Music at VIFF 2018: Wu Tang Clan's RZA, Kid Koala, M.I.A., Blue Note Records, and more

    1 of 9 2 of 9

      The Vancouver International Film Festival continues its commitment to integrating music into its festival, and this year promises a number of notable acts both live and on screen.

      As part of the VIFF Live performance series, Wu-Tang Clan's RZA will perform a live score to Lau Kar-leung's 1978 Hong Kong kung-fu film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin at the Orpheum Theatre on October 9.

      Prior to the performance, RZA will also participate in a Creator Talk Series session, to be held at the Rio Theatre, to talk about his love of martial-arts movies, his creative process, and his experiences as a director and film composer.

      Tickets go on sale today (August 21) at 3 p.m.

      Kid Koala will perform at the Satellite Turntable-Orchestra Concert.

      Meanwhile, Canadian DJ Kid Koala will also be performing on October 5 and 6 at the Annex. Tickets also go on sale today at 3 p.m.

      The Satellite Turntable-Orchestra Concert will offer six interactive performances that will transform audiences into a 50-turntable orchestra (along with color-coded vinyl records and LED lights) to recreate Kid Koala's Music to Draw to: Satellite album.

      Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.

      Among the music-related documentaries announced, this year's lineup will include Stephen Loveridge's documentary Matangi/Maya/M.I.A., which profiles U.K. rapper Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam using video recordings from the past 22 years to chronicle her life from refugee immigrant to international star.

      Elsewhere in the program, Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes takes an indepth look at the American jazz record label established in 1939 and features the likes of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Norah Jones, Robert Glasper, Ambrose Akinmusire, and more.

      Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes

      There's also Matt Tyrnauer's documentary Studio 54, which tells the story of one of the famous nightclub that came to symbolize the hedonism of the 1970s.

      Also in the mix is the Canadian documentary Carmine Street Guitars, by filmmaker Ron Mann, explores the Greenwich Village shop that crafts custom instruments for artists like Bill Frisell, Nels Cline, Elanor Friedberger, Charlie Sexton, and Jim Jarmusch.

      Carmine Street Guitars

      For those within music and screen industries, the second annual VIFF Amp conference will once again focus on the art of music composition for TV and film.

      The Music BC How-to-Series and Showcase will feature six performances by B.C. musical acts, who will each present one song to a panel of music supervisors. Each artist will learn more about songwriting for the screen and music supervision.

      Meanwhile, the Sound Off Artist Showcase will feature five 20-minute performances by B.C. artists selected by a jury.

      This year's Vancouver International Film Festival runs from September 27 to October 12.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook

      Comments