Regina Martinez
Regina Martinez is a sound centered artist based in Chicago. Her current experiments draw from an archive of infinitely personal recordings she relates to as soundmarks: her father's hands cleaning dried beans, drumline rehearsal after school, a creaky front gate to home, the flap of our clothes outside on the line. Each recorded moment becomes its own instrument, its own layer of composition, and a washing and wringing out of memory meant to be overheard like a poem again and again.

Kikù Hibino
Japanese-born sound artist Kikù Hibino produces electronic music that focuses on unusual rhythmic structures and melodies inspired by nature, optical illusion and moiré patterns.Kikù is on the Italian record label Superpang. His work has been shown in  Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago, Bemis Center For Contemporary Arts, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Experimental Sound Studio, Chicago Cultural Center, Three Walls, Compound Yellow, Elastic Arts, Hairpin Arts Center, Hyde Park Art Center, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, among others.  He’s a 2017 Individual Artist Grant recipient from Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, 2021 Outer Ear Artist in Residency at Experimental Sound Studio. Kikù lives and works in Chicago.

Donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us for Side Yard Sounds: presenting the creative music of Dj Baby Chocolate aka Wade Iverson, Daniel Burke & Erik Sowa duo

Compound Yellow 9/22/2023 Oak Park, IL.
7pm to 9pm
BYOB
$15 at the door or pay what you can!
All proceeds go to the artists

Wade Iverson:
Ear Trumpet Recordings Presents:
A night of grooves, sounds and atmospheres courtesy of Dj Baby Chocolate aka Wade Iverson. The program will include a selection and re-interpretation of Iverson’s Dj Disbelieve audio documentary “out of (our) content” (2000), which used field recordings from the Cabrini-Green neighborhood in which Iverson worked from 1990-2004. The cd-rom contained accompanying b+w photos that Iverson shot (w/ permission from the Gangster Disciples), and was called "one of the most significant sound recordings of the early 21st century” by
New City at the time of its release. Part Two of the set will focus upon the recent release “Feelsing” (2023) by Dj Baby Chocolate, which marks a return to live performance and recording after a 15 year hiatus, much of which was spent
studying art and mindfulness/meditation, the latter of which Iverson attained professional status to facilitate and currently teaches. Iverson formed ear trumpet recordings (eartrtumpetrecordings.bandcamp.com) in 1999 and has multiple releases and projects across musical genres. Over the decades, he has had the privilege to share stages with, amongst others, Wilco, Naked Raygun, Ween, Archers of Loaf, Falstaff, Souled American, Richard Buckner, Soul Asylum et al.
Additionally, Iverson writes for the local podcast/blog No Wristbands We Drink For Free! (nowristbands.com)

On this night he is grateful to share the program with sound artist Dan Burke.

Daniel Burke & Erik Sowa duo
Falling somewhere loosely in the cracks between post-rock jazz improvisation and ambient electronic music the duo presents
an open interplay of musical and non-musical ideas. An exploration of sound, communication in pursuit of the good moment and a good time. Playing with the possibilities of sustain, silence, space, texture, environment, and pattern. Embracing the beauty of harmony and dissonance whenever possible.

Sowa: Drums, & objects
Erik Sowa is a drummer/percussionist based out of Chicago. He is currently involved in musical collaborations with Pete Cautious, Thomas Comerford, and Snek Trio. Erik has recently released a solo album of instrumental compositions called "Cedar Lake Recordings Vol. 1" available on his Bandcamp label, Sliptoh Recordings.

Daniel Burke: Guitar, Keys, synth, field recordings, & devices
Equally influenced by atonal modern classical, the ambient music of Brian Eno, the nuanced and free improvisation approach of AMM, and the industrial machinations of Throbbing Gristle, as well as rock, punk, and pop, Dan has been playing with sound since the early 80’s as Illusion of Safety. He has also collaborated in composition, live performance, or recorded with Jim O’Rourke, Darin Gray, Jeb Bishop, Jon Mueller, & Olivia Block, et. al. He has collaborated in ensemble groups CHEER-ACCIDENT, Tertium Quid (w/Bill Horist & Dave Abramson), and Total Sound (w/Chris Block).

https://linktr.ee/danieljamesburke

Join us Saturday September 9th for Side Yard Sounds featuring the creative music of Gerrit Hatcher and Superposition (Todd A. Carter and Michael Hartman)

7pm
BYOB
$5-$15 at the "door"

Bio:

Gerrit Hatcher is a Chicago-based tenor saxophonist, improviser, and composer. Hatcher's work typically engages with free jazz as a craft and set of practices that is as much historical as it is experimental. Gerrit has been involved in several working groups and other ensembles, based in Chicago and beyond. Without enumerating all of them, these have included collaborations with fellow Chicagoans Joshua Abrams, Tyler Damon, Peter Maunu, Julian Kirshner, Paul Giallorenzo, Katie Ernst, Ben Lamar Gay, Keefe Jackson, Dave Rempis, Kent Kessler, Bill Harris, Lia Kohl and Marvin Tate, as well as with artists based elsewhere including Jakob Warmenbol, Rob Magill, Patrick Shiroishi, Eli Namay, Erwan Keravec and Gaspar Claus. Hatcher founded his label Kettle Hole Records in 2019 and, in addition to his releases there, he has released work on Amalgam Music, Julian Kirshner’s imprint JAKI, Astral Spirits, No Index and The Bridge Sessions.

