A SHORT CHAT WITH CLÉMENCE MANACHÈRE (HOPSCOTCH)

Hopscotch will be performing twice at this year’s Zappanale festival. Expect compositions by Frank Zappa, but also by Clémence Manachère.
A Short Chat seemed in place.

UniMuta: Hi Clémence,
When I read that Hopscotch would be performing at Zappanale, I had to take out my dictionary. “Hopscotch” can refer to the child’s game (‘Hinkelen’ in Flemish, ‘Hopfen’ in German), but it’s also the name of the programming app that teaches kids coding. I like both meanings (playful & structured). Is that what you had in mind? I assume that “The White Page” is the name of the program that you will be performing. Is this a little hint to say that the program also includes Frank Zappa compositions?

Clémence Manachère: Hey Peter, yes I chose the word Hopscotch because of the child's game.
The inspiration for the suite Hopscotch is the chamberworks from the architect Daniel Libeskind.
The chamberworks are a series of 28 drawings in which Libeskind searches the relations between music and architecture.
In those 28 drawings you can recognise 4 series of 7 drawings in which each drawing is unique but all drawings are made from the same graphic language.
That's why my suite will have 28 parts as well.
Until now I fully composed 14 parts and at the Zappanale we will play 7 parts taken from the first and second series. For me the chamberworks build a fascinating hybrid between architectonic drawing and contemporary music notation.
Since I discovered those drawings a year ago I can not stop thinking about it and trying to interpret it in more concrete music notation, and also experimenting it with my band, duo or quintet or whatever.

I think one thing that is very strong when you look at those drawings https://libeskind.com/work/chamber-works/ is that you can imagine many layers.
What I mostly see is a superposition of very well defined layers which are sometimes connected and sometimes not at all.
It's a very fine tension between precision and chaos, which interests me and which I would like to transpose into sounds.
It is one reason why I have two drummers in my band, because one drummer gives structure.
And if you want to hear a structure on a structure it opens possibilities to have two drummers.
It is then not only about having a loud band but more about playing with different beats at the same time.
The strings ( guitar and cello) also build a couple in the band, where one sounds similar to the other but is slightly different.
I like those mirroring games a lot.

 
Hopscotch is also, because each musician should be ready to jump from one part to the other part, to create different spontaneous superpositions of sounds, going from lines to textures.

The White Page is related to Zappa's Black Page, yes.
The idea of this title is to give a hand to Zappa's music that influenced me and inspired me, but also to propose something completely different.
From Zappa I listened to a lot of interviews and I always have been amazed by his extremely strong personality and articulated thought.
The music from him that I've heard the most are his albums with the ensemble modern, especially the yellow shark. It seems to me that Zappa could be 2 people at the same time, but still have a big integrity.
He's a very open-minded and strong spirit, and he didn't accept to be put in a box or to do what people expected him to do.
This I like a lot.

UniMuta: You did a concert in Hamburg on the 13th of July (at the ‘RoofDrop Bar at Villa Viva). Too bad that we will only be arriving in Hamburg on the 15th, but I’m glad we will be able to catch you twice at the Zappanale festival.
Are you familiar with the Zappanale festival?

Clémence Manachère: It will be my first time there (on the 18th).

UniMuta: I must admit that I checked the Hopscotch YouTube videos that you posted, and I loved what I heard. Not only are the Zappa pieces reworked and rearranged in an adventurous manner, the ‘Hopscotch’ suite sounded amazing as well.
How did you pick or come across the Zappa pieces?

Clémence Manachère: The first piece from Zappa that I picked is 'The Black Page' because I really listened to it a lot and studied it a lot.
I loved those abrupt switches of rhythmical subdivision. I like that it is at the same time brilliant, extremely dynamic and a bit weird.

'The Black Page'

And then I picked 3 pieces from his orchestral work which attracted me and where there were lines that seemed convenient for me to build improvisational spots and a red line with hopscotch.
There are sick lines in Zappa's orchestral work and it felt interesting to me to hear them not only once but to really build a loop with it, making them evolve with different textures and rhythms.
Lines are for me always a pretext to build a structure and a common vocabulary within the band.

UniMuta: I think it’s great that we will be able to see you both in an open air / main stage situation, and in a more intimate setting at the expo.
I also learned that you work with graphic artists Wittek and Bent Szameitat. How did that come about? Do they contribute during the concerts?

Clémence Manachère: I know Wittek and Bent for about 4 years now.
They already created comics and filmografie in the past which started during my gigs, but for a long time it was only something parallel.
At some point Andreas Lütje, our common friend by whom I got to know them, had the idea to connect us for this live-performance "white-page" tour.
Now, when there's a beamer available, it is possible to see Wittek's drawings evolving during the gig as well as Bent's filmografie which were made during the last months or years.
Wittek's comics are always full of surreal elements - Wittek is very strong to catch details and moods, and to invent elements that are connected to this mood.
Filmografie means a hybrid between film and photography - it is Bent's very personal thing.



UniMuta: Thank you very much, Clémence.
I’m more than curious to see and hear you live !

The Hopscotch ensemble will perform at the main stage on Friday at 18h00, and at the expo (in the centre of town) on Sunday, at 11h00 !
(And in Hamburg again on the 23rd of July.)

A SHORT CHAT WITH DET SKANDALØSE ORKESTER

Norwegion rock band Det Skandaløse Orkester will perform at the Zappanale main stage on Saturday, half an hour past midnight. Some would already call that Sunday.
Let’s try to prepare for it.
Here's a Short Chat with Sondre Jørgensen (composer, keys and vocals / Det Skandaløse Orkester) 

UniMuta: Hi Sondre,
Det Skandaløse Orkester’s previous visit to Zappanale was in 2019. I remember it as a pretty wild concert. Do you have any recollections?
Apparently, there also was a concert film called “Legends Of Europe”. Can you tell us a bit about that?

Sondre Jørgensen: Zappanale 2019 is the greatest festival experience I have ever had. We heard so much great music and met so many good people there. The concert itself nearly got cancelled due to the big storm that suddenly took us by surprise. We were down at the beach and saw it all coming in and when we came back to the festival everything had turned into a disaster and they were closing down and evacuating people. Luckily the wind and the rain stopped and we got to play our best concert until then, two hours behind schedule late at night, but in front of the greatest audience we have seen. It was a magical night that we will never forget.

We made a concert film of the performance, "Legends Of Europe", which you can find on YouTube, and we´re planning to make another film this year. If you have any suggestions for a title, let us know!!

UniMuta: Det Skandaløse Orkester has released two excellent albums, “No Har De Laget Skandale igjen” (2014), and “Tenk Om Noen Ser Deg” (2018). The really uplifting news is that you will be presenting your new release at Zappanale: “Masters Of The Universe”. Will you be performing material from this latest release, or what can we expect?

