"Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" - Free Arts Lab

Only 9 days to go to the concert evening I am organising at the Ruïne van Brederode, so the coming days I will write some blog items about this upcoming event and related activities.
Last time I already supplied all global details and information about the event, so now it's time to light out the performing acts.

Starting with the opening act of "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition": Free Arts Lab.

Somewhere in 2013 I was being asked to do a concert in Theater De Wegwijzer in Zeeland (in the south-west of the Netherlands).
January 10th, 2014, this concert took place, and it opened new paths for future electronic music performances in this small theatre in near future.
When I constructed the show for this evening, I had various ideas about the performance.
In the first place the show should be more than just me playing synthesizers. Which might be rather boring to look at, especially at such a location.
So I decided to include visuals, which I compiled carefully to fit with the music to be performed.
Secondly the performance itself had to be dynamic, should sound more organic and must also be interesting to look at. To solve this issue, I invited two friends, who were capable of involving their musical skills and visions into my music.
Martijn Scholte (guitar/bowed guitar) and Jeroen Hagen (drums/percussion) joined the line-up, and after the concert we all decided to continue our collaboration. "Free Arts Lab" (which refers to the famous Zodiak Free Arts Lab) was born.

During the Theater De Wegwijzer concert, we performed around 90 minutes. Containing existing and released tracks, as well as new - especially for this ocassion - recorded music.
For "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" and for concerts later this year, we have been very busy rehearsing an adjusted setlist, which contains a selection from the Zeeland-concert, as well as some fresh new tracks and improvisations.

Here you can read the official press information for "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition", which covers the complete story and background information so far:

The group Free Arts Lab is founded in 2014 in Haarlem by Remy Stroomer (keyboards/ synthesizers), Martijn Scholte (guitar/bowed guitar) and Jeroen Hagen (drums/percussion). All three come from a different musical background.
With Remy’s electronic and ambient compositions, the name refers to the Zodiak Free Arts Lab or ‘Zodiak Club’. This club in Berlin once was a place where musicians were unlimited in developing their experimentation. From the same point of view and free state of mind of musical creativity, Free Arts Lab combines different art forms together in live performances and studio recordings.

Remy Stroomer (1979, keyboards/synthesizers/compositions) starts to take keyboard-lessons at the age of nine and around the same time, he creates his first compositions. At the end of 1999, Remy’s first album “Exhibition of Dreams” is released as a double-cdr on the independent AKH Records and that marks the start of a enduring career as an award winning solo-artist. Besides, Remy also collaborated with Ron Boots, Synth.nl (Michel van Osenbruggen), Gert Emmens and My Breath My Music. He has released thirteen solo-albums under his own name.

Martijn Scholte (1978, guitar/bowed guitar) has played and sang in various poprock and progressive rockbands, besides his singer-songwriting. His musical inspirations are mainly This will destroy you, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Helios, Sigur Rós, Hammock, Patrick Watson, Gravenhurst, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd and Radiohead. By combining and experimenting with a variety of styles, Scholte aims at a wide sound. His choice for bowed guitar stems from his affection for Sigur Rós’ music and his love for the cello. This results in an extra dimension and a soundscape from his guitar.

Jeroen Hagen (1970, drums/percussion) has a broad interest for music and art. His musical foundation is influenced by bands from the sixties, the early seventies and the nineties. He has been part of several bands, covering symphonic rock, rock, grunge and folk, mainly from the Rotterdam-area. His most important influences are The Beatles, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Yes, Bob Dylan, The Who, Neil Young, Stone Temple Pilots, Norman Cook, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Johnny Cash and The Black Crowes.




Official website: www.freeartslab.nl

Audio:



Next blog items will be about Wolfram Spyra and Planet of the Arps.

For all information about "Chill at the Castle - Electric Edition" and ticket sales:
www.desertedislandmusic.nl/brederode