v. 19 – Pre-festival event – Friday, September 22, 2017

Film Screening

  • Zev Asher (CA) | What About Me: The Rise of the Nihilist Spasm Band
Winnipeg Cinematheque
$6 - $10 | 8:30 PM

Performance/Reception

  • Aston Coles (CA)
Poolside Gallery
100 Arthur St., 2nd Floor
FREE | Reception: 10 PM | Performance: 11 PM

What About Me: The Rise of the Nihilist Spasm Band

Dir: Zev Asher | CAN | 79 min | 2000

Winnipeg Cinematheque
100 Arthur St.
$6 – $10 | 8:30 PM

What About Me is an energetic celebration of Canada’s legendary experimental noise-music group The Nihilist Spasm BandWhat About Me traces the development of the group, from its origins in 1965 as a response to ultra-conservative London Ontario, to the tragic death of one of its founding members, artist Greg Curnoe, to their tour of Japan (where they enjoy a rabid cult following and where their performances include a bizarre appearance on a Japanese variety show). The film was made for less than $20,000 and edited entirely on a Macintosh G3. It blends digitized 16mm and Super 8 film of recent and archival footage with mini-DV, Beta, and even VHS formats to give the film a unique, rich texture that reflects the band’s multi-layered, improvisational style. Featuring interviews with Nihilist mega-fan Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and acclaimed Canadian artist Michael Snow.

Presented in partnership with the Winnipeg Film Group.


Join us afterwards on the 2nd floor at Poolside Gallery for a reception and performance by local artistic innovator and noisemaker Aston Coles.

Aston Coles (MB) | In the trees and changing tire way

Poolside Gallery
100 Arthur St., 2nd Floor
FREE | Reception: 10 PM | Performance: 11 PM

A performance by Aston Coles in which a new composition for 144 similar field recordings is arranged live, while a second piece is improvised on basic electronics. The two pieces are to be performed concurrently.

Presented in partnership with Poolside Gallery & Video Pool Media Arts Centre.