Sondre Jørgensen: Recently we have released two EPs and now we will collect both of them into one for a CD and LP release. On page A on the LP there is "Legenden om Boblemus" (the legend of the bubble mouse) - This is s suite with a very stupid story about a poor little mouse who crawls out of her mouse hole for the first time. Through six chapters we get to experience wonder and expectation, romance and downfall, but then it ends oh so well in the end. This is probably the most Zappa inspired work we have ever done and we believe no one has ever made such great music with such poor lyrics since Zappa himself. On page B on the LP there is "Masters of the Universe". This is a collection of famous theme songs and other heroic music that has been an important inspiration for our band. This includes tunes like 'Peaches En Regalia' by Frank Zappa and 'Back To The Future Theme' by Alan Silvestri among others.
At the Zappanale concert we will will play "Legenden om Boblemus" in it´s entirety, and highlights from "Masters of the Universe".

UniMuta: You concert is scheduled at half past midnight. That might be a bit late for some of the old folks. How would you try to convince them to catch your concert?

Sondre Jørgensen: We believe ourselves that what we do is something you don´t get to see live on a stage everyday. Not even on a festival for music outside the norm. It is just wild energy and happiness, combined with great songs, crazy guitar solos and madness. Check out the film from 2019 - Legends of Europe - and if you like it you probably know that reality is even better.

One of Germanys finest people - Stef Lorentz - became our number one fan when he saw us last time and this is what he had to say:
"I´ve been waiting nearly 30 years for music to evolve - and then I see you: Young people making music like this. Zappa would be proud!" (Stef Lorenz)

UniMuta: Thank you, Sondre.
Safe travels & see you soon.

Det Skandaløse Orkester will perform Saturday night, at 00h30.
This is going to be great !
And they are playing concerts on a regular basis. If you happen to be in Norway, be sure to check out their website: https://skandalose.no/

GOV'T MULE'S ISLAND EXODUS IS BACK

A SHORT CHAT WITH MONIKA ROSCHER

The Monika Roscher BigBand is returning to Zappanale.
They'll perform at the main stage on Saturday, at 18h45.
Those who witnessed the BigBand's previous Zappanale concert (in 2018), know that this is something to look forward to.

UniMuta: Hi Monika,
I’m really looking forward to the upcoming concert of the Monika Roscher BigBand at Zappanale. I still remember being blown away by your previous appearance, in 2018.
I assume you’re looking forward to the trip to Bad Doberan. How do you look back on the 2018 concert and what happened since then?

Monika Roscher: We’re really looking forward to Zappanale — though not so much to the journey itself! :)

The train company (Deutsche Bahn) has thrown us into chaos once again by cancelling our long-booked group tickets just two weeks before the festival, which means we’ve had to rearrange everything — including hotels.

But yes, we’re super excited about Zappanale!
2018 was almost magical for us. It’s rare to play a concert where you feel like the audience somehow already knows you — even though they’ve never heard you before. We immediately felt understood, which is something you don’t often experience, especially at festivals. Usually there are always people walking off thinking, “What on earth is this?”
That’s why Zappanale 2018 left such a strong and beautiful impression on us. Some people were still hanging out at the campsite afterward — it was just a wonderful evening all around.

Hopefully we can pick up right where we left off!
Since then, we’ve released two new albums: one is a studio album "Witchy Activities And The Maple Death" released 2023, it is full of new pieces that revolve around the theme of witches, and a live album "Witchy Activities - Live" which is brand-new.

"Witchy Activities - Live" album artwork

UniMuta: With 18 musicians in your band and by performing adventurous music, I can imagine that this is not the easiest band to manage and to find opportunities to perform.
What’s the hardest part: matching the agendas of the musicians, or finding clubs or festivals that are interested in your music?
Earlier this year, the BigBand performed at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival in Portugal. Is this something that you would like to do more often? Gigs abroad?

Monika Roscher: Planning for the Big Band is completely crazy — sometimes it feels like hell! But not because of the people — they’re all dear friends, and there’s nothing better than being on the road with this bunch. It’s just that everything adds up: booking trains (we try to travel eco-friendly), organizing hotels and rehearsals… and with the band spread all over Germany — from Berlin to Munich to Innsbruck — it gets complicated fast. Then there are always surprises: someone gets sick, a train is canceled, a laptop is left behind, even a person is left behind… Looking back, it’s actually pretty funny what we’ve already been through.

It’s exhausting at times, but once we’re on stage, all the stress disappears. It’s totally worth it. And the band makes it easier — everyone’s quick to respond and super helpful. We all want to have a good time, and that spirit is what makes our group so special: we’re not just making music, we’re living shared adventures.

As for your question — what’s harder: organizing the musicians or finding places to play? Honestly, both! We get a lot of messages from fans wanting us to come to their cities, but finding clubs or festivals open to our kind of adventurous music isn’t always easy — especially without a booking team. But we’re definitely eager to play more internationally.
Performing at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival in Portugal earlier this year was amazing — such a beautiful festival. We’d love to do more gigs like that abroad!

UniMuta: Frank Zappa was known to push his musicians to the limit of the technical capabilities, and sometimes even further. When you compose for the BigBand, do you have the musicians in mind? Do you write parts that match their sound or personalities?

Monika Roscher: Absolutely! I always have the musicians in mind when I write music. Everyone in the band has their own unique style—that’s something I really love—and I try to incorporate that as much as possible. I know where each musician’s strengths lie, and together we constantly explore how to navigate limits. For example, if there’s a section where it’s impossible to breathe, we find ways to distribute the parts so there are no gaps. Or we talk through what’s realistically doable and adapt accordingly.

When I compose new pieces, I often call individual players to ask if they can record certain passages for me, just to check whether something is playable. I love this kind of close creative exchange.

That said, I compose much slower than Zappa! I’m happy if I manage to release a new album every five years. I get obsessed with every detail—I want to try out everything, fill in every blank. On the way to completing one piece, I’ll often throw away 15 others because they don’t quite come to life the way I imagine. No one hears those, because I didn’t think they were good enough. A lot happens behind the scenes, but in the end, only the music I’m 100% happy with makes it out into the world. If something doesn’t feel quite right, I pull it back and keep working on it.

UniMuta: For your previous album, “Witchy Activities And The Maple Death", you produced some otherworldly videos (and I use ‘otherworldly’ in the most positive way): ‘8 Prinzessinnen’, ‘Firebird’, ‘Witches Brew’, … Do I sense a fantasy / sword & sorcery fascination? Did you compose the music with the visuals in mind? Or how did this come about?

Monika Roscher: The music always comes first — from pure nothingness, or maybe from the entire universe, I honestly don’t know where it comes from. You’re just messing around and suddenly, an idea appears. It’s strange, and I don’t fully understand how it happens.

But as the process unfolds, images start to emerge, and ideas begin to take shape. For our music videos, though, it varies. For '8 Prinzessinnen', we left most of the concept to the video crew of Juri Beythien. My only initial idea was the candle being carried through beautiful German landscapes, slowly burning down. I liked the idea of being followed — but by yourself — without realizing you’re running from your own shadow. And at the end, you think you’ve arrived because you meet your idols, in this case the eight princesses, and believe you’ve become one of them. But that’s an illusion. They only recognize you if they choose to. So, chasing after a fantasy can be misleading — sometimes you have to reach the goal to realize it wasn’t the right path. That connects with the theme of the song, which is loosely about influencers.
We didn’t want to literally recreate the lyrics in the video, but rather add a new layer. Filming it was a blast — we had a small but wonderful team and a great time together!