Website:

www.gerrithatcher.com

Superposition:

Superposition was first sparked in 2004 by TV Pow members Todd A. Carter and Michael Hartman. They have been inseparable friends, collaborators, and musicians for 30 years, first performing in Kalamazoo as members of the ambient band Liminal. Together they craft music that blends improvisational richness with intentional compositions, exploring uncharted territories and redefining the art of sonic expression. Superposition members have also performed in larger group contexts including Galactic Unity Ensemble, Chicago Sound Map, Ensemble Noamnesia, and Lightbox Orchestra.

Recorded and mixed throughout 2021 and 2022 at Todd A. Carter’s belair studio, Glaciers was created from composed improvisations and improvised compositions mostly originating on the piano, Rhodes, organ, and/or synthesizers. The final work revealed itself as layers were added and the pieces were mixed, edited and reshuffled. Longer sections broken into shorter pieces and shorter pieces combined into longer sections. It was finished when we realized we were done. Take advantage of the tools at hand, and find satisfying ways to pass the time. Make a start and don’t over think it. Glaciers releases on Kettle Hole Records August 25th, 2023, on CD as well as digitally. Superposition will perform live at Oak Park’s Compound Yellow (244 Lake St., Oak Park, IL) on Saturday September 9th supported with an opening solo set by Gerrit Hatcher.

https://kettlehole.bandcamp.com/album/glaciers
https://jmymusic.bandcamp.com/album/unity-gain

Todd A. Carter:

Todd A. Carter 1971 Pontiac Michigan (electronics, keyboards) is a Chicago Audio Engineer/Producer, Composer, DJ, and Improviser running bel_Air sound studio. An active member of Chicago’s experimental music scene, Carter performs with and records the most respected musicians and composers in a wide variety of genres. As both a soloist (and with TV Pow and Superposition) TC travels and records throughout tthe United States, Canada, Japan, UK, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Poland.

@belairsound linktr.ee/belairsound tvpow.bandcamp.com lumpenradio.com/shows/bel_air-presents

Michael Hartman:

Michael Hartman is an improviser and composer currently living in Chicago, USA. He has released and performed music as a solo artist, in various collaborative efforts, and as a member of Superposition, TV Pow, Boris Hauf’s Next Delusion, Bed, Solt, 7000 Dying Rats, and The Father Costume.

Hartman has appeared on over 50 releases and was a founding partner of the now completed record labels, Gentle Giant Records and Kuro Neko Music

Influenced by everything from American country music and international techno to the sounds of his urban environment Hartman explores and embraces future electronics, free music, soundscapes and contemporary compositions. His portfolio includes recorded works, sound installations, music for dance, and live performances that utilize synthesizers, samplers, drums and percussion, electronics, traditional instruments and surround sound speaker systems.

Hartman has performed and recorded throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.

https://kuronekomusic.bandcamp.com/

Marvin Tate is a multidisciplinary Artist and Educator. He has been active in the Chicago music scene since 1993 and has collaborated with the likes of Leroy Bach, Artist, Theaster Gates Jr. and the Black Monks of Mississippi, Angel Olsen, Tim Kinsella and Jazz artists: Ben LaMar Gay, Angel Bat Dawid, Mike Reed, French experimental group, The Bridge, and Soundscape Artist Joseph C.Mills. https://www.artistmarvintate.com/home

Bill MacKay’s blissful harmonic control and just-outside-the-box guitar mastery are one with his compelling songwriting, and his creative voyage and imaginative influences are fully displayed on his most recent records: Fountain Fire (Drag City, 2019) Esker (Drag City, 2017), SpiderBeetleBee (Drag City, 2017) with Ryley Walker, STIR (Drag City, 2019) with Katinka Kleijn, and Keys (Drag City, 2021) with Nathan Bowles. MacKay’s music has received praise in reviews by the Chicago Reader, Mojo, Uncut, Downbeat, Paste, Pop Matters, The Quietus, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and many other publications. https://billmackay.com/

Donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds featuring the creative music of Mute Duo and Norman Long!

This event will take place on our side yard, BYOB welcome, $5-$15 to the artists!

