ComeUnity Festival!

Last week, T received a phone message from our nextdoor neighbour, passing on that some kids from the area needed the car in our parking space moved so that they could paint a mural on the wall adjacent to our building.  The space is rented by someone who lives down the street and the car's battery is pooched at the moment, so we were somewhat surprised when we stepped out back on the weekend to find the car moved and the crew hard at work.  Turns out that they rallied up a posse and did the old lift-and-shift, leaving them plenty of room to finish up an awesome piece that is a much welcomed coat over the tacky tags that previously occupied the space.  Check it out...







The crew informed me that the piece was for the upcoming Bloor-Dundas ComeUnity Festival, and that they were hoping to add more work along the alleyway that backs on to Dundas West Station before the 11th.



I'm all over anything that's sincerely grassroots and local, and after getting in contact with the organisers via the email address on the website, it's was quickly decided that the new, WestsideWax DJ School will be showcasing at the Festival!  This is a project that I've wanted to get off the ground for some time - the idea was hatched while I was living in Asia, but has only become viable recently.  DJing, while wonderfully entertaining for both the d.j. and audience, also holds great theraputic value, and this is the aspect that will be emphasised in this up-and-coming school, which will focus primarily on giving subsidised and even free lessons to kids and teens from low-income or otherwise struggling families.  In the past 25 years, I've learned that d.j.ing and dancing to electronic music is great for getting us in touch with our natural sense of rhythm and a very grounding energy, it improves focus and concentration, and it's kickass FUN! 

The school will be comfortably based out of T's and my apartment, and studies will include turntable and mixer setup and maintenance, beatmatching, programming (or "storytelling" as we like to call it), EQing, cuts and other fader tricks, basic turntablism, improvisation and history lessons in electronic music.  Styles of music taught will range from Techno (Detroit, European and Asian) to House (Classic Chicago, Acid, Booty and Tech-House) and Electro, and special seminars on intermediate/advanced turntablism and digital d.j.ing will be presented from time to time.  Once students become proficient enough, they'll have the opportunity to record their sets, and we eventually plan on showcasing WestsideWax d.j.s at community events around the city.  Oh, and we're also offering big kid lessons for adults who want to get in touch with their souls, too!

We should be pretty easy to find, as we'll be within earshot of the subway station and we'll have a banner hanging from the back deck.  All are welcome to come by - we expect to be up and running by noon, and rain-or-shine we'll be belting out all-day hits from various Tech-talented locals such as Rouchos and Gl.tch, as well as giving interested kids a chance to scope out and try out the gear!

If you have any inquiries about the DJ school, or would like to donate to our cause, please contact us at westsidewax@sympatico.ca

See you on the 11th!

WW