I’m so happy you asked about 'Firebird'! I absolutely love that video. It was created by my friend Sascha Back from Fürth. She’s an incredible painter — I adore her use of color, her playfulness, her whole aesthetic. She wanted to turn one of her paintings into a music video, and she taught herself the entire animation program from scratch! I’m still amazed. She also paints all our album artwork, and I now have my first original painting hanging at home — it’s the artwork for "Witchy Activities and the Maple Death" our third album. It completely transformed the room.

And one of our most special videos is also 'Starlight Nightcrash', created by Patrick Buhr. He developed an incredibly unique and abstract visual world that perfectly matches the energy and complexity of the music.
Because it’s quite experimental, it hasn’t been watched as much as some of our other videos — but I honestly think it’s one of our best. I’m a big fan of Patrick’s idea and how he brought it to life. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth a watch!

UniMuta: You have just released “Witchy Activities - Live”. On LP and on CD. The music is amazing, and you’ve also added some fine live videos to YouTube. Did you consider releasing a DVD or blu-ray?

Monika Roscher: Our very first live album Witchy Activities – Live was released in mid-June 2025. We recorded it at Ampere in Munich — it was such a cool experience, though we definitely felt the pressure for everything to go smoothly. In the end, we were thrilled that nothing went wrong, the solos turned out great, and we’re honestly really proud of the recording!
You can get the album on our website or on Bandcamp. Every direct purchase means a lot to us — Big Band is a bit of a wild operation, so every order really helps support the whole group!

As for a DVD or Blu-ray — I actually hadn’t thought about that yet. For now, producing LPs and CDs is already quite a big project for us, and Blu-ray would definitely be a next-level challenge. So I don’t think we’ll go there just yet — unless the demand turns out to be huge. Then we might consider it!
But! We did make some new t-shirts for the live album — brand new designs are available now! ;)

UniMuta: Thank you very much, Monika !
Looking forward to some Witchy Activities.

The Monika Roscher BigBand will be performing on the Zappanale main stage on Saturday, 19/07, at 18h30.
Not to be missed !

THE FALL - REFORMATION! POST-TLC

• The Fall: Reformation! Post-TLC
      (2020, 4cd, UK, cherry red)

Initially, The Fall released "Reformation! Post-TLC" in 2007. As a single CD and as a 2LP set on the Slogan Records label.

The enhanced U.S. CD release (on Narnack Records) included some bonus videos, including a live video recording of 'Hungry Freaks, Daddy' (recorded in 2006).
This version got released with different album cover artwork.

In 2020, Cherry Red Records decided to do an expanded 4 CD re-release: the original album plus lots of alternative and bonus tracks, plus one live disc. No videos. Only audio.
The live disc also included The Fall's performance of 'Hungry Freaks, Daddy' (recorded in 2007).
(The live disc got previously released as "Last Night At The Palais April 1st 2007" on the Sanctuary record label, in 2009)"

Here's the video from the 2007 U.S. album:

HEAVY CRUISER - LUCKY DOG

• Heavy Cruiser: Lucky Dog
      (1973, lp, USA, family productions)
      (2025, lp, Spain, out-sider records)

L.A.-based band Heavy Cruiser released two albums in the early seventies.
"Lucky Dog", their second album, featured Kerry McNabb as engineer.

Re-issued on the Spanish out-sider records label.

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

 

DAVID BOWIE - LAZARUS

Earlier today, my buddy Harald mentioned David Bowie in an e-mail...

Which reminds me, I should give Frank Zappa's "Civilization Phaze III" another spin before we kick off our Zappanale trip.

A SHORT CHAT WITH VALENTINA SCHELDHOFEN CIARDELLI

The Ciardelli-Drago-Strano Trio will be performing twice at this year’s Zappanale festival.
Expect compositions by Frank Zappa, but also by other composers, in a baroque, classical setting.
A Short Chat with double bass player, arranger and composer Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli felt necessary.

UniMuta: Hi Valentina,
We’ll be seeing you at Zappanale soon, where you will be performing as part of a trio with Anaïs Drago (violin/ voice) and Riccardo Angelo Strano (countertenor) with whom you recently recorded and released the beautiful “Sheik Your Duty” album (out on the Parco Della Musica record label).
Next to Bad Doberan, you’ve also performed a pre-concert at the St.Katharinenkirche in Hamburg a couple of times. Always with different projects. How do you look back on these? And how does it feel to return to Zappa Town Bad Doberan?

Valentina: Looking back at my performances at the St. Katharinenkirche in Hamburg, I always feel a strong connection with that space. I’ve performed there several times with very different ensembles (like Vibes Duo with the fab Benjamin Boo from Singapore in 2017 and Napoleon Murphy Brock in 2018). Each time I’ve felt artistically free and respected. That church holds a deep, resonant silence that listens with you while you play. And on top of that Hamburg is the city where I have roots, my mother was born and raised there so Hamburg has a special place in my heart.

(Valentina & Benjamin Boo at the St. Katharinenkirche, 2017)

Returning now to Bad Doberan feels like returning to family, to a place where curiosity and bold creativity are welcomed with open arms. Zappanale is unique in its openness to genre-blending and boundary-pushing — and I love that spirit and I hope it will last in the future, we need a festival like that, we need it because we need to keep Frank's legacy!

UniMuta: This year, you will be performing twice. Once on the main stage, but also at the expo. Is there a different approach in playing? Open air and amplified versus an acoustic setting?

Valentina: Playing twice at Zappanale, once on the main stage (One Size Fits All), and once at the expo is exciting because it demands two completely different approaches. On the main stage, the amplification and outdoor setting give you the chance to project powerful gestures and larger-than-life energy. It becomes theatrical and grand: the sound it’s being filtered and carried by a PA system into an open space which is a challenge for an acoustic set-up as ours.

 
At the expo, in contrast, the acoustic setting calls for intimacy and more close listening, the true chamber music experience for me. Every small dynamic detail and expressive breath matters. As performers, we must adapt our phrasing, articulation, and even our mental energy to suit the size of the room and the audience's proximity. Both performances are equally challenging but in opposite ways. I find it enriching to be able to switch between the two and showcase the trio in these two different settings! Can't wait!

(The Ciardelli-Drago-Strano Trio)  

UniMuta: November last year, we saw you in concert in Rotterdam, NL, with Letizia Maulà, with your “From Puccini to Zappa” program. It was a passionate performance. How difficult is it to find like-minded musicians to participate in your projects? Do you meet musicians and then start a project, or do you come up with a project first and then have to search for the other musicians?

