Francis Plagne

Toff in Town, Thursday 12th of January

2012-01-14T22:56:00.000-08:00

Ben Mason Band
Francis Plagne (trio w/ Connal Parsley and Alexander Garsden)
Adrian Stoyles

Toff in Town
$10
Doors at 7:30

Video for 'Oranges' by Hanna Chetwin

2012-01-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

Free Gig Bar Open November 10th

2011-11-03T01:41:00.000-07:00

Album Launch

2011-10-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

Melbourne experimental musician and songwriter Francis Plagne launches his new album Tenth Volume of Maps.

Released as a vinyl-only LP on the Lost And Lonesome imprint, the new album features inspired arrangements and performances by his live band and displays a more compositionally integrated approach than the sonic experimentation and wild oscillations that marked his first two albums.

Support on the night will be provided by The Icypoles whose loose-yet-tender mix of bubblegum rhythms, doo wop vocals and 60s girl group angst is fast winning them an adoring audience around town; Mad Nanna, the brainchild of Michael Zulicki, in which his metronomic guitar strums and drawled poetry are accompanied by a loose barn-room jam-band forever struggling to synchronize beats and hit notes harmoniously, with magical and faintly disturbing effect; and Sean Baxter, who has forged an international reputation as a bold explorer of percussive possibilities both as a soloist, collaborator, and through his work with the acclaimed Pateras/Baxter/Brown trio. Focusing on the use of extended techniques applied to the conventional drumkit, he utilises an arsenal of metallic junk and other percussive detritus to expand the sonic palette of the percussion tradition.

Friday, October 28th.
Bella Union, corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets.
$10 pre-sale, $13 on the door.
Bookings here.

2011-09-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Upcoming gigs (more details soon):

October 6th: Gasometer, support for Anonymeye album launch.

October 7th: Polyester Records, Flinders Lane, in-store (6PM, free) on the occasion of the release of new Francis Plagne LP Tenth Volume of Maps on Lost and Lonesome. Small acoustic trio.

October 28th: Bella Union, Tenth Volume of Maps LP launch, w/ The Icypoles, Sean Baxter and Mad Nanna. Seven piece band.

Wednesday, May 18th 2011

2011-05-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

Special event at KIPL, 29th April

2011-04-24T00:42:00.001-07:00

April 29th
KIPL 136 Roden Street, West Melbourne
8PM
$10

Manfred Werder:
stück 1998 performed by Alex Garsden, Judith Hamann and Francis Plagne. Arek Gulbenkoglu and Dale Gorfinkle duo.
Christian Wolff:
Fits and Starts Performed by David Brown, Jared Davis, Alex Garsden, Judith Hamann, Yuko Kono, Francis Plagne and James Rushford.

Manfred Werder is a core member of the important and influential Wandelweisser Composers Group, alongside Michael Pisaro, Radu Malfatti and Antoine Beuger. Active since the early 1990s, their music has emerged as one of the most important currents of contemporary music to respond to the challenges posed by the works and writings of John Cage. Often focusing on the possibilities for compositional simplification to result in sonic complexity and the experiential potentials of highly reduced approaches to music, their work features heavily conceptual methods of composition, a focus on the threshold between sound and silence and an interest in extended durations. Werder’s stück 1998 is a 4000 page long piece for open instrumentation, the total duration of which is 533 hours and 20 minutes. The pages are performed successively by different groups throughout world, each page being performed publicly only once. Each page consists of a number of tones, each tone held for six seconds with an equal duration of silence after each tone. Werder views his work as involving an interaction between performance, context and the listener’s experience, and the radical simplification of the musical material stems from his belief that ‘the more balanced the meeting of all parts, the more challenging an event may emerge’.
The works of Christian Wolff have been influential on the Wandelweisser Group and he had occasionally collaborated with its members, making his 1971 Fits and Starts a fitting accompaniment to Werder’s work. Wolff’s works are distinctive in focusing on the interactions between the players, often making use of somewhat intuitive systems of cues in order to create interaction that could not be brought about through conventional notations. In Fits and Starts, the challenge for the players is to all independently follow a similar set of loose instructions without following the other players, resulting in a modest yet constantly shifting rhythmic complex.
Arek Gulbekoglu and Dale Gorfinkle perform delicate and thoughtful improvisations for snare drum and vibraphone, transforming their instruments with the use of everyday objects and unorthodox techniques into sources of richly textured white noise, semi-randomized rhythms and subtle percussive interjections. They recently released a CD, Vibraphone/Snare on Melbourne label Avantwhatever.