Mute Duo:

Chicago's Mute Duo is Skyler Rowe (drums/percussion) and Sam Wagster (pedal steel). Building on simple composed melodies, Mute Duo explores an ambient atmosphere ranging from sparse chimes to pummeling drone with a free, rhythmic fluidity. In 2017, they released their debut album featuring artwork by local artist/writer Dmitry Samarov, and in 2018, they released the "Axially Grasp EP" on Lurkerbias. Mute Duo also frequently plays improvisational shows with friends/guests, and have played with Ryley Walker, Bill MacKay, Ben Lamar Gay, Matthew Lux, Brian Case, Tim Kinsella, Bruce Lamont and others. In 2018, they opened for Ryley Walker on a three week tour that took them to Canada, down the east coast and through the southeast. Their second LP, “Lapse in Passage,” was released by American Dreams Records on March 20th, 2020. They are currently working on a follow up, which will be out in 2022.

Norman Long:

Norman W. Long’s practice involves walking, listening, improvising, performing, recording and composing to create environments and situations in which he and the audience are engaged in dialogues about memory space, value, silence and the invisible. Norman finds inspiration in the Creative Music and electric imaginations of The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, Pauline Oliveros, Phuture, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi, Hildegard Westercamp and King Tubby. Norman Long has performed and exhibited at the Hyde Park Art Center, Experimental Sound Studio, Kavi Gupta Gallery, Links Hall, Elastic, Chicago Humanities Festival, Chicago Cultural Center and 2017 PRIZM Art Fair (Miami). Norman performs with Angel Bat Dawid and the Brothahood and has performed with Damon Locks, Standing On the Corner, Cher Jey, Sara Zalek, Cristal Sabbagh, Dan Bitney and Todd Carter. Norman has received 3Arts Award for Visual Art in 2011, 3Arts Djerassi (Woodside, CA) Artists Residency Fellowship in 2014, BOLT Artist in Residence at the Chicago Artists Coalition in 2014-2015, 3Arts Fellowship for AS220 (Providence, RI) 2017 Artist in Residence program, Three Walls RaD Lab and Outside the walls Fellow for 2017-2019 and Guest Composer at EMS Elektronmusikstudion, Stockholm, Sweden made possible in part by the City of Chicago’s DCASE grant.

Norman W. Long was recently featured in Newcity as one of the top 50 artists in Chicago!

Join us August 12th from 7pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring:

Magic Carpet

 Hypnotizing, intoxicating and exotic. Magic Carpet honors ancient music while taking a bold step into the future. Transcending geographical boundaries, this music group takes the audience on an exhilarating ride through time and space. With the vibrations of Jazz, Reggae, and Funk, blended with the traditions of Africa, the Middle East, and India, Magic Carpet embarks on a spiritual journey every time they take off. The eclectic ensemble is composed of, Derf Noskcaj aka Fred Jackson (alto sax), Ryan "Ra'yon" Mayer (percussion) , Makaya McCraven aka "Lord Bang" (drum set) Parish "Pfunk" Hick (bass guitar) Tim "Cream"Jones (guitar), and introducing Tracey King, the Creative, who blends lyrical spoken Word with movement to melody.  The diversity of the musicians creates the unique sound that is Magic Carpet. Each instrumentalist is focused on cultivating excellence in his particular area of study and experience. This is the contribution that he brings to the "Carpet", while maintaining an openness to learn and share new ideas, which enables the evolution of this World Music that is the "Magic", Magic Carpet is committed to advancing the realm of Musical Anthropology.  The members are not only musicians, but teachers that regularly engage in excavating the history of music and the connection between ancient cultures. A goal of the group is to promote the similarities of people through the context of music. Energetically exploring traditional rhythms, North African and Middle Eastern maqams, East African pentatonic scales, Indian ragas, and Western Jazz modes and improvisation, they use these elements as threads to weave the tapestry of Magic Carpet.  Collectively, members in the band have performed and recorded with accomplished artists such as Najib Bahri, Alvin Batiste, Morris Jennings, Howard Levy, Alberto Mizrahi, Dewey Redman, Hamid Drake, Issa Boulos, Stuart Rosenberg, Boys II Men, Fred Anderson, Steel Pulse, Ludacris, Talib Kweli, Burning Spear, Israel Vibration, Nicole Mitchell, Ato Alemayehu Fanta, Ato Teferra Mekonnen, and many more.  Magic Carpet independently released their debut album, "In Flight", in the fall of 2007. This album documents their three years and counting of regular Friday night performances at the popular Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, Ras Dashen. Recently, they began performing semi-weekly at Viceroy Indian Restaurant, on the famous strip of Devon Avenue in Chicago. They have performed at various music and art festivals over the years. They are currently working on collaborations with dancers of Indian, Tunisian, Egyptian, and Ethiopian traditions to further the Magic Carpet experience.  Enjoy traveling the crossroads of culture with Magic Carpet today!!

facebook.com/MAGIC-CARPET

martyrslive.com

birdistheworm.com/chicago-jazz-festival-magic-carpet/

We are so excited for this evening of music and magical journey!

