From Midway
The Rodeo’s Midway and Grandstand bust out bands contortionists and more
What does it mean to be a freak in Calgary? Does it mean renting and not owning eschewing a cowboy shirt in favour of a pink T-shirt and not driving a car? Are the freaks the people who expose their emotions in public?
Curators Mark Hopkins and Charles Netto explore these questions with Freakshow a performance tour that serves as the centrepiece of Midway a new event at this year’s High Performance Rodeo. “ Freakshow as a concept is interesting because it is vague but also there’s a traditional image of a freak show — the bearded lady etc. — and it is also a political statement” says Hopkins. “We’re looking at the freaks of Calgary — what is outrageous and progressive. The performers are transgressive pushing the boundaries of their fields in music film poetry dance or fashion.” It is also “a chance to include local independent artists that wouldn’t otherwise be a part of the festival.”
Over the course of three evenings a wild variety of these progressive performance groups take over the centre court of the Epcor Centre in an “explosion of carnivalesque activity.” Says Hopkins “There are loads of emerging and indie artists – spoken-word artists indie musicians aerial performers contortionists — anything you can imagine on a concert rotation.” The activities include kissing booths piercers and even a poo cabaret. “The Midway will be the energetic centre of the High Performance Rodeo. No matter what time you come in there will be something going on.”
Midway is also about exploring the performing arts centre. In the early planning stages Hopkins had trouble finding a venue for his concept. “But then we thought ‘Hey there are all these hallways that not being used for performance.’ Each night we have a tour through weird spaces — stairwells labyrinths underground basement storage spaces Plus-15 walkways.” There is “lots of potential within the Epcor Centre” he adds. For example a storage space in the basement originally intended to be a C-Train stop — “it looks like a C-Train stop — the cement floor and pillars — but is used by all these theatre companies as storage space.” The large cement platform is an ideal stage for various performances and the space is a highlight of the tour.
As Midway winds down Grandstand starts up. Curated by Kenna Burima an arts administrator who is also a member of local bands Woodpigeon and The Brenda Vaqueros Grandstand is a series of collaborative performances by established local bands. Over the course of two nights a slew of musical acts including The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir The Consonant C Jay Crocker The Summerlad Vailhalen and Woodpigeon pair up onstage and come up with a collaborative experimental effort.
“It’s a neat opportunity to celebrate the diversity of local bands and point the spotlight at our local music scene” Hopkins says. “With these collaborations you hear these really distinct sounds from two very successful bands. It’s a great way to celebrate our own homegrown talent.”
