VHVR #5 w/ HALA, De Grove Korrel, aka.Huib Emmer & Guus Janssen & Viana Afoumou

A new VHVR with three acts that were destined to play together on this night… From old-fashioned, hyper digital/non-digital electronics to Energetic band prog jazz/non jazz rock. And something very good and solo. I know, we’re not very good in explaining our weird stuff for all ye brave new haddocks. But come & have a look and listen for yourself.

Huib Emmer en Guus Janssen aka De Grove Korrel
Two gentlemen with electronics. Composers, but they improvise. Serious folks but their music is funny & lucid at the same time. Conservatives so they make experimental music. For Huib that is; Dismantle and put together till one gets intensity, For Guus; neither minimalist nor ever sentimental (and lots more).
More Huib;
Wat gebeurt er als 2 componisten uit 2 verschillende werelden met elkaar geconfronteerd worden? De zwarte en witte toetsen van Guus Janssen en de knoppen en snoeren van Huib Emmer. Bij zo’n confrontatie gaan we niet een heel plan maken wat we dan realiseren. Er zijn enkele vage richtlijnen die een soort van houvast bieden maar tijdens het spelen ontstaan golfbewegingen tussen tonen, pulsen en gekraak. Een chemie van free techno en free jazz.
Guus Janssen : synthesizer: Pulse, Wave to Pick Pluck, Rubberband, Schmooh to Zing Plop
Huib Emmer : electronic beats, samples, effect

HALA
With shocking effect and energy HALA explores a diverse theatrical interplay based on the vocalist Helene Matthia’s fairytale-like compositions. Their music sounds nearly absurdist and evil, and scatters from progressive rock, avant-pop and (free) improvisation to avant-garde and cabaret… At times it feels as if Nina Hagen got lost in a Tim Burton movie.
The band was formed in 2017 in the basement of Atelier “Il sole in cantina”, Cantina Records in Groningen, which is known for its experimental journeys. They have released three EP’s: “Hala” (2018), “Blueberry Ink” (2019) and “How Do You Do” (2022).
Helene Richter (Germany) – voice & effects
Arno Bakker (Netherlands) – sousaphone
Jorrit Westerhof (Netherlands) – guitar & electronics
Gerri Jäger (Austria) – drums

Viana Afoumou
Viana Afoumou is a Brussels-born, Rotterdam-based experimental pop singer-songwriter. “Suddenly, I was surrounded by horses. I sat by the water to refresh my feet, then I laid down and I closed my eyes. After a few minutes, one of them came by and sniffed my nose. I was a little bit scared but I stayed still. The horse was whispering a song.”