Valentina: Your question about how I find musicians really touches the core of my artistic path. I met Letizia Maulà during a festival at Teatro Argentina in Rome, and we immediately started discussing how the double bass and clarinet blend beautifully in a chamber music context. We began rehearsing and seeking out performance opportunities. To me, the dynamics within a chamber group are very similar to those of a friendship, a romantic partnership or a family relationship. There must be mutual respect, trust, and a shared artistic vision. Especially today, with the massive transformations and crises within the music industry, particularly in classical and contemporary fields, it’s increasingly common to find highly skilled virtuosos who are willing to invest time and energy in building something unique and authentic. Artists are carriers of meaning, and now more than ever, despite the effort, the disappointments, and the resilience it requires, we need performers who stand for something on stage. It’s the only way to reconnect with an audience that often feels disillusioned or distanced from classical music. Live music is a treasure, a vital part of human identity that has existed since the dawn of time. Music is a universal language, capable of conveying stories, emotions, and messages. The audience is just as active as the performers. When we play, there is no “us” and “them”, there is only a single community, exchanging something meaningful together. That, for me, is the greatest value of music and performance, and I always seek collaborators who share that same approach.

I’d say that finding the right musicians is a mix of instinct, chance, and vision. I met extraordinary artists and kindred spirits, like Anna Astesano, my partner in The Girls in the Magnesium Dress, and a natural synergy gives birth to a new project. Like in our repertoire Ruutsu or How I Met Puccini, it was our shared love for theatrical storytelling and genre-blending that brought us together almost instantly. Other times, I already have a clear concept in mind, and I actively search for the right musical personalities to embody it. What matters most is curiosity, openness, and a willingness to take risks. I’m drawn to artists who listen deeply and treat music not as a fixed form but as a living, breathing organism. Art is not polite, art is not on-demand, art is our tool of expression, we give voice to human psychological, emotional and social needs. Working with Anaïs Drago and Riccardo Angelo Strano on Sheik Your Duty was exactly that: three strong, unique identities uniting to tell a story — with no compromise, but with deep mutual respect and love for art and performance.

 

("Shake Your Duty", album cover)

UniMuta: Dispite your busy schedule, or should I say: “because of your busy traveling schedule”, you recently started a campaign to capture and to improve the rules for the transportations of musical instruments.
I also learned that you don’t always travel with your double bass. Sometimes you hire or lend an instrument to avoid travelling with it?
People can sign the petition for support, but they can also, voluntarily, show their support by making a donation.
How has the petition been going so far?

Valentina: Yes, the petition is something I care about deeply because I’ve lived the nightmare of traveling with a musical instrument far too many times. Transporting a musical instrument is logistically complex, emotionally stressful, and mostly financially unsustainable. Inconsistent airline policies, oversized baggage fees, damage risks, and a general lack of understanding from travel staff, it's a serious obstacle to our work. Sometimes I’ve had to rent or borrow instruments locally, which always feels like giving up a part of myself. That’s why I launched the petition at the end of May 2025 to advocate for fair, clear, and consistent international rules for traveling with musical instruments. Our instruments are not cargo. They're part of us. They deserve dignity and care. So far, the petition has reached thousands of signatures, and many colleagues and institutions have shared it and supported it. Some have also made donations, which are helping the platform to reach over more people. But it is not enough, we need everyone in this campaign because, Music is for everyone and not a luxury service. We need even more visibility especially from festivals, orchestras, and venues that rely on traveling artists.

Here’s the petition link to sign, share and support:

👉 https://www.change.org/p/rules-for-the-transport-of-musical-instruments

It’s not just a personal cause — it’s about creating a better and fairer future for all professional musicians. For all of us. My instrument is NOT a Luggage. It's an extension of my body, the tool that allows me to express myself and deliver an artistic message to the community.

 
As Frank Zappa said :

Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is THE BEST.

I don't know why, but to me this quote is the most human thing ever written, and it makes me cry all the time.
Thank you, Frank, for everything you brought to this crazy world.

UniMuta: Beautiful words. Thank you very much , Valentina.
We’ll see you soon and we’re extremely looking forward to it.

The Ciardelli-Drago-Strano Trio will perform at the main stage on Friday at 20h30, and at the expo in the centre of town on Saturday, at 11h00.
We’re in for a treat. Don’t miss this !!

JOE SATRIANI & NED EVETT

Joe Satriani and Ned Evett have launched Satchtoons Media.

www.satchtoons.com

The first (?) 'release' is some sort of tablet that presents some animated videos and audio files.
I picked it up at a recent SatchVai Band gig.

It's a fun gadget, and I do hope that the website will become operation soon so that I can check out if it can do more than just play the videos.

HELMUT KING

Graphic artist Helmut King will be presenting his "Artworks / Monografie" catalogue at Zappanale.

300 pages of graphic madness.

Here's a picture of the "Music Is The Best" (2017) postcard:

FZ IN THE MAGAZINES

German 'Good Times' magazine, issue 169, 6/2020, had a 4-page articles on Frank Zappa: 2 pages on his discography and 2 pages on Pauline Butcher's book.

The Nov/Dec 2008 issue of "Record Collector" magazine, had FZ on the cover. and 7 pages inside (about the Joe's Garage music, and about FZ's "Mystery Disc" album.

LA JUNGLE & KERMESZ A L'EST

Jim and Roxie are better known as La Jungle, .
A couple of years ago they teamed up with KermesZ à l'Est to record some tracks.
The result can be found on two mini albums: "Junkz" and "Junkz II".

I hadn't heard of the project but when I saw the artwork of both releases, I just knew I had to give it a listen.
With such artwork, chances would be good that I would like it.
And I did.

It resulted in me buying both 12"s.
Great music, and stunning album artwork by Mathieu Flasse / Warvin

-

A SHORT CHAT WITH JOHN PARKINSON (TREACHEROUS CRETINS)

 'Treacherous Cretins' is not just a captivating guitar solo / composition by Frank Zappa, it's also the name of a U.K. Frank Zappa tribute band.
An excellent U.K. Frank Zappa tribute band.
And they will be returning to Zappa Town Bad Dobaran for the Zappanale festival that will kick off next week.
They'll be headlining the festival and their line-up will feature Robert Martin on keyboards, sax, and vocals.
Reason enough for a short chat with Treacherous Cretins' drummer (and nice chap) John Parkinson.

UniMuta: Hi John, Let’s kick off by telling everyone that Snarky Puppy is the best band around at the moment, before we get to the more serious stuff.
Kidding aside, I do think that Snarky Puppy is sensational. We hesitated to attend the Utrecht recording session earlier this year. It just didn’t fit in…
So, Treacherous Cretins will be performing the music of Frank Zappa at Zappanale. As headliner. Saturday evening. I can imagine that you’re looking forward to it.

John Parkinson: The performance by Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest was a masterclass in musicianship. It was absolutely fantastic. I think there’s a real kinship between their approach and what Zappa championed: music that’s full of different genres and complex but sounds great! Sitting in the middle of that atmosphere whilst they recorded their session felt like being in the band! I can't wait to see the finished product when it comes out in September. I hate to say it Peter, but you missed a terrific show.

