with exclusive usage of a Serge Modular. The following years led to soundtrack work for two independent films but was soon followed by years of dormancy which eventually led to the development of the Thirteen Hurts/13Hz concept and new recordings with live performances. Heavily influenced by decades of intense music and sounds, the live shows focus on a wide-ranging performance giving the audience an extensive sampling of what the sound of Thirteen Hurts represents. This will be the 6th appearance of Thirteen Hurts at the Norcal Noisefest.
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UBERKUNST (sacramento)
UBERKUNST was first created in 1995 when the NIAD (Noise Instrument Analog Device) was first used to interface humans with machines, allowing each to comprehend the suffering of the other. UBERKUNST engaged in multiple dangerous and outrageous battles with hideous transdimensional beings and the enemies of structure and order, often misconstrued as "noise performances," until 2007 when their efforts to scare the Elder Gods to the other side of the cosmos left them so depleted that they had to be stored in cryogenic healing chambers. They can only be released from their chambers for 10-15 minutes a year, both to ensure their future survival when needed to carry out NIAD's will, but also to protect audiences from the deadly toxic radiation that the band emits after prolonged exposure to the horrors of the cosmos.
Uberkunst has appeared at ALL previous Norcal Noisefests
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USTAM (sacramento)
Ustam utilizes shrieking vocals with droning instrumentation to set the tone for her unsettling performances.
Ustam is Kylie Jackson; the female counterpart in the duo DOEL who have performed at NF in 2014-15.
SUN
JONAS VAN DEN BOSSCHE (BELGIUM)
Jonas Van den Bossche is a Belgian guitarist and drummer, formerly based in Estonia, now based in the United States. He has been exploring noise, free jazz, and improvised music for well over a decade. In recent years, Jonas has performed in Europe, Russia, and the U.S. with Bonnie Kane, Joel Switzer, Jules Vasylenko, Sean Hamilton, Juozas Milasius, Gaile Griciute, Jelena Glazova, Lauri Hyvarinen, Ilia Belorukov, Yuri Landman, Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, and others.
FRI

VASECTOMY PARTY (palmetto, FL)
Based out of Palmetto, FL, Vasectomy Party was formed out of pure boredom and isolation in early 2012 by Hal Harmon. The project was initially formed for private sound experimentation, but through the countless inspiration and encouragement of others, has had a steady stream of releases and live performances over the years. The project is grounded in the harsh noise idiom, but with forays into wall-noise, drone, tape manipulation, and electro-acoustic noise.

SUN

VULGAR DISPLAY OF AFFECTION (los angeles)
Southern California's premiere Pantera harsh noise tribute act was born from a raw need. Though Verge Bliss and Brandon Gould had previously performed with different projects the only true way for them to reach the most brutal depths of their potential was to cruise to Austin TX through the desert in the middle of June blasting every Phil Anselmo project they could get their hands on. Tonight, you will feel their Cage of Rage.

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WAR HIPPY (los angeles)
War Hippy is a Noise duo based out of Los Angeles consisting of Cole Miller (Vortal Curb/Human Hands/Toxic Loincloth) and Jess Coble (The Zero Collective/Island of Misfit Toys/NovaHead vs ChickenTron). Focusing on the moment of inspired creation amidst the rubble; following the destruction/decimation of all you have held dear.
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XDUGEF (los angeles)
Xdugef has been in the noise game for over a decade and originated as a circuit bending project.
The project has evolved from circuit bending electronics to circuit bending ideas and thoughts.
His current themes are often satirical, political or even meme based.
You might even call what he does Meme Noise.

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XOME (sacramento)
Xome is a harsh noise music project conceived and operated by Bob Scott. Xome first started experimenting with dissonant forms of music in 1989 but the first organized live performance in Tokyo in 1994 marks the true activation of the project. Now based in Sacramento, CA, Xome has evolved into a highly refined and extremely harsh noise music unit by means of improvised manipulation of sound generating and processing equipment.

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