DEAF stands for Dublin’s Electronic Arts Festival and it aims to establish Ireland as being at the forefront of digital media and to expose electronic arts to a wider audience . Taking place at the end of October, DEAF’s music element includes the veterans of electronic experimentalism Nurse with Wound at Andrews Lane Theatre, M83 at Vicar Street, and an array of late night club shows including Luke Vibert, Rob Hall & Broadcast.
As well as music, there’s talks, screenings and exhibitions and DEAF junior programme which enables kids from disadvantaged areas of Dublin to experiment with new technology.
So if you are a fan of digital media and have been wanting an excuse to go to Ireland, now’s your chance -
From Ireland we head to Iceland for the annual Iceland Airwaves festival. The country that Sigur Ros calls home is an amazing mix of tundra, glaciers, waterfalls and lava fields and a unique setting for a music festival. Showcasing Icelandic talent as well as international artists, Iceland Airwaves takes place in mid October and features performances by CSS, Yelle, Vampire Weekend , Simian Mobile Disco, Gus Gus and Atomstation. Make sure you book for the Blue Lagoon party where you can bask in thermal waters while listening to international Djs do their thing.
And finally two festivals in Los Angeles – both happening over the weekend of October 4th . First up is Tarfest which takes place in and around the ancient and incongruous La Brea Tar Pits. Championing emerging art and film, the music element takes place at the El Rey theatre and features Illuminoids, Castledoor, Love Lies Sleeping and
DJ Diabetic aka Shepherd Fairey – the artist responsible for the iconic Obama Hope .
If you don’t fancy Tarfest then how about LA Weekly’s Detour Festival in Downtown Los Angeles featuring Australia’s the Presets and Cut Copy , Norway’s Datarock, Ukrainian NY based Gogol Bordello UK Dj extraordinaire Adam Freeland and from the LA based Bitter:Sweet, The Submarines.
Comments ? suggestions? Email me Global@kcrw.com