Brandon to host electronic music fest

A cutting-edge sound and music festival is happening in Brandon on Sept. 19-20. The Prairie Wires Modular Festival of Electronic Sound will feature passionate electronic musicians performing in concert. Attendees will have access to concerts, a public open-house symposium, and interactive activities at the two-day event, which is open to all ages and all free of charge.

In what started in 2019 as a self-initiated performance opportunity for himself, musician Brendon Ehinger has since played the role of “hat rack” — the one guy who wears all the hats — undertaking every job imaginable to get the Prairie Wires Modular Festival of Electronic Sound rolling.

“I guess I could be considered the founder/director/curator/janitor/graphic designer for Prairie Wires,” Ehinger said.

“I called it Prairie Wires because of the musical instrument: the modular synthesizer.”

Ehinger said the technology around the modular synthesizer has accelerated over the years. He describes the synthesizer as an instrument that creates blocks of sound because each part is acquired individually from different manufacturers and assembled onto a customized rack.

“Every single system is completely unique. It’s up to the artist to kind of work with it,” he said.

With its primary focus on the art and music of the modular synthesizer, Prairie Wires Modular 2025 Festival of Electronic Sound (PWM) is one-of-a-kind in Canada.

“To me, it’s just such a fascinating, interesting, musical instrument. It’s really in the artist’s hands to be what they want it to be and that’s one of the things that I want to share — and I just didn’t see that specific focus on the modular synthesizer happening in Canada,” Ehinger said.

He said his goal in curating the program was to expand the lens beyond the synthesizers more broadly to electronic sound. The program will feature six events, over 20 performances and a symposium or “Synthposium” over two days.

Musical styles will range from classical chamber music to punk rock to singer-songwriter, indie rock to experimental sound art and “everything in between.”

“If you picture a three-circle Venn diagram of technology, music and art, I feel like modulars and synthesizers sit right in the middle of that because you can take a very musical approach to it. You can take a sonic art-based approach to it, and there’s also a technical, technological science aspect to it as far as the science of sound.”

Ehinger has booked performers/composers/musicians from across the country, with strong local and regional representation as well. His theme is Unexpected Intersections.

“I have a composer named Kerey Harper, who’s coming to work with the Brandon University New Music Ensemble and is going to be doing a ‘chamber music for electronic synthesizer’ concert with cello, piano and clarinet,” he said.

Harper is an Indigenous classical composer from St. Theresa Point First Nation (Oji-Cree: Minithayinikam), working with modular synthesizers and electronics. Some of the other performers include Jason Tait (percussion and modular) from The Weakerthans, Edmonton’s Kris Burwash (ambient and experimental), Manitoban Jennifer Thiessen (electroacoustic experimental viola), and Guelph’s Curtis Walker (indie rock with guitars and synthesizers). ARC is an electronic post-rock trio from Montreal, and Jeremy Young, a maker of concrète electronic tape music, also from Montreal, will perform.

Saturday morning, starting at Chez Angela Bakery and Café, the Wandering Wires Ambient Morning Soundtrek will take folks through downtown Brandon on a guided walking tour of pop-up performances. But the objective isn’t just to listen; walkers are encouraged to bring their sketchbooks and be inspired to “draw what they hear.”

The Patch and Release Synthposium takes place Saturday afternoon at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba. The open format is designed to encourage attendees to come and meet artists, hear demos and see displays and workshops.

“The Synthposium is, as I like to say: a one part show-and-tell, one part science fair, and all synthesizers,” said Ehinger.

In addition to tables with artists and their gear, a PA system will give them a chance to demo what they do. Presentations will also include Q&A. An additional room will be available for festival-goers to get some hands and ears-on experience making sounds with modular and regular synthesizers.

Ehinger is also looking for a few good volunteers who can come out to the two-day event to pitch in.

“We have a volunteer form online at prairiewires.ca and there are a lot of different, cool ways to be part of it and become part of the community,” he said.

Ehinger is hoping to make the local festival a magnet for lovers of electronic sound and many more.

“My goal is to not just bring this new experience, a new kind of festival and sound to the people and the community of Brandon, but to also bring people to Brandon to experience it,” Brendon Ehinger said.

All festival events are free. All ages are welcome, however note that the Friday late night after party event is adults only. Complete programming details, including performers and performance times, venues and maps, and volunteer opportunities can be found at prairiewires.ca. Inquiries at prairiewires@gmail.com

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