By Sam Pryce
Nyege Nyege Festival
1. Nyege Nyege Festival, Uganda
Founded in 2015, the Nyege Nyege Festival is considered the most important four-day international music festival in east Africa for its specially curated events and its unique afropolitan party vibe. Multimedia artist Juliana Huxtable brings an explosive set to the riverside festival. German experimental music artist Errorsmith presents specially designed instruments and synths. There’s Ugandan sound art from Bwayo, immersive sound systems from Kallida, and audiovisual work from Japan’s Tomoko Sauvage.
6-10 September
Jinja Nile Discovery Resort, Uganda
nyegenyege.com
Röskva, artist and Seiðs woman (shaman witch)
2. Extreme Chill Festival, Iceland
In the raw landscape of Iceland’s capital, Extreme Chill connects Icelandic and international artists of different disciplines, from electronic music to the visual arts. Some highlights of the festival include abstract electronics from Jan Jelinek, ambient dance from Banco de Gaia, improvisational drones from Kenichi & the Sun, underground legend Mixmaster Morris, visual and musical artist Ragnhild May and Icelandic ‘shaman witch’ Röskva.
6-9 September
Various venues, Reykjavik
extremechill.org
3. Horst, Belgium
A top-drawer music and art lineup is on the bill for the fifth and final edition of Horst Arts & Music Festival. Amid the striking surrounds of the woods and water of Horst Castle, there will be sets by Avalon Emerson, DJ Bone, DMX Krew, Hunee, I-F, Mafalda, Maurice Fulton, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Optimo, Octo Octa, Palms Trax, DJ Stingray, Sassy J and more.
7-9 September
Holsbeek Castle of Horst
horstartsandmusic.com
Ultima festival
4. Ultima, Norway
Offering contemporary sound, dance and art, this festival in the Norwegian capital focuses on the issue of migration in relation to the arts. Highlights this year include Laurie Anderson’s daring collaboration with radical music collective Zeitkratzer, experimental pop duo Mouse On Mars, William Kentridge’s take on German dada artist Kurt Schwitters’s experimental sound poem Ursonate, and an installation exploring the sound of rain by Asbjørn Blokkum Flø.
13-22 September
Various venues, Oslo
ultima.no
Peter Coffin’s ‘Dark Star’ at Basilica Hudson
5. Basilica Soundscape, USA
This curated ‘anti-festival’ blending experimental music, visual art and literature has a programme promising installations, performances, readings and more. Stephen O’Malley – co-founder of the experimental metal band Sun O))) – presents the US premiere of his three-movement symphony Un Vide dans le Ciel. The Haxan Cloak brings a unique collaboration with Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner. Amongst others, there’s also appearances from Grouper, performance collective FlucT and Efrim Menuck (of Godspeed You! Black Emperor).
14-16 September
Basilica Hudson, New York
basilicahudson.org