IT’S time for “SoundOut” 2012, a festival of free improvisational and free jazz and experimental music.

SoundOut will present a showcase of the latest international developments in free jazz, free improvisational and experimental music during a two-day festival from January 27-28 at Canberra Repertory’s Theatre 3.

According to director Richard Johnson, the uptake of new social media and new technologies is leading to a rapid increase in the number of new communities engaging with experimental music.

“What we’re seeing globally is exciting. SoundOut Festival is essentially a response and a product of these trends – both at the local level here in Canberra and at a much wider international level,” Johnson said.

He argues that we are enjoying a unique historical period where new media can effectively “hothouse” communication and creativity amongst practitioners and audiences.

“There’s a mushrooming of experimental music communities using social media like online forums, Facebook, and aps that allow for the uploading and downloading of recordings. There’s also a growing scale in terms of the exchange of ideas and practice going on. Likewise there is an exponential growth in terms of the numbers of free improvisational music events and festivals happening around the world,”  said Johnson.

Johnson has been particularly impressed by the interest shown by from top international performers wanting to play here. Although the event missed out on artsACT funding, it’s going ahead with a formidable line-up of musicians.

From France comes free improvising saxophonist Christine Abdelnour with guitarist Ryan Kernoa; from Netherlands pianist/electronics/guitar Cor Fuhler; from Germany, avant-garde flautist Sabine Vogel; from Japan: the electronic improviser Toshimaru Nakamura; from Quebec : the free improvising and free jazz players, bassist Eric Normand; and bass clarinetist/alto saxophonist, Philippe Lauzier; from Sydney: the quixotic wind player Jim Denley; trombonist, Rishin Singh; percussionist/drummer/electronics Robbie Aveniam; double bassist Sam Pettigrew and vocalist improviser, Tony Osborne; and from Canberra come drummer Evan Dorian; electronic artist, Michael Norris; saxophones/bass clarinet/invented instruments, Richard Johnson and trumpeter, Reuben Lewis and more.

SoundOut 2012 is at Theatre 3 From January 27-28. Bookings to 6257 1950. for more details visit http://soundout2012.blogspot.com or to help support the event financially, visit http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/4124/description/0/0