Edinburgh Castle 27th February

2011-02-13T04:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday 27th February, Edinburgh Castle, Sydney Rd, Brunswick:

Francis Plagne’s music has been described as sounding as ‘close to Pet Sounds era Beach Boys as it does a musique concrète future classic or an exercise in folk collage’ (Mess + Noise) and as the ‘unlikely amalgam of Antonio Carlos Jobim's samba and an Andre Breton poem’ (ThreeThousand). At the Edinburgh Castle he will perform with a five piece band: Connal Parsley (bass, guitar), Alex Garsden (guitar), Joe Talia (drums), James Rushford (viola), Judith Hamann (cello).

Yuko Kono (Japan) leads Tokyo’s greatest minimalist psych-pop group, My Pal Foot Foot. Solo, she accompanies her whispered, highly melodic song-craft on nylon string acoustic guitar.

Samuel Dunscombe, of vanguard Melbourne chamber ensemble Golden Fur, presents a visceral solo laptop performance, born of several years of theoretical and practical research into the possibilities of real-time digital music.

Gasometer 26th February

2011-02-13T02:36:00.000-08:00

	"Francis Plagne - Wobbly/crystalline chamber pop version. Cocks Arquette - Grudge match with one's self at unreasonable volume. Von Einem - Solo set from Grover of True Radical Mircale, Whitehorse, Dead Boomers, Dick Threats, Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, et al. Will make the other two bands sound like pussies. + Brutal karaoke jam upstairs afterwards for those who wish to make party." Thanks to Hanna for the great poster!

"Francis Plagne - Wobbly/crystalline chamber pop version.

Cocks Arquette - Grudge match with one's self at unreasonable volume.

Von Einem - Solo set from Grover of True Radical Mircale,
Whitehorse, Dead Boomers, Dick Threats,
Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, et al. Will make
the other two bands sound like pussies.
+
Brutal karaoke jam upstairs afterwards for those who wish to
make party."

Thanks to Hanna for the great poster!

Bar Open Wednesday 2nd February

2011-01-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

Francis Plagne is a Melbourne-based musician and songwriter whose work engages with both popular and experimental music. His solo recordings have been released by Synaesthesia, Mistletone, Nervous Jerk, Breakdance the Dawn and Albert's Basement and have been exhibited at Gertrude Contemporary Art Space and Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart. His music has been described as sounding as ‘close to Pet Sounds era Beach Boys as it does a musique concrète future classic or an exercise in folk collage’ (Mess + Noise) and as the ‘unlikely amalgam of Antonio Carlos Jobim's samba and an Andre Breton poem’ (ThreeThousand). At Bar Open he will perform with Joe Talia (drums), Connal Parsley (bass), Alex Garsden (guitar), Anthony Pateras (organ), Judith Hamann (cello) and James Rushford (viola).

Make Up Sex comprise of one Sophia Brous and one Tarquin Manek. Initially based upon improvised guttural vocalisations of feelings of (sexual) tension and release, in recent times the duo have evolved their shows into avante pop spectacles that move between brutal vocal contortions and sugar-sweet melodic wanderings. Entirely improvised, Make Up Sex lay themselves bare with only their voices and bodies to guide them

"Bundling together time-warping feedback loops, cracked and mangled tape sounds, the pure tonality of no-input mixing desk, and found object manipulation (fed through dirty, hand-molded contact mics), local visual artist Bjorn Futler (aka Oranj Punjabi) places sonority under stress, pushing library recordings of body noise through a thick wall of psychedelic splooey. Here, collage and concept meet an exceptionally tactile approach to the simple pleasures of making noise from broken and detourned equipment. Futler's music is pitched at a refreshingly human and unpretentious level, as opposed to the 'male-pain/man-feelings' boy-sterousness of so many muscle-noise-jocks. Thrusting forth through frothy mounds of tape-noise, Bjorn Futler destroys. Fully." - Vladimir Poontang

Melbourne three-piece Where Were You At Lunch play obstreperous instrumental music with moments of gentle sadness. Over the years drummer Kishore Ryan and bassist Peter Emptage have established themselves in the Australian indie scene and guitarist Samaan Fieck has accomplished honours in sound art. With nods to Fugazi, Deerhoof and New York no wave outfit DNA, the trio produce a certain malformed beauty. Some of their songs are carefully composed by generating intervals and rhythms from sports statistics. Others are spasmodic improvisations or cyclic linear compositions. Their debut album, produced by Nick Huggins, is an adroit work of art and proves them to be a capable new band.

some live videos

2011-01-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

This one was shot at Bar Open on the 4th of March 2010 by Matt Kennedy, when we played with his band Kitchens Floor. The song is 'Clouds Collect', the line up (I think) is me, Connal Parsley on bass, Joe Talia on drums, Ned Collette on electric guitar, Judith Hamann on cello.