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programing that keeps this event accessible for all in our community.

Join us July 29th from 7pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Line up:

Emily Rach Beisel

Montgomery and Turner

Lia Kohl and Daniel Wyche (duo)

Bios:

Lia Kohl is a cellist, composer, and sound artist based in Chicago.
Her wide-ranging practice includes solo composition and performance, installation, improvisation, and collaboration. She tours nationally and internationally, working in theater, jazz, rock, and experimental contexts. Her work centers curiosity and patience, an exploration of the mundane and profound possibilities of sound.

Daniel Wyche is a Chicago-based guitarist, composer, and improviser. Working with a wide range of physical preparations, extended techniques, and pedal instruments, his solo recordings and live performances are characterized by long-form structured improvisations and multichannel guitar. He has been a curator with the Elastic Arts Foundation in Chicago since 2013, where is work has been described as “crucial” by Dusted and “vital” by the Chicago Reader. In March of 2020, Daniel co-founded The Quarantine Concerts in collaboration with Chicago’s Experimental Sound Studio. The series has been widely praised as a model for online/streaming live music. Along with his solo guitar work, Daniel is involved in several ongoing collaborations, most notably the trio of Wyche, Mark Shippy (US Maple), and Ben Baker Billington. His new solo record, “Earthwork,” was released on American Dreams Records in 2021. New works with longtime collaborators like Patrick Shiroishi, Lake Mary, and others will appear in 2023. 

Montgomery and Turner is a duo featuring Nashville and Chicago based musicians JayVe Montgomery (Abstract Black) and Nick Turner (Tyresta). They began collaborating remotely in 2020, which resulted in their debut album Sounds Passing Through Circumstances released by Astral Editions in 2021. 

Emily Rach Beisel is a Chicago-based improviser, composer, educator, curator and woodwind specialist. Beisel is known for visceral performances blending extended vocal and instrumental techniques with analogue electronics and rich bass clarinet tone.  Their solo album Particle of Organs has been described as "Operatic, wild and dark, showcasing the raw, unadulterated power of the body and the instrument, weaving together sounds that are both corrosive and tender." 

As a curator, Beisel seeks to increase the visibility and involvement of women and nonbinary artists in the creative music community. They founded the Pleiades Series at Elastic Arts, presenting monthly performances along with a community-based free improvisation jam for femme and nonbinary performers.

Beisel is a member of the contemporary ensemble Fonema Consort, touring most recently in Brazil, Mexico, Minneapolis and New York and premiering works of living composers including James Dillon, Richard Barrett and Julio Estrada. Beisel holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 10-208.

*photo credit of Emily Rach Beisel: Peter Gannushkin 

We are so excited for this evening of music. 

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programing that keeps this event accessible for all in our community.

Join us July 22nd from 7pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring: 

Paul Ashford

A native Chicagoan raised on jazz, blues, and soul music in the early 1960s-‘70s.

Paul Ashford started performing at age 10 played for Janet Jackson’s 1995 patrol released at the park west theater. Also Columbia pictures video David Josias mind blowing 1995 Buddy Guy cd release 2010 Studebaker, John and a hawks blues band 2008 2014 to recordings local bands gospel experience Reverend James, Cleveland, and Pastor Maceo Woods started performing gospel on drums at age 15 now age 60 still performing gospel time is forever as long as you enjoy what you’re doing

We are so excited for this evening of music. 

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programing that keeps this event accessible for all in our community.

Join us July 8th from 7pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring: 

NadNavillus

Andy Hall @andyhallstudio

Chad Kouri @chadkouri

Rob Bochnik @rob_bochnik

Dan Sullivan. @navillusguitars. nadnavillus.bandcamp.com

NadNavillus and Kouri Hall combine forces for a one-night-only sonic extravaganza at Compound Yellow! Expect selections from the latest NadNavillus release "Forgotten Portraits" and aural tapestries from the mind-expanding Kouri-Hall.

Equal parts guitar and vocal driven, sonically and structurally diverse, NadNavillus is the music of Dan Sullivan. New album "Forgotten Portraits" now streaming and two releases on Jagjaguwar: "Show Your Face" (JAG037) and "Iron Night" (051)

Kouri Hall is multi-instrumentalists and visual artists Chad Kouri and
Andy Hall creating mixed genre sound influenced by jazz, rock, folk,
funk, hip-hop, house, ambient, and high school band, based in
Chicago’s vast history of improvised music. Their systematic yet
spontaneous minds make music out of intuitive feelings and improvised
mantras, celebrating protest, joy, exuberance & play.

