The Field Guide

Goodbye, Babylon Marathon

Holland Hopson — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:13:42 +0000

Goodbye, Babylon: I’ve made it to disc 5 of 6. I definitely understand what all the fuss was about and can’t wait to hear some of the tracks over again. But I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and not sure I’ll make it all the way through the last stretch. When did box sets become such an athletic pursuit? Looking forward to the Dust-to-Digital 78 Days to Amazing Abs workout set.

Hardware Store Music Hacks: A Semi-functional Dulcimer Capo

Holland Hopson — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:28:47 +0000

Looking for a cheap and easy dulcimer capo I tried this combination of small clamp covered in a bit of vinyl hose (thank you, home brew!). It mostly works…until I play too hard and the clamp just doesn’t have enough tension to hang on.

Catching Up With Friends Via NewMusicUSA

Holland Hopson — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:16:26 +0000

I stopped by NewMusicUSA today to fill out a grant report for Sonic Frontiers and came across two new videos featuring friends: Neil Rolnick and Nomi Epstein.

Read the full story at NewMusicBox

The Wayback Machine brings us Hunting & Gathering via YOURfLESh

Holland Hopson — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:34:33 +0000

James Keepnews unearthed this January 2003 review of Hunting and Gathering (our duo recording) written by Peter Aaron and published in YOURfLESh. Aaron writes,

…an undeniable abundance of tracks here that feature truly stellar interplay, as well as inspired improvisation; see the stuttering duet, “Border Incident.” Full of distant, creepy sounds and scattered moments of close, guitar-sax discourse, Hunting and Gathering is an enjoyable mash of breath and circuitry.

THATCamp

Holland Hopson — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:15:54 +0000

Just registered for THATCamp Alabama in early August. Looking forward to geeking out in Tuscaloosa.

Another Preview of the Sonic Frontiers Show

Holland Hopson — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:39:58 +0000

AL.com ran another preview of the Sonic Frontiers event with Justin Peake.

Holland Hopson & Justin Peake bringing folk and electronic dance to Sonic Frontiers series tonight

Sonic Frontiers Concert Previewed in Tuscaloosa News and Crimson White

Holland Hopson — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:48:23 +0000

The Tuscaloosa News and UA’s Crimson White have both printed previews of tonight’s Sonic Frontiers show with Justin Peake.

Tuscaloosa News: UA’s Sonic Frontiers series presents avant-folk music
Crimson White: Concert to feature unconventional musicians

Hope to see you at the show!

Thursday March 7 2013 at 7:30pm
Bama Theatre Greensboro Room
600 Greensboro Ave.
Tuscaloosa AL
Admission is Free.

Sonic Frontiers Presents Holland Hopson and Justin Peake

Holland Hopson — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:35:20 +0000

I’m excited to perform next week as part of the Sonic Frontiers season. I plan to play a set of pieces for banjo and electronics drawing from the material on Post & Beam, adding a few new twists, and hopefully including one or two “sound bug” pieces from my Radicans project.

Also on the bill is Justin Peake, a New Orleans based percussionist/composer known for his work as Beautiful Bells. Justin is a Tuscaloosa native, so this will be a homecoming performance for him.

I think it’s going to be a great night!

Thursday March 7 2013 at 7:30pm
Bama Theatre Greensboro Room
600 Greensboro Ave.
Tuscaloosa AL
Admission is Free.

Justin Peake – Workshop at Badabum Atelier from Michelle Ettlin on Vimeo.

Tracktion Lives Again

Holland Hopson — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:03:05 +0000

I loved working with Julian Storer’s Tracktion–the single-screen DAW–when it was released in the early 2000′s. I thought it was the easiest DAW to get into and had the most productive workflow for me. I often recommended it to students who were interested in working with audio as an easy way to try out ideas. I eventually stopped using it sometime after Mackie purchased it in 2003 and then sadly stopped supporting the product. Julian and a few team members have left Mackie and are releasing a new version, Tracktion 4, next week. I think I’ll take it for a spin again.

Improvising with Tim Feeney

Holland Hopson — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:24:15 +0000

Tomorrow is Tim Feeney’s Faculty Recital–sure to be great solo percussion. Tim, Andrew Dewar, Jubal Fulks and I will close the concert with an improvisation.

Wednesday January 16 2013
Tim Feeney Faculty Recital
Concert Hall Moody Music Building
Tuscaloosa AL