This one was shot at the Edinburgh Castle on the 27th of June 2009. The song is 'Wings 6 Ft'. The weird bass-less line up is me, Anthony Pateras on organ, Judith Hamann on cello, James Rushford on viola, Joe Talia on drums.

Two gigs next week

2011-01-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

Two Francis Plagne Band gigs next week, both at the Builders Arms:

Wednesday 19th of January with Far Concern and Sheahan Drive (Gus Franklin), $6.

Friday 21st of January with Tailor Made for a Small Room (Japan) and Clue to Kalo, $7.

New Year's Day at the Tote

2010-12-19T20:55:00.000-08:00

Anyone who is actually in Melbourne on New Year's Day, this should be a fun show!
I'll be playing with a four piece band: Joe Talia (drums), Judith Hamann (cello), Connal Parsley (Bass) and Madeleine Martiniello (Guitar).

Info:

POLETOPRA (Anthony Pateras/Marco Fusinato)
FRANCIS PLAGNE BAND
SEAN BAXTER

TOTE - 1/1/11

"Hungover, brutalized by public stupidity? Can't remember what happened last night? That's OK! The Tote is open for business NEW YEAR"S DAY and
POLETOPRA, FRANCIS PLAGNE and SEAN BAXTER will be sonically curing your injured synapses, with, well, possibly more injury!

POLETOPRA is the combination of visual art iconoclast MARCO FUSINATO (guitar/electronics) and all around composer/electronics whacko ANTHONY PATERAS (analogue synth) in searing duo format. Due to busy international schedules, local appearances are rare for this group, so what better way to continue the count down for the Mayans than with the sounds of apocalypse!

FRANCIS PLAGNE is the acclaimed pop introvert/ all around musical
know-it-all who quietly entraps his audiences with delicate melodies and
fragile arrangements. Joined with full band and strings, his live shows are
a rare gem.

SEAN BAXTER is THE poet of Melbourne avant sound, and has been an on stage regular at the Tote since the early 90s in guises such as the Throwaways, Bucketrider, Embers and SxSxSx. He even has a photo behind the bar. As head honcho of the Make It Up Club, his speeches are almost as famous as his internationally famous shitcore percussion stylez.

This is an all-star bill guaranteed to cleanse the mind and feed the ears on
the day after humanity reaches its yearly low. What do you do on New Year's
Day anyway?"

September 19th, full band afternoon show

2010-09-02T17:47:00.000-07:00

First show in a while, should be fun! Six piece Francis Plagne band, Sophia Brous Band, Lost Animal and Giant. 4PM, Sunday the 19th of September, at the Workers Club, corner of Brunswick and Gertrude streets, Fitzroy. Eight dollars.

2010-07-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday 8th July, Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces:

As part of Always Moving: A Performance Laboratory in Several Parts, Danae Valenza and Speakeasy Cinema present a re-imagining of silent cinema, inviting local musicians to rescore the experimental visions of seminal filmmakers.

MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON BY MAYA DEREN
RESCORED BY MAGIC SILVER WHITE

WAIL BY JEFF KEEN
RESCORED BY FRANCIS PLAGNE/JARED DAVIS

NECROLOGY BY STANDISH LAWDER
RESCORED BY FIRST CHORUS BAND OF SINGERS

SENTIMENTAL PUNK BY KURT KREN
RESCORED BY EVELYN MORRIS

DREAM WORK BY PETER TSCHERKASSKY
RESCORED BY QUIVER

SPOOK SPORT BY NORMAN MCLAREN
RESCORED BY GEOFF O'CONNOR

FURIES BY SLAVKO VORKAPICH
RESCORED BY MONICA SONAND

FOOD BY JAN SVANKMAJER
RESCORED BY QUA

2010-07-05T05:23:00.001-07:00

Discography

2010-06-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

2010:
The Inevitable Orbit , 'First' CDr (From the Same Mother: ftsm 50).
The Inevitable Orbit are:
Greg Allom, drums.
Dion Nania, bass and backing vocals.
Francis Plagne, guitar and backing vocals.
Julian Williams, guitar, lead vocals, mastermind.

2009:
Various Artists, 'The Lifted Brow 6' 2CD.
One track by Francis Plagne: 'Canaan (partially derived from Gerhard Ruhm’s Gebet [Prayer, 1954])'.

Sold out.

Various Artists, 'The Warm Cupboard Compilation' LP (Albert's Basement: ab2).
One track by Francis Plagne: 'My Ear Stands Like a Gateway on the Street'.

Order.

2007:
Various Artists, 'Mistletonia' CD (Mistletone: mist013).
One track by Francis Plagne: 'Krampus with Scale by the Moon'.

Order.

Various Artists, 'ESP' CD (Nervous Jerk: jerk005).
One track by Francis Plagne: 'Untitled'.

Order.

Francis Plagne, 'Subdivide & Never Stop' cassette (Breakdance the Dawn: bdtd43).
The A side is solo studio material, the B side is a live set recorded by Matt Earle, with Ned Collette on guitar and bass and Joe Talia on drums.

Order.

Francis Plagne, 'Francis Plagne' CD (Synaethesia/Mistletone: syn20/mist010).

Order physical copy (for $5!).

Buy digital version.

2005:

Francis Plagne, 'Idle Bones' CD (Synaesthesia: syn18).

Order physical copy in Europe.

Buy digital version.

For Australian Orders: fplagne@gmail.com

2010-06-26T21:09:00.001-07:00

Supporting Alasdair Roberts on May 7th

2010-04-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed Scottish singer songwriter Alasdair Roberts plays the Northcote Social Club on Friday May 7th. Support from Laura Jean and Francis Plagne.
Tickets here.

Morris/Plagne/Turner/Veltheim at MIJF

2010-04-22T17:07:00.001-07:00

As part of the huge 'Overground' performance at the Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday the 2nd of May, I will be taking part in a one-off quartet with Evelyn Morris (Pikelet, True Radical Miracle), Mick Turner (Dirty Three) and Eki Veltheim (Twitch, Australian Art Orchestra). Come to see Peter Brötzmann, Cor Fuhler and the Deadnotes and see us while you're there.
Tickets can be bought here.

Official blurb:

Overground at MIJF 2010

Sunday May 2nd, 2010 at the Melbourne Town Hall

Melbourne International Jazz Festival and City of Melbourne present Overground, a history-making multi-stage concert featuring a spectacular line-up of some of the most celebrated creative jazz, rock and improvising artists in the world, including world premiere collaborations especially put together for this Festival exclusive event.

Overground celebrates the rich diversity of the underground music culture in Melbourne in a day long event set in the many lost spaces of Melbourne Town Hall. It will be an event where new sounds can be made and heard as the outer limits of jazz and improvisation are explored, incorporating rock, avant garde, grindcore, big band, expanded cinema, contemporary classical and much more.

Highlights include legendary European free-jazz improvisers Peter Brotzmann and Han Bennink; Brian Chase of famed band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with saxophonist Seth Misterka; Oren Ambarchi; Mick Turner; Kim Salmon; Anthony Pateras on the Melbourne Town Hall's Grand Organ; revered pianist Paul Grabowsky with avant luminary Sean Baxter; leading musicians Scott Tinkler, Erkki Veltheim, Simon Barker, Carl Dewhurst and Vanessa Tomlinson; Brisbane-based expanded cinema soundscape artist Joel Stern with stalwart filmmaker Dirk De Bruyn; new music trio Golden Fur; the Embers Big Band, neo-dada upstarts Bum Creek with Snawklor and much more!

What: Overground MIJF 2010
Where: Melbourne Town Hall
When: Sunday May 2nd, 2pm to 8pm

Tokyo 12/02/2010

2010-01-26T22:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Anthony Guerra, I'm playing in Tokyo on the 12th of February, details above. Come along if you're around.

Edinburgh Castle Residency

2009-11-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

Francis Plagne band residency at the Edinburgh Castle, Thursdays in December. Probably a different band line up every week. Other acts will be:

Das Butcher
Jared Davis
Seagull
Lehmann B Smith

All shows are free in the front bar.

CRAFT VICTORIA 17th SEPTEMBER

2009-09-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

Nathan Gray has a new exhibition entitled 'ASDR' opening on Thursday the 17th of September at Craft Victoria. I will perform a very short set at the opening, a semi-improvisation based on permutations of a fixed set of elements, one of the chief concepts of the works that Nathan will be exhibiting.

TROPICALIA OCTOBER 24th

2009-09-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Sophie Brous, Bum Creek, The French (Nathan Gray, Bianca Hester, Julie Burleigh) and Francis Plagne Band, among others, will be paying tribute to Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses at ACMI on the 24th of October:

"A celebration of the reverberant Brazilian cultural movement Tropicália, and of one of its most important protagonists, Rogerio Duarte. The centrepiece of this program is a survey exhibition at The Narrows of Duarte's work. At ACMI an afternoon film and music program features local bands reinterpreting the landmark album Tropicália: ou Panis et Circenses and a specially commissioned interview with Rogerio Duarte. This will be followed by free screenings of a documentary on the movement and a Brazilian feature film from the period."

Tickets etc here.