About the show:

KOURI HALL/NADNAVILLUS : An evening’s collaboration of songs and structured improvisations : "Hark, Illusional Ankh: Villainous, Rankish, Luni-solar!”

Can’t wait!

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programing that keeps this event accessible for all in our community.

Join us July 1st from 7pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring: 

Flux Bikes

Flux Bikes is long-distance music created by multi-instrumentalist Rob Frye in 2010. He not only uses his bike wheel as the main percussion instrument, but also the mode of transportation. Whether performing locally or on one of dozens of tours, the story of the journey is heard in the sound of the tires.

Desert Liminal (solo)

For Chicago-based musician Sarah Jane Quillin, Desert Liminal is a vehicle for experimental songwriting that seeks to marry elements of narrative poetry, melodic dream pop, shoegaze textures, and noise. A first listen of Glass Fate, Desert Liminal's first release on Whited Sepulchre Records, reveals an astute ear for creating warm, engaging art-pop that entwines Quillin’s eliding delivery around smart hooks and introspective, bordering on melancholy, melodies.

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Side Yard Sounds presents:

No Below Editions with Edward Breitweiser + Swim Ignorant Fire + Allen Moore

5pm to 7pm

$5-$15 to the artists

BYOB

Join us to celebrate the launch of a new record + art label, No Below Editions. No Below is an artist-run boutique label that celebrates the collaborative spirit of our Central Illinois art and music community through handmade artist editions of new sonic projects spanning free improvisation, drone/minimalism, exquisite corpse exchanges, and more.

This summer, label co-founders Edward Breitweiser and Stephen Holliger (Swim Ignorant Fire) will tour throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri. No Below’s first release, Swim Ignorant Fire’s I dont know how much longer I can hold this will be available in limited-edition cassette and artist editions. At Compound Yellow, they will be joined by Chicago artist Allen Moore.

Artist bios

Edward Breitweiser

Edward Breitweiser is an Illinois-based artist, musician, electronic instrument builder, and writer. In 2018, Breitweiser founded and serves as Director of pt.fwd (www.ptfwd.org), a contemporary music and sonic arts performance series featuring new work by local and regional artists in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Breitweiser will perform new compositions and improvisations for modular synthesizers, electro-acoustic feedback loops, and handmade electronic instruments. He describes these compositions as "ecosystems" in which simple sonic elements are enmeshed in one another, taking on new, unexpected qualities through interaction. Minimal instruments and drones slowly evolve - sometimes subtly, sometimes catastrophically.

https://edwardbreitweiser.com

https://edwardbreitweiser.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @ed.breitweiser

Swim Ignorant Fire - (Stephen Holliger)

Supporting No Below's first tape release, "I dont know how much longer I can hold this", which includes new drone studies with recycled church tape loops and Nate Hahn on pedal steel guitar.

https://swimignorantfire.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: @swimignorantfire

Allen Moore

Allen Moore is a Black American Interdisciplinary Painter, Experimental Sound Artist, Educator, Youth Mentor and Curator born and raised in the Historic Village of Robbins, IL. Moore holds a Bachelors of Arts from Chicago State University, a Masters in Arts from Governors State University and a Masters of Fine Arts from Northern Illinois University in 2016. His work examines both visual and experimental music, emphasizing the importance of nurturing the Black Imagination with social representation. His educational and curatorial practices focus on building spaces for advocacy, creative representation and healing. His work converses with the signifiers of African American and popular culture, bringing to view the underlying themes of racial, emotional and socio-economic conditions.

Moore has exhibited and performed across Chicago and the greater midwest, including exhibitions at Heaven Gallery, Compound Yellow, Experimental Sound Studio, Elastic Arts, Threewalls, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago , Roots & Culture Gallery, Lula Cafe, The Star Media Group, Union Street Gallery, The Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, etc. He is a volunteer staff member for A.C.R.E. Artist Residency and Comfort Station. His recent curatorial projects include GATHER and the P.O.W.E.R. Project. His work has been featured in publications including Sixty Inches From the Center, (Gather), Movement Matters, Bad at Sports Contemporary Art Talk (ANX 2015 Roots and Culture) and featured work in the Netflix Original Series “Easy” Seasons 1 and 2.

http://allenmooreart.net/

Instagram: @allen_moore_127

Join us June 24th from 7pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring: 

Harry Tonchev - guitar facebook.com/harry.tonchev IG: @harrytonchevguitar

Freddy Quintero - bass IG: @freddymqk

Tommaso Moretti - drums tommasomoretti.blogspot.com

Harry Tonchev is a jazz guitarist who is very active in Chicago and central Illinois. His high energy trio focuses on improvisational music by exploring a mixture of originals and standards from the Great American Songbook. His conversational approach to improvised music keeps audiences engaged.

