"Sell out warning! Another evening of vital image and sound documentation at IC Visual Lab after Majazz Project’s captivating deep dive into Palestinian resistance music. Aka.zato guides us through the politicised world of Okinawan min'yō folk and its fierce opposition to American military presence on the isolated island. "
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Originally hailing from Newry in (N.) Ireland, in 2017 David Mckeown moved to Okinawa, Japan, immersing himself in the local music scene. He organised experimental music nights under the name inis:eto, alongside an ongoing mix series that continues to draw together DJs and selectors from across the globe, all set against the backdrop of Okinawa.
Now based in Bristol, he retains strong connections with Japan. By day he is an academic researcher studying the legal frameworks, contested values and spaces of activism that surround Japan’s satoyama landscapes. By night he is a prolific music selector, recently launching the label Bellyache, alongside a monthly show on Noods Radio and regular parties at Strange Brew under the moniker O.S.T.
David’s musical commitments reach beyond dancefloors, incorporating field recordings, ambient sounds, folk music and overlooked oddities. During his years in Okinawa, music and activism often overlapped, with many dance floor friends involved in efforts to resist the expansion of a nearby US Marine Corps base in Henoko. Studying the colonial histories of both Okinawa/Ryukyu and his native Ireland led to an understanding of the shared importance of sound as a form of cultural resistance. In the case of Okinawa, this sound has often taken the form of Min'yō folk recordings, which stand as a testament to cultural independence and perseverance.
Through a dialogue with images of protest, folk and club culture, the evening will reflect on the intersection of music and resistance in Okinawa. David will be playing a selection of Min'yō folk recordings, unpacking their ongoing significance today. Alongside the music, we will be screening Tomatsu Shomei’s seminal photobook Camp Okinawa. Photographed over a 40-year period (1960-2008), it offers a unique portrait of the island, examining the culture born from the American military presence, as well Okinawa’s relative isolation from the rest of Japan.
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This event is the second of our First Thursdays series. Each event invites a guest to present a collection of music, alongside photography and film. The series focuses upon hidden collections, field recordings, ethnographic sounds and accidental archives, considering what they tell us about today’s entangled world.
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The event takes place at IC Visual Lab: 6 West Street, Bristol, BS2 0BH.