The Electric Environment

Meaford might be the last place you'd expect to find Avant Garde entertainment, but that's going to change if Gordon Monahan has his way.
Monahan is one of the driving forces behind Electric Eclectics, a festival of "experimental music and sound sculptures". He presented his sixth edition of the festival over the weekend to as many as 1,300 appreciative fans at his farm on Scotch Mountain just west of Meaford in the former St. Vincent Township.
"The audience is increasing every year," he said Sunday afternoon as two bands from Owen Sound opened the musical performances. "We usually present 25 - 30 bands and performers. I'm particularly interested in experimental music."
The operative question, of course, is what constitutes experimental music.
Monahan pondered the question carefully before answering.
"I guess you'd say we expand the definition of music into a multi-media format," he said.
That includes dashes of performance art, he readily acknowledged. It's all about pushing the boundaries of sound and music far beyond the mainstream, said Monahan. It's the kind of thing that might well leave anyone experiencing the genre for the first time shaking their head and asking "what the Hell was that?" he agreed.
He would take no offence at that first impression - so long as the visitors kept an open mind about the genre.
Monahan made his own contribution to the show with an exhibition set up in a trailer overlooking the vistas of the Bighead River Valley.
The exhibition played piano notes in what seemed like a random pattern, but it was far from random, if one listened long enough, Monahan said.
Considering the nature of his interests, "it wouldn't make sense for me to do something more mainstream," he said. "We had some real experimental stuff here last night."
"There's a small but dedicated audience for this kind of material," he explained. "Most of it is found further south, in the bigger cities from Windsor to Ottawa. There are a few people locally who are interested."
Along with workshops, performances and exhibits, the festival also offers the chance for attendees to camp at the farm to immerse themselves in the experience.
"It's an inexpensive way to escape the city," he said. "We're gradually attracting more local people. It's just circumstance that we have the property to hold it here and that we live here."
Monahan makes it a point to include some local talent in the festival, partly as a way to help further the goal, and to increase the genre's profile locally.
On Sunday, OKEE from Owen Sound opened the performances, followed by The Electric Environment.
Both bands are duos, comprised of youngsters aiming for bigger things.
Brandon Sheppard and James Wantemaar make up OKEE, who dabble in experimental electronic music but are more geared to alternative rock.
"Yes, they're sounding more alternative rock today but that's OK," Monahan said.
Sheppard said he's been living in Owen Sound for about two years while he works on his music.
"We're slightly experimental," he said with a wry smile. "We should maybe get in into it more."
Wantemaar endorsed that idea. Experimental music, he said, is all about "stepping out of the boundaries of the ordinary."
The band doesn't have "much of a following at the moment," Sheppard said, but is hoping gigs like the festival will help to change that.
"I don't know if I could handle the big time though," he admitted. "You should have seen me an hour ago. I was a wreck."
Mitchell Evans and Aaron Mohr make up The Electric Environment. The two 17-year-olds have been playing together for two years. They received a warm round of applause from the audience after their half-hour set finished.
They've played the festival once before and say it's a good experience. The duo has also auditioned for Summerfolk, but they said their style isn't really a good match for that festival.
They're heavily into electric innovation in their music, all of which is original.
Both Evans and Mohr are heading into Grade 12, and are hoping for bigger things from their musical endeavours. They have hopes a CD is on their horizon. - Meaford Express

Every week, Bandwidth host Meg Wilcox gives her pick for a great, upbeat track by an Ontario artist to kick-start your weekend.?

The Electric Environment is the duo of Aaron Mohr and Mitchell Evans from Owen Sound, Ont. The band, which started as a high school endeavour, sounds exactly like their band name – a mix of pop and electronic sounds.


The Electric Environment is releasing its debut album next month at the OTHERfolk festival in Owen Sound on Aug. 16, but until then, here's a sneak listen to one of the tracks, "Super Silver Daze." - CBC Radio1 - Megan Wilcox