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us June 3rd from 7pm-9pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring:

Levinson/Mahlmeister: Comprised of Jamie Levinson & Donny Mahlmeister, the Chicago duo uses synthesizers in combination with tactile instruments (Levinson is a drummer/percussionist & Mahlmeister a guitarist) to create cinematic snapshots of sonance. While the duo absolutely gives glances toward artists like Eno, Lanois, Reich, Riley & the kosmische places and spaces of Deuter, they are absolutely of the NOW, in step with ambient explorers like Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Panabrite, or locals Bitchin' Bajas, TALsounds or Brett Naucke.

Douglas Andrew McCombs is one of the most highly regarded bassists/guitarists working today. He is known for his pioneering band Tortoise, his bass playing in Chicago’s Eleventh Dream Day, and his innovative instrumental group Brokeback. He has released albums with guitarist David Daniell, and collaborated with the likes of Tom Zé to Yo La Tengo, Stereolab to Daniel Lanois. In addition to being the touring bassist for The Sea and Cake, McCombs has somehow found time to form a new trio Black Duck with guitarist Bill MacKay, and percussionist Charles Rumback.

Eli Caterer is a founding member of the long-time Chicago greats The Smoking Popes. While he’s known for his impeccable melodic rock guitar playing in that outfit, he’s also an accomplished solo artist. Using elements such as Casio Sk-1, guitar and a myriad of pedals, Eli weaves intermingling sonic landscapes that never forget his melodic roots at heart.

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us May 27th from 3pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds for a Jazz/Punk set Paul Abella’s Questionable Decisions.

Featuring: 
Michael Levin: reeds
Alex Wing: guitar
Preyas Roy: vibes
Chris Bernhardt: bass
Paul Abella: cajon.

thepaulabellatrio.com

Paul Abella's Questionable Decisions is  an exciting new ensemble consisting of four of the Chicago Jazz scene's most unique musicians. All four of these musicians have played in myriad situations across multiple genres, and their flexibility is on full display whenever they start playing. They're a band upholding a tradition of Jazz as subversive party music. Drawing inspiration from Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, The Bad Plus, and Lester Bowie, they fuse Pop melodies, Jazz harmonies, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and Funk rhythms, jammy improvisations with punk ferocity.   

Or, as one friend once said, "someone's going to have to invent a whole new genre just to describe you guys." -Paul Abella

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us May 20th from 7pm-9pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds featuring music project “Outside In.”

Featuring: 

Norman W. Long: Electronics normanwlong.wixsite.com

John Sutton: Upright bass johnsuttonmusic.com

Ben Lamar Gay: Cornet, electronics, vocals intlanthem.com/artists/ben-lamar-gay

Tommaso Moretti: Drums, samples, vocals tommasomoretti.blogspot.com

"Outside In" is a music project that aims to be a legitimate tribute to the iconic improvisational scene of Chicago. The artistic goal is to blur the line between improvisation and composition exploring new ways of blending the two sides of the creating process both in the context of music performance and during the producing process. Experienced local music improvisers will be involved in the musical effort of shaping extemporary compositions out of individual and collective improvisations. "Outside In" is meant to be the follow up of the "Inside Out" project and album which started from diametrically opposite artistic premises: playing pre-arranged compositions as a tool and starting point to inspire individual and collective improvisation. With "Outside In" the starting point would be the individual and collective improvisation with the abstract purpose of channelling and shaping the ensemble voices into a cohesive and organic musical piece all in real time. From the "Inside Out "to the "Outside In" We are the same living bio-organism and we can start acting as one. Music and the Arts are the empirical demonstration that we are all connected on a deeper level that we might be aware of.

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us May 12th from 7pm-9pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds

Featuring: 

Lia Kohl liairenekohl.com @hurdigurdi

Zander Raymond zanderraymond.com @zanderrayond

Sara Zalek saratonin.com @01saratonin

Norman W. Long normanwlong.wixsite.com

Lia Kohl is a cellist and sound artist based in Chicago. Zander Raymond is an interdisciplinary artist + musician living and working in Chicago.
Lia Kohl and Zander Raymond create delicate music with synthesizers, cello, and radios.

Norman W. Long and Sara Zalek have been collaborating for over five years, most often spending time listening and walking in Chicago Parks, especially Big Marsh Park and Marian R. Byrnes Natural Area in the Calumet Region. They share interest and research into the practice of Deep Listening, as developed by Pauiine Oliveros. Her work, along with their continued exploration of intentional listening, contact mics, field recordings, sound walks, musicality in noise, synthesizers, and being present with one another cultivates their performance together. 

Their Digital AlbumSteelworkers Drone produced by Reserve Matinee is available on Bandcamp. “This recording communicates a real dance of solidity and impermanence. Movement of water, wind, and birds making for foundation and foreground.”

