FARIDA AMADOU MEETS 8EAST
Friday, Mar 27 9 pm at 8EAST, 8 East Pender Street, music at 9:30
BARKING SPHINX & the NOW Society PRESENT:
UNWRITTEN WEEKEND FESTIVAL. Join Farida Amadou (Brussels) for a late-night night of improvised music at 8EAST
Farida Amadou will collaborate with local musicians in a unique performance!
With:
John Brennan, Adrian Avendaño - drums
Matthew Ariaratnam, Cole Schmidt - guitar
Johanna Hauser - clarinets
JP Carter - trumpet
Bahar Khazei, Lisa Cay Miller - piano
Mauricio Pauly - electronics
8East
Doors: 9:00 / Music: 9:30
By donation $20/$10/free
Co-presented by NOW Society and Barking Sphinx.
FARIDA AMADOU
If there's one musician in the last decade that you may hear in wildly diverse musical contexts it is Belgian electric bassist and sound sculptor Farida Amadou. Not only can you enjoy the unerringly skillful command she has over her instrument but also the transformative power to reinterpret and expand her material in spontaneous and unconventional ways.
Amadou is self-taught and radically aware of her idiosyncratic relationship with the bass guitar. Known for her raw, intuitive approach to improvisation, she has become a vital force in experimental music, collaborating with artists such as Thurston Moore, Peter Brötzmann, and Moor Mother. Blending free jazz, noise, and deep rhythmic structure, Amadou creates immersive soundscapes that balance intensity with clarity.
Farida will also present the North American Premiere of a brand new solo creation - an exploration of improvised textures built around West African rhythm samples, melodic fragments, and voice - at Red Gate on March 28.
UNWRITTEN WEEKEND FESTIVAL
MARCH 27- 29, 2026
Join us from March 27 to 29 for the second edition of Unwritten Weekend festival! Experience 3 days of concerts, workshops, and art across four venues in Vancouver: Alliance Française Vancouver, The Hargrove, 8EAST, and Red Gate.
We’re happy to welcome 3 featured artists: Farida Amadou (Brussels), Myriam Gendron (Montreal), and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Montreal). Their presence is approached as an interactive exchange with Vancouver, as they will be invited to meet local artists and local audiences through either an improvised set, a workshop, or a listening session.
Come celebrate the creativity our region hosts. The festival also brings together more than 30 artists with ties to the region: singer-songwriters, noise musicians, improvisers, visual artists, and audiences meet to new creations and collaborations, meetings across generations, and multidisciplinary performances.
We are committed to making 8EAST a safe(r), welcoming and more accessible space. We do not tolerate discrimination based on age, gender, neuro a-typicality, disability, place of origin, cultural background, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. We do not tolerate racism, sexual aggression, assault, or harassment which can include unwanted touch or comments that objectify or sexualize. We adopt and follow the We Have Voice Collective Code of Conduct.
We can accommodate a variety of needs, including assistance dogs, walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers. To arrange for American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, please contact now@nowsociety.org. We recognize that access is an ongoing and evolving discussion, and acknowledge that this statement may be insufficient. Concerns or suggestions can be addressed, discussed or expressed anonymously by emailing safety@nowsociety.org. 8EAST ventilation: Open windows and door, 3 HEPA air purifiers and UV lights on return air in the HVAC system. Mask wearing is recommended and masks will be available. Seating, wooden stackable chairs without armrests, is movable.
Seating is generally arranged in groups of two or threes with space between groups for easy mobility. Wheelchair seating is easily accommodated. The 34 inch wide main entrance to 8EAST has a threshold of approximately 0.5 inches high. There is no door automation. During events, the door is open or can be opened by the Front of House person. There are no ramps or stairs to navigate. Internal floors are smooth concrete. Outdoor plaza events are held on concrete pavers, some are uneven. Paths and hallways are kept free of impediments.
8EAST has a wheelchair accessible, non-gendered toilet on site with a door width of 35 inches. Additional public toilets, not wheel chair accessible, are located in the adjacent hallway. The NOW Society emergency evacuation procedures are in place for all individuals. The Front of House person or a staff member onsite is trained in naloxone administration and will be the contact person in case of emergencies.
GETTING THERE AND PARKING:
8EAST is located within 50 meters of buses 004, 007, 019, 022, 209, and N19 on Pender Street. Stops for buses 003, 008, 014, 016, 020, N8, N20, and N35 are located within 250 metres on Hastings Street. Stadium–Chinatown SkyTrain Station is approximately 400 metres away. General metered street parking is available on surrounding streets. A passenger drop-off zone without a curb is located within 50 metres at 531 Carrall Street. To arrange for HandyDART transportation and accompanying assistants, please contact now@nowsociety.org.
There is a bike rack on the SW corner of Pender and Carrall Street, viewable while inside 8EAST and on the Plaza. Covered bike parking is available at the Main Street – Science World Skytrain Station. From there, one can take the #3 bus, then walk West down Pender to 8EAST (c. 5 mins), walk to 8EAST (c. 15 mins) or ride one skytrain stop to Stadium – Chinatown and walk Northwest to 8EAST (c. 5 mins). The closest Bike Locker to 8EAST is located at VCC Clark. From there, one can take trains to Stadium – Chinatown Skytrain Station and walk NorthWest to 8EAST