One of the most successful event series these days to encourage the electronic music culture in Vienna is for sure the Signal Zirkus. The two initiators – Moritz Scharf from the Endorphin.es (eurorack manufacturer) and Markus Taxacher, a Vienna based visual artist – wanted to built up a platform for young electronic artists to perform their music live. For many of them it’s their first time playing in front of an audience so it’s very important for Moriz and Markus to ensure a friendly and harmonic atmosphere where everybody can give it a try easily. From artful avant-garde to pulsing techno. Whether it’s played on modular or laptop or even selfmade instruments, everything is possible as long as it is powered by electricity… step in!

It all begann in a rather small and private setting when Moritz started to organize the first, what we called “Schwurbel-Sessions” (a german term we use in a similar way like knobbing or noodling sessions, though it’s actual meaning is a total different one) for our clear but dedicated modular group at his place. Everyone brought some of his hardware and so we were “schwurbeling” (noodling) until the morning light with pizzas and beer. These sessions were highly appreciated but happened rather sporadic, kind of ad hoc and a little more program would also be very nice, so Moritz was thinking of a way how to make this happen in a more regular and proper way and a bigger place would make sense too.

At this time we had already launched our store and started doing modular workshops for beginners and because our shop is so small and there were so many applications, we asked Markus if we can do the workshop in his atelier rooms and so we did. Moritz also came by and when he told Markus about the idea it was fixed quite fast – this is the place! The concept is simple and exciting at once. The artists respond to an open call that goes out via facebook and mailing list – typically 2-3 weeks before the event – and apply for one out of four time slots (approximately 30 minutes) to perform their show. It is important that the atmosphere at the event is very familial and relaxed, to make it easy for the artists to connect to the audience and vice versa, because it’s not only about the show. It’s also an important aspect to enable communication. Since a lot of the visitors are musicians or synthesizer enthusiasts themselves, they can exchange information about production techniques, arrangements, used and beloved gear and stuff, so it’s becoming kind of a network and a party at the same time!

In the meantime it’s Signal Zirkus #6 and because of to little space, they had to change location again. Since august of this year, the  Signal Zirkus found his new home at Kramladen, a small club in the 16th district – so now there is a real stage and a really nice soundsystem!

We are very happy to participate with a rather unique program there as well presenting Modular Bits between the performances while the stage is being rebuilt for the next artist. Modular Bits are short lectures – not more than 10 minutes – for the folks who are interested in modular especially. Using a small modular system we provide assorted techniques, sort of “how to…”, so people get an idea about what is going on in the system… There is something for everybody at the Signal Zirkus!