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Suggested donations of $15+ encouraged to support the arts and programming.

Join us April 29th at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds (in the studio!) featuring the music of Anthony Burton and Joe Adamik!

7pm-9pm
244 Lake Street (door to the left of the garage)

We are honored to host Anthony Burton (Palliard, oRSo, Golden Horse Ranch Band) and Joe Adamik (Califone, Iron and Wine, oRSo) who will perform original songs with as yet undetermined instrumentation, but likely involving a guitar and a bass clarinet.

Side Yard Sounds is a series at Compound Yellow that features a bevy of creative musical artists who traverse diverse forms: from the intriguing waters of experimentalism and the avant-garde to forward-reaching jazz and other modes that are expanding our vision of music both in and outside of Chicago. These performances take place in the side yard (or the studio if the weather isn't cooperating) of our compound from April-October each year.

We encourage donations of $5- $15 to support the artists and our continued programming!

BYOB, space is limited so please come early to get your seat!

Join us April 1st from 7pm-9pm at Compound Yellow for our first Side Yard Sounds of 2023

Featuring: 

Mark Nagymarknagy.bandcamp.com

Neil Jendon @dronestry

Spencer Hutchinson @nihon0019

Mark Nagy and Neil Jendon have been working in the electroacoustic medium as a duo since 2017. Collectively known as Legendary Ninja Monk, they have been exploring and recording the graphic score Treatise by Cornelius Cardew. This epic graphic score is 193 pages long. This extensive structural investigation has fostered in depth explorations of timbral densities, temporal manipulations, as well as the investigations of regenerative textures. Legendary Ninja Monk music ranges from introspective musings to capricious romps.

Spencer Hutchinson is an American contemporary artist who works in a wide range of media including video, 3D animation, painting, drawing, and digital sound manipulation. He will be performing the music from his back catalog of work as ersatz modem. 

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Join us March 25th from 7pm-9pm at Compound Yellow for Side Yard Sounds of 2023

We will also be hosting the closing reception for Sspatz’s Toolbox exhibition, so don’t miss this very special evening of art, music and community!

Featuring: 

Claire Fleming Staples

Dorothy Carlos

Gabriel Vincent Postle.

Claire Fleming Staples billed as Fleming (b. 1987, Philadelphia) is a queer multidisciplinary artist, and a long term member of a network of DIY underground creative communities in the United States. They are currently a second year MFA candidate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Film Video, New Media, and Animation department. 

  claireflemingstaples.com

Dorothy Carlos is a cellist and sound artist working in improvised performance and multi-channel sound installation in New York City and Chicago. Her work utilizes randomized effect pedals and programmed electronics to explore themes of intimacy, ephemerality, and imaginaries. Recent solo performances have been presented by Experimental Sound Studio, e-flux, and 29speedway and this year Dorothy will perform at Big Ears in Knoxville. Last year, she released an album on the Chicago-based label American Dreams in collaboration with artist, Brian Oakes. Dorothy holds a Bachelor’s degree from NYU where she studied classical cello and anthropology on full scholarship, and is currently pursuing an MFA in sound at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. dorothycarlos.com

Gabriel Vincent Postle billed as g0rb is an experimental sound artist/musician who transforms, manipulates, and arranges various electronic audio signals in real-time, using an assortment of digital and analog technologies.

We are so excited to be featuring these talented individuals. 

Join us for Winter Sounds February 25th at 7PM

This event is free donations of 5+ encouraged to support the arts and programing that keeps this event accessible for all in our community.

This series of Winter Sounds is curated by Donny Mahlmeister.

Donny Mahlmeister is an Oak Park based musician and designer with a focus on improvised music using modular synthesizers, guitar, lap steel and other electronic processing. His recent solo work encompasses elements of minimalist soundscapes intersected with abstract guestural movements. In addition to his solo work he currently collaborates with Jamie Levinson as Levinson/Mahlmeister. Prior to moving to Oak Park, Donny had been a long-standing member of the Chicago and Midwest rock and improvised scenes, working with A Tundra, Judson Claiborne, Early Day Miners, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Toby Summerfield, Ryan Packard, Jamie Branch, Catherine Young and Bill McKay.

https://donnymahlmeister.bandcamp.com/

For this month you will get to experience the following featured talent:

Mahlmeister/Batchko/Rischke
Brian Case
Synth Loaf
Rs Masters
Christopher Elmore

Join us Saturday, January 28th from 7pm to 9:30pm for Compound Yellow’s ‘Winter Sounds’!
#244 Lake Street, Oak Park, BYOB
Free, donations very welcome!
Space is limited to 35 seats so please RSVP here or at info@compoundyellow.com

'Winter Sounds' is a series of indoor events in the cozy upstairs gallery space that features 5 artists or groups from a variety of backgrounds and locations. The general motif of the evening is focused on shorter improvised sets in the electronic/electro-acoustic/ambient genres. The evening of January 28th features artists from Chicago, Oak Park and Milwaukee areas.