(John, Jen & Michael League)

As we gear up for Zappanale, I’m hoping we can carry some of that energy into our own set. Being up there again, playing the music we adore, with Robert on stage beside us, in front of the beloved Zappa community… it’s another dream come true, and yes; we are all really looking forward to it. If the stars align, it's going to be a dynamite show. 

UniMuta: You played at Zappanale in 2019. In the meantime, you’ve toured the U.K. twice with Robert Martin as your special guest. (We caught you in London in April 2024 and that was a great show.) How was it to tour with Robert?

John Parkinson: It’s an absolute privilege—sometimes I still have to pinch myself! I first discovered Zappa thanks to my dad, watching Does Humor Belong in Music? on video. That was my gateway into the world of complex arrangements, biting wit, and FZ's fearless originality. And to think that all these years later, I get to perform that music onstage with Robert, someone who lived it—that’s just surreal.

Beyond his legendary status, Robert’s become a friend and mentor to us all. He’s got a treasure trove of stories, and he’s generous enough to share them—whether it’s tales from working with Frank, or gems about Stevie Nicks and Etta James. I actually pieced together a YouTube video recently highlighting some of his incredible career moments from our time chatting in the tour bus on the recent run. Any Zappa fan should give it a watch—these stories need to be shared!

UniMuta: I also found these great clips on YouTube and Bandcamp. Songs that you did with Ray White, Craig ‘Twister’ Steward, Martin Henneck and Robert Martin. How did that come about? And how did you do it, technically speaking?

John Parkinson: It started in the most unexpected way—just sitting at home during Covid, not doing much, trying to keep busy. 2020 was the year Frank would’ve turned 80, so we thought, wouldn’t it be cool to honour him with a virtual show? And from there, the idea bloomed. We decided to turn it into a charity event to raise money for prostate cancer, with people donating whatever they felt they could.

We wanted to make it special, so we reached out to some of the Zappa alumni and other great musicians we've met along the way — and to our surprise, they all said yes. It was a labour of love from start to finish. Sam would create a skeleton track and send it out to each musician. Everyone recorded their parts at home, sent the audio back to Sam for mixing, and filmed themselves performing. Those videos came to me, and I edited everything together. It took hours! But we had nothing much else to do. No rehearsing; no shows. We were mixing and editing right up to the day of the virtual show. The video is on our YouTube channel:

I’m so glad we did it. Not only did we get to know Robert better—something that eventually led to touring with him—but we also kept spirits up, stayed musically active, and got to celebrate the music we love with people around the world during such a difficult time; and raise a few quid for charity.

UniMuta: Beautiful. Thank you.
With Ray White being present at the festival, might there be a chance that he will do a song with you?

John Parkinson: Well nothing is planned, but the magic of Zappanale is such that you never know what might happen! We recorded with Ray for the Zappa 80th virtual show... so who knows!

UniMuta: Thank you for taking your time to answer these questions, John.
Have a safe trip and see you soon.

Treacherous Cretins, featuring Robert Martin, will be performing on the Zappanale main stage on Saturday, 19/07, at 21h00.

ORCHESTRE TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP - SHUT OUT / NOE

The Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp is another band that I discovered through Zappanale.

Next to their albums, the band also releases 7" singles from time to time.

One of these, the 2022 'Shut Out / Noe', presented two tracks from the sessions that led to "We're OK".
Limited edition of 500 copies.

https://www.redwig.org/shop/orchestre-tout-puissant-marcel-duchamp-shut-out-noe-7/

ANTONIO D'ONOFRIO - IL GENIO DI FRANK ZAPPA

• Antonio D'Onofrio: Il Genio Di Frank Zappa
      (2025, book, Italy, private release)

320 pages.
In Italian.
Antonio discusses FZ's discography, from "Freak Out" to the 50the anniversary edition of "Apostrophe(')".

SANDRO OLIVA - CICCIO / SAUNA

• Sandro Oliva & the Blue Pampurio's Extravaganza: Ciccio / Sauna
      (1998, cdr promo, Italy, private release)

Over 20 years ago, Sandro Oliva released "Ciccio / Sauna" as a promotional CDR.
I'm not too sure about the year of release.
The info sheet does mention: "Composed, produced & arranged by S.O. - 1998",
but the same info sheet also refers to Sandro's "Heavy Lightning" album (from 2004).

Anyway, I knew the white label sticker version (with a cover and a back-cover), and recently I found this black label sticker version (only with a back-cover).

'Ciccio' is a fine Zappa-esque piece with beautiful guitar solo, and 'Sauna' is a 'King Kong' inspired piece.
Very nice.

A SHORT CHAT WITH YUVAL RON

The Yuval Ron Trio is taking the final slot at the Zappanale Festival.
They'll perform Sunday evening, around 20h30.
Time for a Short Chat with Yval Ron.

UniMuta: Hi Yuval,
It has been a while since we’ve been in touch. Must have been pre-covid. I did see that you did gigs in Germany, The Netherlands, The U.K. and even Israel the last couple of years.
And it looks like you’ve got a tour scheduled for 2025/2026.
So, how are you? What have you been up to, lately?
If I’m not mistaken, you were scheduled to perform at last year’s edition of the Zappanale festival. What happened?

YR: That's right, during Covid there wasn't much going on except "Live Against The Virus", a live streaming show we did, the online edition of Fusion festival and some small features here and there. However, ever since then, we've been touring extensively in Europe and played some incredible venues, including our own Prog Nights series which got some serious audience love, especially in Berlin. We even got to play in the Faroe Islands a few months ago. Unfortunately our Israel show was cancelled because of the war.

Indeed, we were supposed to play Zappanale last year. Honestly I'm not sure what happened, but from my understanding some weeks before the show the Bad Doberan municipality decided that it was scheduled for too late as there's some kind of noise curfew there, so the festival team had to postpone our show to this year. Oh well, at least this time Zappanale isn't happening in parallel to Night Of The Prog so there might be some more audience coming to Bad Doberan.

UniMuta: Your music is a beautiful eclectic mix of progressive rock, fusion and jazz. Beautiful, but not easy to perform. Who will accompany you on stage?

YR: Thank you! I very much agree that it's not easy to perform, haha. If we don't play it live for even a couple of weeks I always have to warm up the engines and practice my own parts to find and "reload" whatever small bits I forgot.

With me on stage will perform my regular trio of astronauts: Commander Victor Nissim on bass and Mission Specialist Yatziv Caspi on drums.

UniMuta: You will be playing the closing concert at Zappanale. Usually, this is sort of an after-party concert at a smaller stage. This year it will be at the main stage. That can only add to the joy.
Will you be performing music from “Somewhere In This Universe, Somebody Hits A Drum”? Or will it be newer material?
Are there plans for a new album?

YR: Yes, most of the stuff will be from "Somewhere In This Universe, Somebody Hits a Drum" plus a couple of newly arranged tunes from previous albums, as I felt that I want to give our audiences the opportunity to experience the complete album live before moving on. Our 2025 shows will pretty much be the last ones where we play it in its entirety. There are new tunes I'm working on and the plan is to record them into a new album in 2026 and play them live then.

