Witching Hour Festival
Downtown Iowa City (various) — Nov. 4–5, 2016
If you were on the fence over the past few days, wondering whether the Early Bird Passes (which dissipated into the nether realm as of midnight) were worth it, the wait is now over! The second annual Witching Hour Festival, a collaborative production of the Englert Theatre and Little Village Magazine, has announced its preliminary lineup, and we’re certain that the extra $15 you’ll be shelling out tomorrow (when $50 2-day passes go on sale to the public) will be more than worth it.
Witching Hour is a festival that explores. You could add an object to that sentence, but it would be insufficient. This festival is dedicated to exploring all that is unexplored — every path, every question, every firing synapse. Witching Hour celebrates the unknown — both the unknowable, and the not-yet-discovered. The focus, though, is also on how we get there: the creative process is often a deep, dark mystery to those who stand outside it, and the Witching Hour festival lays it bare, with examinations of failure and premieres of new work.
With all of that in mind, here is the current lineup for Witching Hour 2016. 2-day passes ($50) and 1-day passes ($30) go on sale at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 26. Which performers or conversations do you find most intriguing?
Pussy Riot (In Conversation)
Discussion moderated by rock critic, MTV editorial director and former editor-in-chief of The Pitchfork Review, Jessica Hopper.
Jen Kirkman
Performing a stand-up routine and offering a live Q&A.
Criminal
A live podcast recording looking at how the criminal justice system works (and doesn’t work) in the United States.
Rhys Chatham
Presenting new solo works.
Low
Duluth, Minn. slowcore.
Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present
A documentary film about legendary avant-garde composer Tony Conrad.
From Prison to PhD: A Journey of Pain, Promise and Protest
Jason Sole on his journey from drug dealer and gang member, to convict, to earning his doctorate in Public Safety.
Strange Angels: The Otherworldly Music of Paul Elwood, Dan Moore and Iowa Percussion
In partnership with the University of Iowa School of Music, presented at the new Voxman School of Music Building.
Also announced:
NE-HI,
Wu Fei,
Psalm One,
Forrest Meggers
and the now-annual presentations of New Voices in Comedy and Writers of Color.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity — this invocation — to explore.
