The Cassette Culture Celebration was a historic first for Columbus. The festival was created by local historian Jeff Chenault who conducted a seminar on the History of Columbus Electronic Music. It took Jeff two years to plan this event so that all the major players could attend. It is an event that celebrates Cassette Culture and the spirit of DIY from the early 1980’s and beyond. Guests included Chris Phinney (Harsh Reality Music, Mental Anguish), Hal McGee, certified guru of HalTapes and multiple other labels, Jeff Chenault (ITN/Exoteque Music), and Knox Mitchell (Green Tapes, Easy Listening). Also performing will be Gates of Janus (Detroit), Envenomist (Columbus), and Full Load of King (Cuyahoga Falls). It was a who’s who of DIY cassette culture and noise!! Jerry Kranitz, author of the book Cassette Culture - Homemade Music and the Creative Spirit in the Pre-Internet-Age also headed a panel discussion with Hal, Chris, and Jeff.
There were screenings of two documentaries on Cassette Culture; The Great American Cassette Masters by William Davenport and Grindstone Redux by Andrew Szava-Kovats.The films ran continuously all day! There were also vendors selling cassettes, books, and whatever else they felt like bringing. Also, there were displays of vintage tapes and artwork by the artists themselves.
The date is Saturday, July 22, 2023, at the Columbus Performing Arts Center located at 549 Franklin Avenue in downtown Columbus. Hours are from 12 noon until 10pm with a suggested donation of $10.
Tentative Schedule is below………………………
THEATRE #1
The Great American Cassette Masters by William Davenport
Grindstone Redux by Andrew Szava-Kovats
Films will run continuously from 12pm-10pm throughout the day.
THEATRE #2
12pm - Attack and Decay; The History of Columbus Electronic Music by Jeff Chenault
1pm – Full Load of King (Andrew Izold)
2pm – Envenomist (David Reed)
3pm-5pm – Jerry Kranitz Panel Discussion with Hal McGee, Chris Phinney, and Jeff Chenault.
5-6pm BREAK
6pm – Central Inhabitants (Jeff Central)
6:30pm – John M. Bennett (surprise visit)
7pm – Skull Vacuum (Chris Phinney and Jeff Central, with special guest Knox Mitchell
8pm – Gates of Janus (Knox and Otho)
9-10pm – Hal McGee, Chris Phinney, and Jeff Central Super Jam Session
credits
released August 14, 2023
All analog improvisation!
Jeff Chenault - synthesizers, fx,tapes, Chris Phinney - synthesizers, fx, tapes, Hal McGee- synthesizers, fx, tapes, cover art. Many thanks to Ron Daily for the awesome sound engineering. Many thanks to Rachel Rew Wagner who doucumented the entire event!!
All videos are available of the show at www.youtube.com/@TheFuseFactoryColumbus
Many thank to Alison Colman of thefusefactory.org
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