In addition, there is a special new single and video coming up August 1st with bassist Bryan Beller from the Aristocrats and drummer Simon Schröder. It's a really cool tune in which I add one of my newest passions, virtual orchestration, to the mix, so stay tuned for its coming release!

UniMuta: Something to look forward to ! Thank you, Yuval.

The Yuval Ron Trio will be performing at the Zappanale main stage on 20h30 on Sunday.
A not-to-be-missed concert in my book !

DR FUNKENSTEIN - I'M THE SLIME

 Billy Cosmosis AKA Dr Funkensthein

'I'm The Slime' (F.Zappa)

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Marcetta e Precipitato'
by Eidon

A SHORT CHAT WITH CHEAP THRILLS

Dutch Frank Zappa tribute band Cheap Thrills will be performing at Zappanale, so here's a short chat with John van der Schaaf (mallets, e-percussion, vocals)

UniMuta: Hi John,
I remember seeing Cheap Thrills performing at the Mosae Zappa festival in Landgraaf, NL, last year. An enjoyable concert by a rock band that included a horn section (yes !!).
Can you elaborate a bit on how it all started? How did the band come together.
Do you have many opportunities to perform the music of Frank Zappa? Have you already toured, or do you just do one-off projects?

John: The Cheap Thrills project started some 7 or 8 years ago when in some kind of meeting with local music and art people, Hans Malagride came to me and said: "You’re a Zappa fan aren't you?". I told him that I was on which he replied that Zappa's passing would be 25 years ago. “Shouldn't we arrange some kind of memorial concert?”.

Also present at that meeting was the director of the local music school and I knew that he had played in a Zappa band years ago. The 3 of us sat together and we made a plan. I had (and still have) a complete band. Steffen (director) still had his lead-sheets from the early days, and based upon these things we all went our separate ways to prepare for a rehearsal. We did that memorial concert in our own small town, but the regional newspaper wrote a large article about it, which made the venue way too small for all the people that wanted to see the show. 

At that same night several people came to us and said things like “You guys have to play at our venue too”....
The rest is history. We haven't had a lot of opportunities to play. Most probably because Zappa's music is not as popular in Holland than it is in other countries. We all would like to play more. A lot more.

UniMuta: 11 people on stage. That’s quite a lot. Will everybody be able to make it to Bad Doberan? Have any of the musicians visited Zappanale in the past?

John: We all will be at the Zappanale festival (if the trip works out).
No one has ever been at the Zappanale before. Really looking forward to that!

UniMuta: If my memory serves me right, Cheap Thrills brought a selection of Frank Zappa’s best-known songs. Still, not the easiest selection. Did you need to re-arrange some of the songs? How do you decide on the setlist?

John: About the songs... We try to stay as close to the original as we can be, but at the same time we kinda 'mix up' several versions of a song to the version that suits us best. This also means that we mix jokes from one show into another version of the same song. But,… all based upon original Zappa performances.

Your question about 'how to decide on what song' is a good question. As I wrote, we started with what Steffen still had in his archive, and from that moment on it is kinda based upon our personal preferences. Jan (keyboards), Steffen (horn section) and I (mallets/vocals) were familiar with Zappa’s music. The three of us just said what we liked best and that's what we play.

UniMuta: That sounds great.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, John.
Have a safe trip to Zappa Town & See you soon.

Friday will kick off with Scott Thunes’ Rock School, after which there will be Don Preston solo piano, the Hopscotch / The White Page ensemble, and the Ciardelli-Drago-Strano trio.
In other words, it will all go crescendo sound- and volume-wise. Cheap Thrills will the first rock band that will take the stage on Friday (around 22h00). That could make for a very special atmosphere.
This will be fun. Be there !

THE ARF-DOSSIER - VOL. 124

• The Arf-Dossier Vol. 124
      (2025, fanzine, Germany, arf society)

Issue no. 124 of the Arf Dossier arrived right in time for Zappanale.

the arf-dossier no.124 - 2025/06 incl.

• leserpost
• Zappa spielt nicht mehr für Bach
• NDR Big Band meets Ensemble Modern
• the Greenaway essays
• the rare pictures gallery
• cheaper than cheep
• the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope
• the vinyl bootleg releases
• zapparossa
• news from belgium - live from United Mutations
• ullis ecke
  
  

MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND - WITCHY ACTIVITIES - LIVE

• Monika Roscher Bigband: Witchy Activities - Live
      (2025, 2lp, Germany, zenna records)
      (2025, cd, Germany, zenna records)

Bewitched might be the right word.
I think I'm bewitched.

Ever since I saw the Monika Roscher Bigband I'm a devout follower.
The band has released a handful of beautiful albums and the latest one, "Witchy Activities - Live", is no exception.

I was in doubt if I should indulge myself in these witchy activities, as this will probably be the show that we'll be seeing at the Zappanale festival next week, and I still wanted it to be some sort of surprise, but I couldn't resist.

One word.
Superb.

Out on LP and on CD.
9 tracks on the CD, but the LP has 2 bonus tracks !
https://www.monikaroscher.com/

THE TINSELTOWN REBELLION BAND

Who remembers the Tinseltown Rebellion Band?
Well, they're back.
The band did a concert September last year, and they will be doing some gigs in 2025 as well.

September 6, 2025, The Tinseltown Rebellion Band will perform the music of Frank Zappa at the Burg Wilhelmstein arena in Würselen, DE.
(= near Aachen) 

------------

 

THE VEGETARIANS HAVE A NEW SINGLE OUT

Hans Annellsson's Vegetarians have a new single out.
Actually, it's an EP: 3 completely different versions of 'Salute Me', plus 'The Parade' and 'Boots On The Ground'.

PANOPTICON

More improvised music from Domenico Solazzo's Panopticon.
Recorded in 2008.

This time with:

• Olivier Catala (bass)
• Pascal Dalmasso (electric guitar)
• Antoine Guenet (keyboards)
• Daniel Palomo Vinuesa (soprano saxophone, ewi, effects)
• Domenico Solazzo (drums, direction)

 

SATCHVAI

Yesterday, we went to see the SatchVai Band in Düsseldorf, DE.
We had seen the band in Antwerp but decided we just had to see them again.

Antwerp had fine seats, fifth row, a bit on the side. Excellent view, but the sound wasn't too good.
We couldn't hear Joe's guitar too well (he was on the other side of the stage), and it was way too loud.
That's the choice you often have to make. View versus sound.
Still, one of the best shows I had ever seen.

Düsseldorf had us in row 22. the view was more than OK and the sound was superb.
It doesn't get much better than this.

-- picture: Harald Häring

 

FRANK ZAPPA'S 1974 BAND ON THE COVER OF JAZZ MAGAZINE

The July 2025 issue of the French Jazz Magazine has Frank Zappa's 1974 band on the cover !
Celebrating "Cheaper Than Cheep" with a nice 6-page article inside.

