Brampton Indie Arts Festival
Encyclopedia
The Brampton Indie Arts Festival was created by local musician Richard Marsalla
in 2000-2007, and restarting in 2011. It was conceived as an annual event to promote underground artists such as musicians, filmmakers, dancers and visual artists.
Although focusing on experimental and underground artists, the festival enjoyed sponsorship and support from a number of organizations including the City of Brampton. Mayor Susan Fennell
has been on hand for opening nights to give her blessing to the festival.
; with the construction of the new Rose Theatre
and subsequent closing of the Heritage, the BIAF was moved to the Rose in 2006. 2007 was the first year without Marsalla at the helm, and the last year of the festival. Insiders have speculated that the new location was simply too big to fill, and the festival was doomed when it lost the intimate feel of the Heritage.
The annual event attracted artists both native to the Brampton area and remote, such as Nash the Slash, The Nihilist Spasm Band, Ron Sexsmith, Cuff the Duke, Bob Wiseman, John Oswald, Moneen, Scott Thompson, and Hayden. It also featured experimental arts and short films. A typical night at the festival could include bands, spoken word, art projects, prank calls, puppetry, film and special events such as the Börje Salming
Hockey Cup or the Fifty Greatest Beards. All festivals from 2001 have been hosted by Curtains, the puppet MC, with guest host Scott Thompson
making occasional appearances.
Visual and Multimedia Artists
Friendly Rich
Friendly Rich, born Richard Marsella, is a Canadian avant-garde composer/musician from Brampton, Ontario. His music has been featured on CBC and The Tom Green Show....
in 2000-2007, and restarting in 2011. It was conceived as an annual event to promote underground artists such as musicians, filmmakers, dancers and visual artists.
Although focusing on experimental and underground artists, the festival enjoyed sponsorship and support from a number of organizations including the City of Brampton. Mayor Susan Fennell
Susan Fennell
Susan Fennell is the mayor of Brampton, Ontario, Canada. She was also the Founder and Commissioner of the National Women's Hockey League.-Background:...
has been on hand for opening nights to give her blessing to the festival.
History
The original location of the BIAF was the historic Heritage Theatre in downtown BramptonBrampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
; with the construction of the new Rose Theatre
Rose Theatre, Brampton
The Rose Theatre Brampton is located in downtown Brampton, Ontario. A series of public events throughout September 2006 culminated in a grand opening on 29 September featuring Diana Krall...
and subsequent closing of the Heritage, the BIAF was moved to the Rose in 2006. 2007 was the first year without Marsalla at the helm, and the last year of the festival. Insiders have speculated that the new location was simply too big to fill, and the festival was doomed when it lost the intimate feel of the Heritage.
The annual event attracted artists both native to the Brampton area and remote, such as Nash the Slash, The Nihilist Spasm Band, Ron Sexsmith, Cuff the Duke, Bob Wiseman, John Oswald, Moneen, Scott Thompson, and Hayden. It also featured experimental arts and short films. A typical night at the festival could include bands, spoken word, art projects, prank calls, puppetry, film and special events such as the Börje Salming
Börje Salming
Anders Börje Salming , nicknamed "The King", is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman. He played for Kiruna AIF, Brynäs IF, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Detroit Red Wings, and AIK. Salming was one of the first European players to make an impact in the National Hockey League , paving...
Hockey Cup or the Fifty Greatest Beards. All festivals from 2001 have been hosted by Curtains, the puppet MC, with guest host Scott Thompson
Scott Thompson
Scott Thompson is a Canadian television actor and comedian, best known for his time as a member of the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall.-Personal life:...
making occasional appearances.
2004
Musicians- Bob WisemanBob WisemanBob Wiseman is a Juno winning Canadian musician, filmmaker, singer-songwriter, and actor. Wiseman was an original member of Blue Rodeo.-Career:Wiseman was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He studied piano at York University...
, Girl + the Machine, Child at Zoo, Escalate, Kevin Brow Quartet, HaydenHayden (musician)Paul Hayden Desser who records as Hayden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario.His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge rock to alt country, as demonstrated by his first full album, Everything I Long For, released in 1995. Since then his work has become...
, The Quadriplegic twelve, Jeff Straker, sitar player Anwar Khurshid, Maso Trio, Friendly Rich, The Vulcan Dub Squad, Paddington, The Shaved Asians, Five Blank Pages, Matthew Boughner, Nihilist Spasm BandNihilist Spasm BandThe Nihilist Spasm Band is a London, Ontario-based noise band. The band was formed in 1965 by Hugh McIntyre, John Clement, John Boyle, Bill Exley, Murray Favro, Archie Leitch, Art Pratten, and Greg Curnoe. Leitch has since retired, Curnoe was killed in a bicycle accident in 1992, and McIntyre...
Visual and Multimedia Artists
- Graham Thompson, Sonia Birk, Mary Rocque, Graham Pavey, Claudine Perrott, Hannah Jickling, Ryan Hughes, Beatrice EkwaEkoko, €Simon Mohos, Jason Reeves, Matthew Daley, Debbie O-Rourke, Tracy Terry, The Art of the Shaved Asians, Melissa Marr, Katherine McKellar, Adam Earle and Dave Anastasio, Lois Siegel, Michael Brown, Christine Douville, Darren Fernando, Laura Vegys, Ben Pinkney, The Brampton Comic Jam