Blip Fest 2011 in pics
photos by Leia Jospe
Nullsleep
This year‘s Blip Festival was thrown at Eyebeam on New York City’s West Side by a collective of chip musicians called 8bitpeoples, with help from NYC nonprofit The Tank.
Many of those who play chiptunes–music made through the sound chips of old video game hardware–have long resented the tight correlation between their music scene and video gamers. If that seems implausible at first, think of it this way: They’re using the hardware as an instrument to create original electronic music that they hope everyone can enjoy, but the video gamey sound often leads to the misinterpretation that they’re making “video game music”, or that gamers are the only ones who can participate.
It seemed as if the surliness has relaxed. It’s similar to the same kind of diversification that’s been taking place in the gaming scene–the softening of divisions between types of players as the audience broadens–and this year’s event welcomed gamers, musicians, hardware junkies interested in making new art with circuits, and music fans from the chip-savvy to the casual culturists. [Kotaku]
This year’s Blip Festival took place from May 19-21 at Manhattan’s Eyebeam. Pictures from all three days continue below…
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Zen Albatross
Talk To Animals
Anamanaguchi
(Anamanaguchi plays again at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 22.)
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Bit Shifter
cTrix
Starscream
knife city
Nullsleep
Henry Homesweet