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

MEN & VOLTS

A recent recording by Men & Volts has been uploaded to the band's Bandcamp page.

GARY HUSBAND

An update from Gary Husband on his upcoming "Postcards From The Past" album.
To be released on the MoonJune Records label.

For those of you who haven’t heard about this project, it’s a double album packed with previously unreleased material bringing to light music from all elements of my career ranging from the late seventies all the way through to this last decade.

It includes my first ever demo recording with my dear friend and musical brother Allan Holdsworth back in 1979 (well before the IOU record) as well as a fabulous track from the IOU album itself that never made the cut. There are also other fun surprises for guitar fans such as tracks with Steve Topping and even three tracks with myself on acoustic guitar! Throughout, I feature on both drums and keyboards/piano and have included some of my favourite bootlegs and live board tapes from concerts that were personal highlights for me, not least of my all-star band Force Majeure (featuring Randy Brecker, Jerry Goodman, Jim Beard, Arto Tunçboyaciyan, Elliot Mason and Matt Garrison) at Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton, UK.

A SHORT CHAT WITH FRED HÄNDL AND ARMIN BECK (THE ARF! DUO)

The ARF! DUO will be performing at Zappanale, so here's a short chat with both Fred Händl (keyboard) and Armin Beck (drums & percussion)

UniMuta: Hi Fred, hi Armin,
I was happy to learn that you guys will be performing at Zappanale. Together. As The Arf! Duo.

Fred, I’ve seen you in different settings and bands, from solo performances to rock band settings. This obviously affects the approach (and the freedom) when performing. Which one(s) do you prefer, and why? 

Fred: Playing solo, as part of a duo, or as part of a large band, is indeed totally different. I can’t say which I like best, because they all have their perks (and challenges). Being part of a band feels more like a job—you’re a gear in the clockwork. There’s no time for improvisation or starting over… also, the interaction with the audience is different (pretty much non-existent). It does feel a lot safer, though—everything that happens on stage is shared with the whole band. That’s what makes playing in a band so much fun. What I also really love about band life are the hours before and after gigs: hanging out, laughing, traveling, sharing stories—especially on tour.

Solo performances, I also really enjoy. What I probably love most is the connection with the audience. I don’t just want to play the piano—I want to tell a story. When the audience is really quiet, I know they’re listening. Of course, everyone will imagine their own version of that story (even me!), and that’s what makes playing solo piano so special. I also love the challenge of premiering a piece at every concert. Sometimes I announce it, sometimes not. It’s always a thrill, and it makes me incredibly nervous—but I always do it, because it’s a rush! I compare it to a rollercoaster: once it starts, there’s no turning back. It’s scary… but when it’s over, you’re full of good energy.

There’s one tune I’ve never played live without making a mistake. Still, it’s on every setlist. I’m not proud of that—but I kind of like it that way. I do try to get it right. I really do. “Hoping one day I’ll get it right.” 

Playing as a duo is something else again. What I love most is that when we’re locked in, it feels like the music is playing us, instead of us playing the music. Little mistakes can become features and lead us somewhere completely new. Playing with the amazing drummer Armin is a privilege. I know he’s always got my back—and I do my best to have his. :-)

UniMuta: Armin, as a drummer, especially in Frank Zappa’s music, and even more so when you perform as part of a duo, you can’t hide. Does this affect the choice of the pieces that you will be performing? Do you want to play pieces that highlight the drums more. Is this something that you have discussed between the two of you?

Armin: Of course, you can't hide in a duo, although I chose the drums as my instrument back then so I could hide from flying beer glasses if necessary. But seriously, two years ago I persuaded Fred to form a more intimate and flexible Zappa group: Why not a chamber music ensemble, just piano and drums, instead of a classic rock band with lots of amplifiers and guitars? There are enough wonderful Zappa tribute bands, so we decided to carve out a niche with this somewhat unusual arrangement. I was once fascinated by an LP by pianist Patrick Moraz and drummer Bill Bruford entitled "Music for piano & drums," which opened my eyes and ears, and still does! Wonderful! ... So my first suggestion to Fred was: Let's do "Zappa for Piano & Drums." Because Fred is not only a gifted pianist but also a great guy with a great sense of humor, we called ourselves The ArF-Duo! (Humor alert: Ar just happens to stand for Armin and F for Fred... ;-)

Of course, this duo lineup influences our setlist. The songs have to be pared down to their essential rhythmic and melodic elements, and Fred has already done a lot of groundwork through his impressive solo career. I "only" had to adapt the rhythmic side to his recordings, which was my homework before the first rehearsal. That was really fun, but I don't want to put the drums in the foreground. That's unnecessary, because the pieces we'll play will sound completely different from what the classic Zappa listener expects. It's more about intimacy and sound, not about artistic fireworks on the drums. I'll leave that to the really good Zappa drummers. All in all, Fred and I are happy to be playing together, and even happier when the audience is part of the action.

UniMuta: Fred, you’ve released several Frank Zappa tribute albums. Excellent albums, by the way. Was it a deliberate choice to put these out on CD and on LP? I can tell you that I for one love albums as physical objects, but I can imagine that it takes a lot of effort. How do you make it a valid business case?

Fred: Ha! I like that: a valid business case :-) … There is nothing valid about that whole process. On “The Poodle Magic Pig Type” (the yellow vinyl and CD), I lost about 1500 euros. But it was worth every cent. That project opened so many doors! All the people I’ve met since, all the gigs, travels, and fun in the years that followed were priceless. Same with “Fred Händl Plays the Music of Frank Zappa” (2015)—same story (but I lost less). With “Tovarishchi”, I broke even, so with “ZAPPA”, I decided to do everything independently. It’s not a valid business case at all—but I love doing it and will keep doing it.

UniMuta: Armin, percussion and drums have been a trademark of Frank Zappa’s music throughout his career. Is that what attracted you to Frank Zappa’s music? And do you think that drummers listen to FZ’s work (and to modern day composers like Varèse and Webern) in a different way than us, regular non-drummers?

Armin: I didn't discover Zappa until a little later in my drumming career. In my younger years, I had classical drumming training from a typical Central European background and played music in 4/4 or 3/4 time. After a while, I thought it was no big deal. So, I discovered prog-rock bands like King Crimson and Yes, who used polyrhythms. Through a friend, I came across Zappa's “Joe’s Garage” LP and couldn't believe my ears. What Vinnie Colaiuta played is still a mystery to me—he's a drummer from another planet. But so are all the other drummers... Ralph Humphrey, Chester Thompson, Terry Bozzio, and Chad Wackerman, to name a few. The unusual stuff they played broadened my horizons even further. Thanks guys, and thanks to Frank Zappa for writing this fantastic stuff. I'm sure I speak for countless other drummers worldwide. And of course, I believe that truly interested percussionists listen with either an "analytical" and/or a "joyful" ear.

