The hybrid event of Le Guess Who?, named ON/OFF is now only an online programme. The OFF programming, that would take place offline, has been cancelled due to the new measures decided by the Dutch government. But there is some silver lining, as the ON(line) programme of Le Guess Who? will start from 13 to 15 November.
The organisation shares a message on their official website about the cancellation of the offline programming: “Over the last several weeks, we’ve tried to offer a glimmer of hope to artists, visitors, venues and partners. But it wasn’t meant to be. With the new measures going into place in The Netherlands, we must now unfortunately cancel LGW OFF. We’d like to extend our gratitude and love to everyone who would have participated: you are the ones who have kept us going over the last few months.”
After Le Guess Who? had to move its international festival earlier this year to 2021, the organisation announced a hybrid event named ON/OFF from 13 to 15 November as an alternative: a dual programme for both international and local visitors. With LGW ON, Le Guess Who? creates a three-day online television channel; LGW OFF was supposed to be a two-day programme in Utrecht with more than 50 performances. For those with interest in Japan, a performance of Go Kurosawa (drummer of Kikagaku Moyo) with Kohhei Matsuda (guitarist Bo Ningen) and the film The Day of Destruction hosted by CinemAsia were announced. These events will not go through. Those who purchased tickets for the OFF programme, will get contacted by the organisation in the near future with more information.
LGW ON
LGW ON is a freely accessible online television channel from 13 to 15 November. On this channel Le Guess Who? launches its own production ‘Reports from Other Continents’, in which people from all over the world share current developments in art, culture and music in their local communities in short video reports. The festival shares special stories about worldwide music traditions and new cultural developments normally through concerts and performing artists; now LGW has found the way to do this online. Reports in the field of independent, progressive culture include from Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Iraq, Mexico, Nepal, Tanzania, Turkey, Venezuela and South Africa. All reports were commissioned by Le Guess Who?.
The television channel is not only compiled by Le Guess Who? itself, but also by artists who have previously played at the festival, including Matana Roberts, John Dwyer (Tea Oh Sees), Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie), Lucrecia Dalt and The Bug. They chose their favourite videos, films and documentaries that they would like to show to the public. On LGW ON you can see more: never before shown live recordings of the festival, by a.o. Mary Margaret O’Hara, Sons of Kemet XL and Circuit des Yeux Ensemble; live sessions with Dutch artists; Zoom interviews; free work by video artists; a documentary about the festival and highlights from the thirteen-year archive of Le Guess Who? The stream of LGW ON can be followed from 13 November on the website of the event.
