Synth East 2024: Fledgling Synth Expo Returns Bigger and Better
3,5 / 5,0 | After a hugely successful inaugural event in 2023, Synth East returns for 2024 and has been extended across three, fun-packed days with live gigs and workshops!
East Anglia, a largely rural area in the east of England, is not best known for its contribution to all things electronic music. Its most famous export is probably Depeche Mode. Oh, and that Ed Sheeran fellow. That, however, is set to change with the sophomore Synth East event in February 2024. Being a lifelong resident of the aforementioned region, this event brings me great joy! The fact that it is also the brainchild of our very own Robin Vincent, a fellow resident of East Anglia, makes it even more satisfying.
Synth East 2023 · Source: Synth East
Synth East 2024 Overview
Presented by Robin’s Molten Modular venture, in association with Electronic Sound Magazine (also based in Norwich) and hosted at the city’s brilliant Arts Centre, this year’s show promises to deliver heaps more synth nerdery. Last year, everything was crammed into one jam-packed Saturday. This year, events begin on Friday evening and finish well into Sunday afternoon. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect.
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Friday
Synth East 2024 kicks off on Friday 23rd February with a screening of a documentary about Morton Subotnick. ‘Subotnick, Portrait of an Electronic Music Pioneer‘ is produced Waveshaper Media. This is the team behind the excellent ‘I Dream of Wires‘. After the screening, writer, broadcaster, comedian and musician, Adam Buxton, will be chatting with Steve Davis. Steve, as many know, is a former snooker world champion turned modular synth nut! His transition from sport to synths is a fascinating one and this chat is not to be missed.
Rounding off the evening, there will be an ambient set from Luke Sanger to accompany some measured beer consumption in the Arts Centre bar.
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Saturday
Saturday is Synth East 2024’s big day. The main expo takes place in Norwich Art Centre with a vast array of manufacturers and developers. Everything from modular to traditional synths are represented. Come along to try stuff out and get to talk with the people behind it all. There will be on-stage performances throughout the day from local artists, such as Hardwired and Tristan Burfield. Last year’s hugely entertaining “Modular Patch Off” returns. Robin, Steve Davis, Gaz Williams, Mylar Melodies, Nina Richards and Jason Jervis with draw straws and go head to head to create patches from scratch and improvise a performance with them.
Loula York and Steve Davis Patch Off · Source: Synth East
Once the expo has closed, the floor will be cleared to accommodate the evening’s entertainment. This year the headliners are Blancmange! Fronted by the great Neil Arthur, this band continues to innovate and entertain some 40 years after first troubling the Top 40! They will be supported by Ultramarine and the warm-up act is Synth East’s very own Robin Vincent.
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Sunday
The weekend is rounded off by a set of Eurorack DIY workshops, hosted by Electronic Sound Magazine at their Norwich HQ. Presented by Befaco & Thonk, attendees will buy tickets for the workshops and then order the kit they hope to build with the assistance of the teams from Befaco & Thonk.
Tickets
Tickets are available to buy now and you can pick and choose which parts of the event you wish to attend. There are bundle deals for those wishing to buy tickets for both day and evening events on the Saturday. See you there!
More Information
- Synth East Website
- Norwich Arts Centre Website
- Electronic Sound Magazine Website
- Molten Modular Website
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