Bionic Harpist & Techno Para Dos in MUTEK Montreal

This Wednesday, August 20th, will be doubly special for the global MUTEK community. On this day, the 26th edition of MUTEK Montreal will host, for the first time, an event at the impressive Théâtre de Verdure, which will also host the long-awaited collaboration between The Bionic Harpist and Techno Para Dos.

Several unprecedented collaborations were planned for 2024 as part of MUTEK Mexico's 20th anniversary celebrations. One of them, making its global premiere, was the creative alliance between Canadian experimentalist Alex Tibbitts aka The Bionic Harpist and Mexican producer Raúl Villamil aka Techno Para Dos (who presented his solo act as part of Nocturne).

But The Bionic Harpist suffered a car accident just days before this performance, which put a stop to the dream. Alex focused all his energy on healing, and after a successful recovery, this summer he finally returns to the stage with renewed inspiration.

Thus, fran.gere, the performance co-created by The Bionic Harpist & Techno Para Dos, will have its anticipated global premiere as part of MUTEK Montreal Edition 26 at the Théâtre de Verdure, a large open-air amphitheater nestled in the heart of Parque La Fontaine, a Quebec heritage site reminiscent of Bosque de Chapultepec.

Beyond sound genres, The Bionic Harpist & Techno Para Dos explore the polarities of the ancestral—Tibbitts's harp-assisted approach—and the abstract—Villamil's electronics. fran.gere will open a space of contrasts and powerful performativity in a program dedicated to sets that blend classical instrumentation with electronic experimentation. This evening of premieres also features Guillaume Coutu-Dumont & Line Katcho and Ouri with visuals by Charline Dally.

We celebrate the collaboration between The Bionic Harpist & Techno Para Dos having such a special premiere: since its presentation at the Museo Anahuacalli in 2022, The Bionic Harpist has become a favorite of the MUTEK Mexico community, and we have witnessed the resilience and creative drive behind this performance, which was also completed in Mexico City. Congratulations!

If you've already scheduled the 26th edition of MUTEK Montreal, we suggest adding this premiere to your must-see list.