Donny Mahlmeister/Theo Katsaounis:

Donny and Theo have been longtime members of the Chicago indie-rock and improvised music community. They have played together in A Tundra, Shred Aquarium and The Shape Of, plus countless free improvised music ensembles. Separately, Theo has played in Joan of Arc, Aitis Band, Anatomy of Habit and Dead Rider. Donny played and collaborated with Early Day Miners, Collections of Colonies of Bees and Judson Claiborne.

This performance will feature an exploration into guitars with electronics.

https://donnymahlmeister.bandcamp.com/
https://theokatsaounis.bandcamp.com/

Raquel Gonzalez:

Wielding an electric violin, looper, and some effects pedals, Raquel records herself improvising and composing music regularly. She creates lush soundscapes, ambient drones, and experimental string music in her home studio. She enjoys making different kinds of audio art that pairs well with poetry and various sound textures.

Nick Turner:

Nick Turner is a Chicago based musician and social worker that utilizes music and sound creation as a vehicle for emotional experiencing and expression.

https://linktr.ee/tyresta

Wavefiler:

Milwaukee, WI area artist, Wavefiler, uses synthesizer hardware, tape recorders and computer-aided composition methods to create electronic music that is experimental, ambient and sometimes beat-driven. Sonic explorations range from tape-driven textures to repeating and evolving melodic figures. Wavefiler also focuses on developing synthesized sound designs to aid meditation and healing.

https://www.instagram.com/wavefiler

Joshua Davison/Nathan Tucker:

Joshua Davison and Nathan Tucker have played together in numerous musical acts over three decades. Their electronic duo, String Theory, released music through the UK label Skam, Chicago's Consumer's Research and Development and Milwaukee's Wobblyhead. After String Theory, they went on to explore electronic power pop with founding member of OK Go Andrew Duncan as Parks and Gardens, and the more meditative but still song-oriented Thirds.

This performance will feature Josh playing a digital sampler and synthesizer accompanied by Nate playing lap steel guitar.

https://linktr.ee/stringbot
https://www.instagram.com/neitotakka/

Join us for our very special and last musical event of 2022!

To celebrate and thank our Patreon members, supporters, and volunteers, we are hosting a very special night of music by 5 local musicians!

Free to the public
Donations for our end of the year fundraiser more than welcome!
Please RSVP on Eventbrite to reserve your seat, limited seating available (35 max capacity)

About the musicians:

Todd Mattei is a musician and artist, ex-member of Joan of Arc and Male, collaborator with the dance artist Victoria Bradford. He will perform music from his forth-coming Hold You release, accompanied by a live-reactive projection of recent animation work.

www.toddmatteiart.com
www.toddmattei.bandcamp.com

Madeleine Aguilar is an artist and musician based in Chicago. Using the archive as form, she acknowledges the passing of time by cataloging lived spaces, collected objects, familial histories, personal relationships, natural phenomena, mundane routines, and ephemeral moments. She received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently the Print & New Media Studio Manager at Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency

madeleineaguilar.com

Margaret (Maggie) Cleary is a 2nd year sculpture graduate student at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her practice explores memory, intuition, and mediumship through object/costume making, set building, and sound/vocal performance. Her current questions are: Is memory a space between time? Can I make a field of dreams? And if I build it, will they actually come?

Donny Mahlmeister is an Oak Park based musician and designer with a focus on improvised music using modular synthesizers, guitar, lap steel and other electronic processing. His recent solo work encompasses elements of minimalist soundscapes intersected with abstract guestural movements. In addition to his solo work he currently collaborates with Jamie Levinson as Levinson/Mahlmeister. Prior to moving to Oak Park, Donny had been a long-standing member of the Chicago and Midwest rock and improvised scenes, working with A Tundra, Judson Claiborne, Early Day Miners, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Toby Summerfield, Ryan Packard, Jamie Branch, Catherine Young and Bill McKay.

https://donnymahlmeister.bandcamp.com/

Zander Raymond is an interdisciplinary artist and musician working in Chicago, IL. In his visual work, he improvises with found materials, tools, and images to make drawings, prints, and sculptures that question the idea of productivity in a studio environment and serve as an autobiographical record of experience. His music is similarly rooted in improvisation, utilizing modular synthesizers and open-source sound computers to sample, warp, and build sonic images that embrace non-linear approaches to composition. Past Projects have been hosted by Okay Gallery (Chicago, IL), Gummies Gallery (Chicago, IL), Mayfield (Forest Park, IL) among others. He holds a BFA in studio from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago