Prairie Wires Modular 2025: Festival of Electronic Sound

Prairie Wires Modular (PWM) is Canada’s only multi-day, multi-venue festival focussed on the art and music of the modular synthesizer.

On September 19 and 20, electronic musicians of all styles—classical to punk—and everything in between will converge in Brandon Manitoba for two jam-packed days of free concerts, a free public open-house symposium, and free interactive activities across 6 unique events throughout several locations in Downtown Brandon and on Brandon University campus.

FRIDAY: 

11:30AM - 2:30PM - Mod on the Quad: Sonic Scavenger Hunt Follow your ears to find an electronic pop-up performance every hour somewhere on B.U. campus. • Dan Fur (MB) - jungle / drum & bass• Bondegi (MB) - ambient experimental • Messytone (MB) - electro-folka  

7:00-9:00 - Electroacoustic Intersections: PWM Opening Night Showcase Three acts who combine traditional acoustic instrumentation with modular synthesis at B.U. School of Music.• Kerey Harper Ensemble (MB) - electronic chamber music• Kris Burwash w/ Jennifer Theissen (AB/MB) - improvisational electroacoustic• Jason Tait (MB) - experimental percussion

9:30-Midnight - Wiggle & Blunder Shock the Dock: Electric Afterparty THIS is Synthpunk! An electrified dance party wired for mature audiences after 10:00pm. • Stiff Wiggle (MB) - Synthpunk queercore• Blunderspublik (ON) - electro-indie rock• Acid Basement (MB) - synth pop

SATURDAY:

10:00AM - NOON - Wandering Wires: Ambient Morning Soundtrek Grab a sketch book and draw what you hear as you take a sonic journey through downtown Brandon. Starting at Chez Angela and ending at the AGSM• Jennifer Theissen (MB) ambient electroacoustic• probableSelves (MB) cinematic drone• Thomas Toews (MB) dark ambient• k.burwash (AB) experimental ambient

12:00PM-5:00PM - Patch & Release : Modular Synthposeum Part show and tell, part science fair, all synthesizers. Come see, hear and learn about modular synthesizers from the artists, try your hand in the sound lab. Including Radio:Radio, a sound-art performance that surfs the airwaves at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba.• Princess Dasha (MB) - Performance Art• Qianna Zhen (MB) - Noise Muzik

6:30PM-9:30PM - Spectrasonic Intersections: PWM Finalé Concert A sonic, luminary and haptic multi-sensory experience of experimental sound spanning two rooms at Brandon University School of Music.• Soft Verges (MB) -  Interactive Sound-Art Installation/Performance• Greenhouse (MB) - Experimental Guitar• Jeremy Young (QC) - Musique Concrète• Arc (QC) - Electronic Post-Rock

ALL FREE - ALL AGES - ALL WELCOME! Come to PWM2025 and Get Wired!

Visit prairiewires.ca/ for up to the date info. Email [email protected] to volunteer.

Info: Starting in Kavanaugh Courtyard at Brandon University at 11:30AM, follow your ears to find pop-up performances every hour on the half, somewhere on campus.

Info: The opening night concert of the Festival of Electronic sound redefines the familiar timbre of acoustic instruments with the otherworldly sound of the modular synthesizer. This unexpected intersection brings old and new together with three acts who push to the boundaries of new music.

Drummer Jason Tait merges the worlds of acoustic percussion with modular synthesis, k.burwash will collaborate with violist Jennifer Theissen to improvise lush ambient soundscapes, and Kerey Harper performs a suite of new music compositions for moduar synthesizer and chamber ensemble, that resonate with the spirit of his home in St. Theresa Point First Nation.

Info: THIS is Synthpunk! An electrified dance party that will “Shock the Dock” with electro-infused indie rock and some queer mad science. This event is wired for “mature” audiences after 10:30PM.

Info: Start the second day of PWM2025 with an energizing soundbath. Grab a coffee and pastry at Chez Angela, then grab your sketchbooks and follow Wandering Brandon’s resident artists Dhairya and Michael on a guided art walking tour of Downtown Brandon. Draw what you hear. The streets will resonate at every unexpected intersection. This part of your journey ends, or perhaps begins again at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba.

Info: Discover a world of electronic sound at the third Prairie Wires Modular Meetup. Modular synthesists from across Canada will gather to share their passion for modular synthesis, and show off their one-of-a-kind systems that sit at the intersection of music, science and art. Every corner of the AGSM will come alive with electronic sound. Enjoy planned performances and spontaneous jam sessions. Try your hand at patching up a modular synth, or discover how to bend sound waves using free virtual synthesizers in the SoundLab. This event is free & family friendly.

Info: The final concert of PWM2025 begins with a pre-concert haptic prelude in the Kinsmen Rehearsal Studio. Soft Verges, a performance and interactive installation of human activated sound stations that act as “modules” on a conceptual scale. The feature concert will begin at 7:00PM in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall bringing you on a sensory journey of sound and moving images that simultaneously redefine the familiar role of the guitar.

Host or Publisher Prairie Wires Modular