The last artist to be added to the program of the festival is Perc with a special experimental live set.
Perc is one of modern electronic music’s reference points: an internationally touring DJ and live act, founder of the scene leading Perc Trax label and one of the most respected producers in techno today. From his earliest releases in 2002 to his current position as one of the most forward-thinking individuals in techno Perc (aka London based Ali Wells) has continued to challenge and innovate as his recognition has grown.
As a performer Perc has taken his sound across the world to such seminal clubs as Berghain, Fabric, Tresor, Fuse, Space Ibiza, Concrete, Unit in Tokyo and to festivals including Awakenings, Glastonbury, Unpolished, Mayday, Reaktor, Unsound, Dour, Soenda, 10 Days Off, Extrema and many more.
His podcast for Resident Advisor’s scene-leading mix series is Perc at his very best and a perfect example of his fusion of bleeding edge techno and classic noise and experimental influences. After a run of singles on scene leading labels including CLR, Stroboscopic Artefacts, Drumcode, Ovum and Electric Deluxe.
Perc’s debut album Wicker & Steel was released in 2011 where the move to the full-length format brought him to a new level of respect. Following launch parties in New York, Tokyo and London the album picked up a stream of plaudits from the expected dance-press coverage to crossing over into the UK national newspapers. Perc spent 2012 and 2013 diversifying with projects including a collaboration with industrial legends Einstürzende Neubauten, whilst a run of remixes saw him turning in interpretations of artists including Factory Floor, Daniel Avery and Surgeon.
In case anyone thought Wicker and Steel was a lucky first stab at the album format 2014’s The Power & The Glory changed all that, with the album reaching a wider audience than ever before. In the second half of the year Perc Trax celebrated its tenth birthday with a double album featuring Perc’s first commercially available mix CD plus three vinyl EPs of tracks from the compilation.
Throughout 2015 Perc continued to play gigs across Europe, South America and Australia. He also found time to return to Perc Trax for the politically charged Gob, his first full EP for the label in three years. 2016 mainly saw Perc focus on his collaborative projects, sharing space on vinyl releases and DJ booths with Truss, Randomer, Ansome and Adam X.
2017 saw Perc reach a new heights as his Bitter Music LP not only launched an extensive world tour but also produced the biggest track of his career in the shape of the infamous Look What You Love Has Done To Me, one of the most played techno tracks of that year. After remixing his way through 2018, he revealed his first original release in two years when Three Tracks To Send To Your Ghost Producer came out in March 2019.
2020 saw Perc charge into a new decade with headline sets at Unpolished and Vault Sessions in the Netherlands and his first ever gigs in China and Taiwan, plus his debut at New York’s must play spot Basement.
Three tracks have now been adapted from his Unpolished set to create Fire In Negative, his first full EP release in almost 18 months, being released once again on his own Perc Trax label.
After 18 months hidden away in this studio as the UK went through a succession of Covid-19 lockdowns, Perc emerged at the end of 2021 reinvigorated and with a new three track EP Greed Dance to release on Perc Trax.
This post-pandemic momentum has pushed him into 2022 with releases on Possession, RAW and his own Dirt single on Perc Trax in September 2022 plus a radical remix of Marc Acardipane’s hardcore classic Pitch-Hiker.
Add to this gigs across Europe including two stand out sets at Awakenings, extensive tours of North & South America, Australia and Asia and it is clear the Perc shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Skaņu Mežs is also announcing several changes to the program:
-) The free-entry opening event of September 16 is now starting at 19:00;
-) Both central concert evenings will be closed out with DJ sets – on September 24 sound artist Mariam Rezaei will play a jungle DJ set, whereas the evening of September 23 will be concluded with a DJ set by dark/industrial techno producer and DJ SKD;
-) Yuko Araki and M. Caye Castagneto now play on September 23;
-) Space Afrika now play on September 24;
-) Sound artist Florian Hecker will not be present at the festival;
-) Local noise abdn Zahnrad will play on September 23;
-) An additional free-entry event has been added: On September 25, 13:00, Linda Leimane, Mārtiņš Grauds and Sabīne Moore will present their new work for children “Latvian Animals”. Supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway EEA Grants and the Ministry of Culture
Mariam Rezaei will perform at the festival as part of the REMAIIN project, which examines the influence of the music of other continents on the European avant-garde. It is supported by the EU’s “Creative Europe” programme and the Ministry of Culture..
The price of a one day ticket is EUR 20, while a two day ticket costs EUR 30. Tickets are on sale at Biļešu serviss outlets and at www.bilesuserviss.lv.
The Skaņu mežs Festival is supported by Riga Council, the State Culture Capital Foundation, the Goethe-Institute Riga, the Danish Cultural Institute, the French Institute in Latvia, the U.S. Embassy, the Ministry of Culture, the Trust for Mutual Understanding, iRobot and Valmiermuižas alus.
More info: www.skanumezs.lv
FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1193322334746318/1193782398033645/
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