Toronto's X AVANT New Music Festival Ropes In Oval, Tim Hecker for Sixth Edition

BY Alex HudsonPublished Sep 1, 2011

In the coming weeks, Torontonians with a penchant for experimental music are set to be spoiled. Following the announcement of the free INTERsection festival last week, we've now received word that the X AVANT New Music Festival will be returning for its sixth instalment.

This nine-day festival is put on by the Music Gallery and will run from October 15 to 23. Among the noteworthy performers are Tim Hecker (performing a set of organ music), Oval (making his first Toronto appearance in 15 years), Michael Gordon (performing two hour-long pieces), Tim Brady (presenting a piece performed by 20 guitarists), Buke & Gass, and the Nihilist Spasm Band.

The theme for this year's X AVANT event is "Tales of Two Cities," and a press release notes that the festival "explores the underground railroad of creative exchange between urban communities -- with a focus on New York, Toronto, Montreal and Berlin." This theme will be addressed by the performances and with free music-related lectures.

The majority of the shows will take place at Toronto's Music Gallery at St. George the Martyr Church. Festival passes cost $85 and will go on sale as of September 13. They will be available at Ticketweb.ca, Soundscapes and Rotate This.

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