But to fully answer your question: My career began in a typical German band, where I learned drums, percussion, and timpani. This also opened my ears to classical compositions, including the music of Varèse. Sometimes I try 'Ionisation', but it's quite difficult. More difficult than thrash, metalcore and techno mixed in a blender.

UniMuta: The Arf! Duo will be performing at the Joe’s Garage Exhibition Room. This seems like a perfect setting. Can you already tell us what to expect?

Fred: Er… well. It’s going to be something different. A small, intimate venue, at a convenient time (right after the last coffee / first beer). Zappa classics will be played—maybe some singalongs, and a surprise or two ;-)

Armin: Expect the unexpected. Fred and I will have joy together with good laughs in-between and sometimes maybe some jazzy accidents. We have a rough outline of what we want to do, but with each rehearsal, the outline is filled with different colours. So, we are excited to see how we will present the setlist to our guests! And if it doesn't work out, I can seek shelter behind my drumkit! ;-)

UniMuta: Thanks guys !

The Arf! Duo will be performing at the Joe’s Garage Exhibition Room on Friday and on Sunday.
Located in the centre of Bad Doberan, at the market place (‘Am Markt 3’)
Both times at 12h00.
Sounds like the perfect way to start your day.

In the meantime, check out Fred's albums over at Bandcamp:
https://fredhandl.bandcamp.com/

FABRIZIO FULVIO FAUSTO FIALE

Fabrizio Fulvio Fausto Fiale has recorded a couple of Frank Zappa pieces in the past.

His latest composition, 'mezzaluna siberiana (17edo)' explores microtonal music.

CARLOS ZERPA TALKS ABOUT HIS SCARS, VODKA AND ZAPPA

The Herederos Del Kaos blog published a text by Carlos Zerpa, who you should know from his contribution to Volume 8 of the "Unmatched" CD series, and a who's also present on one of the Zappanale samplers.

"From Mexico City: Scars, Vodka, and Zappa in July"
by Carlos Zerpa

https://herederosdelkaos.blogspot.com/2025/06/Carlos%20.html

A SHORT CHAT WITH GEOFF POINTER (TURBULATOR)

TURBULATOR will be performing at Zappanale, so here's a short chat with TURBULATOR master mind Geoff Pointer.

 
UniMuta: Hi Geoff,
Let me start by saying that you’re the man behind Turbulator, a one-man musical project.
And that you’ve released the excellent “Delusions Of Grandeur” album in June 2024 on Bandcamp.

Geoff: I prefer people to get their first experience of the album from Bandcamp. The streamers just give you a list of named tracks and little or no information at all. On Bandcamp, you don't have to buy it, you can listen to it for free and it's not hard to set up an account there. It's important to me because there are some overarching album notes, and all the tracks have their own notes giving you a better idea of the album's concepts and my overall intent. It's a 47-minute movie for your ears.

UniMuta: Last time we spoke, you were moving from Australia to the U.K.? How did that go? And how did it affect you making music?

Geoff: The main part of that plan is not yet finished, but we are now quite comfortably settled in our new home in England. Basically, my full-time music thing has been significantly disrupted since the release of "Delusions Of Grandeur" on June 21st last year. We were in the UK/Europe visiting relatives, house hunting, going to Zappanale and so on for all of July and the first week of August. I had an acoustic guitar, my alto sax and a drum pad with me and managed to get some practice in but did no significant work on any projects.

We had found a house that we were happy with by the end of that trip, which was unexpected, and brought our plans forward significantly. We then arranged a full building inspection and after deciding it was viable, our first offer was accepted and nearly all our time, for the next three months, was spent selling our house in Adelaide, and all that is associated with making that happen. Again, squeezing in small amounts of instrument practice.

Our house was finally sold by November 19th, by which time all our flights and shipping plans were fully booked, only to find out at the last minute that our house purchase in the UK was delayed until January. So, we flew into Birmingham on November 23rd and caught a taxi to where we had remotely purchased our new motorhome and ended up living in that for three and a half months. We weren't able to move into our new place until March 14th.

Most of the important stuff has been done to make living in the house comfortable, so I'm now building my new studio, using the room within a room method. It's a brick shed and I've now finished building the stud-walled and ceilinged room inside. All the soundproofing materials have arrived and are now in position ready to be installed. We will start work on that in August, when we return from our eighteen-day holiday, taking in Zappanale, of course.

The studio is the final stage of our main plan to move here. Hopefully, it'll be finished by the end of August and I'll be able to return to my full-time music routine.

Once our plan to move here is complete, our plans for here will continue. My music is a significant part of that, but the "we" and the "our" includes my amazing wife Julie and she also has plans for things she wants to do. We also have plans for things we want to do together, mainly travelling. Have I said plans too many times?

UniMuta: You (TURBULATOR) will be performing in the Stage Tent at Zappanale festival ground.
On Thursday. At 11h30.
With most people arriving in Bad Doberan on Thursday, those who will be in time for your concert will be in for a treat. Can you tell us what to expect? And how you will be doing it (loops, backing track,…)? Will you be performing material from "Delusions Of Grandeur"?

Geoff: My live act will be different to my album in the key sense that I'll be performing solo live, with no overdubbing or loops. Mainly on guitar playing instrumentals and songs with singing and a little whistling. I will intersperse a few solo alto sax pieces and also some piano. I've only got a week to rehearse because I've been full-time building the studio up until the end of last week. I had done some significant preparation last year and have managed some practice on and off over the last few months, but I've gotten rusty during the studio build.

The set list - not yet finalised - will include one or two solo versions of pieces from "Delusions of Grandeur", also several pieces that are previews of my next album - which is some time away yet - and also some Zappa arrangements.

UniMuta: "Delusions of Grandeur" is an amazing album. Are you considering a second release?

Geoff: I have been studying and composing music since I was a teenager. My main concern during the first six years since I decided to do this full-time back in April 2018 had been skills building. On my four live instruments and with recording and production. That whole time I was also writing and arranging compositions. "Delusions of Grandeur" has compositions written both before and after April 2018. The title track was composed from scratch, except for the "Inanimate Obstinance" interlude, during the month or so leading up to the album's release.

When that album was finished, I had reached a point where I felt ready to continue with my main focus on producing albums. This has been delayed as explained above, but no complaints from me. This is a move I really needed to make and am very happy with how it's turning out. My second album is already quite a long way into planning and alongside that I'm working on a Zappa tribute album. There are already some clues about that on YouTube but I haven't had time to make a video for a long while. It probably won't be until September before Back Shed Studios is back into full swing.

UniMuta: Assuming that you’ll be at Zappanale for the entire duration, what are you most looking forward to? Are there any concerts you absolutely don't want to miss?

Geoff: I'm definitely looking forward to Don Preston's set and the three Banned From Utopia guys, and there is a lot of other interesting stuff on offer. Other than that, I'll keep it under my hat.

UniMuta: Thank you, Geoff. See you soon.

TURBULATOR will be performing on Thursday, at 11h30.
In the Stage Tent, on the festival grounds.
If you happen to arrive early on Thursday, you know where you'll need to be