The Trading Places: Trueque: Un Échange Program
Trading Places: Trueque: Un Échange is a vibrant multi-city residency program active since 2016 in Montréal and Vancouver and, starting in 2026, Mexico City, Montréal and Vancouver. This program brings together these foremost centers of improvised and experimental music, the NOW Society, Suoni Per Il Popolo, and CDMX Coordinators curating in collaboration, providing support for artistic practice and cultural exchange. Each year the resident artists are chosen to represent their communities in these residencies. The artists premiere new works, attend musical gatherings, perform in concerts, facilitate workshops, take part in improvised marathons and make recordings, forming new connections with local artists.
Trading Places: Un Échange: Truque es un dinámico programa de residencias multiciudad, activo desde 2016 en Montreal y Vancouver, y, a partir de 2026, en Ciudad de México, Montreal y Vancouver. Este programa reúne a estos importantes centros de música improvisada y experimental, la Sociedad NOW, Suoni Per Il Popolo y coordinadores de la CDMX, quienes colaboran en la curaduría y brindan apoyo a la práctica artística y al intercambio cultural. Cada año, los artistas residentes son seleccionados para representar a sus comunidades en estas residencias. Los artistas estrenan nuevas obras, asisten a encuentros musicales, actúan en conciertos, imparten talleres, participan en maratones improvisados y graban, creando así nuevas conexiones con artistas locales.
Trading Places : Trueque : Un Échange est un programme de résidence dynamique qui se déroule dans plusieurs villes depuis 2016 à Montréal et Vancouver et, à partir de 2026, à Mexico, Montréal et Vancouver. Ce programme réunit ces centres majeurs de musique improvisée et expérimentale, la NOW Society, Suoni Per Il Popolo et les coordinateurs de la CDMX qui collaborent à la programmation, offrant ainsi un soutien à la pratique artistique et aux échanges culturels. Chaque année, des artistes en résidence sont sélectionnés pour représenter leurs communautés. Ils y présentent leurs nouvelles œuvres, participent à des rencontres musicales, se produisent en concert, animent des ateliers, prennent part à des marathons d'improvisation et réalisent des enregistrements, tissant ainsi des liens avec des artistes locaux.
Partners
Since 2000, Suoni Per Il Popolo is a meeting ground of experimental music, art and activism presented by the non-profit organization Société des Arts Libres et Actuels (SALA) and is rooted in exploratory creative connections. More about Suoni Per Il Popolo.
Musican led and run Since 1977, the New Orchestra Workshop Society (NOW) presents the creative work of improvising communities through concerts and gatherings, improvisation workshops, establishes cultural space for the sharing of creative work and supports community initiatives in our Social Space for New Culture, 8EAST. More about the NOW Society.
History
The Trading Places: Un Échange was inspired by cultural exchange between Vancouver and Montreal in a New Orchestra Workshop (NOW) Society program, leftcoast/eastcoast improv: Elation-Elegance-Exaltation, which took place at the Western Front, Vancouver, BC from February 19 to 21 of 2015. Improvisers with histories from the Atelier de Musique Experimentale in Montréal and from the NOW Society improvising community in Vancouver joined together in creative interchange, with workshops, a Nouveau Jazz Libre de Québec CD release concert and a six-hour Supreme marathon expression Coltrane’s Love Supreme poem.
From 2016 - 2025, the Trading Places: Un Échange program took place in Montréal and Vancouver, two of Canada’s foremost centers of improvised music. The NOW Society and Suoni Per Il Popolo (with Music on Main, Western Front and Coastal Jazz and Blues Society from 2016 - 2021) and the Trading Places: Resident Coordinators curated in collaboration, providing support for artistic practice and cultural exchange. From 2026, the program, renamed Trading Places: Trueque: Un Échange will include cultural exchange with the vibrant creative improvisational musical communities of Mexico City.
Past Events
2015
Vancouver 6 hour Supreme Marathon
Workshop participants: Susan Katz - oboe, Johanna Hauser, Natasha Zrno - clarinets
Don Chow, Russ Styles - saxophones, Ian Migicovsky - sax flute and percussion, Lisa Butel, Margot Leigh Butler. Laura Crema, Sabrina Chang, Asuman Gencol, Michelle Richard, Charlie Rae Walker, Carol Sawyer - voices, Edward Dardis - accordian, Elisa Thorn - harp, Eshantha Peiris - piano, Michael DuBelko, Brent Cross, Wylie Ferguson, Joey Ridos, Kenneth Schroeder - guitars, Clyde Reed - bass, Gary Wildeman - drums
NJLQ trio: Guy Thouin: percussions, Bryan Highbloom and Raymon Torchinsky saxophones.
NOW Society Community musicians: Saul Berson, Bruce Freedman, Dave Say, John Paton - saxes. Brad Muirhead - bass trombone, Ron Samworth, Tony Wilson - guitars, Lisa Cay Miller - piano, James Meger, Russel Sholberg, André LaChance, Paul Blaney, Clyde Reed - basses, Dylan van der Schyff and Skye Brooks - drums
A Supreme marathon followed in Montreal in the first Trading Plcase: Un Échange Residency program in 2016.
2016
Resident Artists: Liz Lima (clarinet) Yves Charuest (saxophone) (Montreal)
Elisa Thorn (harp) Tony Wilson (guitar ) (Vancouver)
2016 Program
Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival, Montreal:
June 5 Bozzini Quartet Conseil des Arts de Montréal • Postal Pieces de James Tenney interprété par le Quatuor Bozzini et Amis
June 6 Bozzini Quartet Casa Del Popolo • Koan et d’autre pièces de James Tenney interprété par le Quatuor Bozzini plus invités et piano mécanique
June 8 Trading Places Marathon Café Résonance
June 13 Trading Places présente : rencontre d’improvisateurs avec Tony Wilson, Elisa Thorn et Musiciens Montréalais
2016 Montreal 4 hour Supreme Marathon
Montreal community musicians: Liz Lima, Elizabeth Millar - clarinet, Scott Thomson -trombone. Yves Charuest, Ted Crosby, Jean Derome, Bryan Highbloom - sax, Josh Zubot - violin, James Annett - viola, Craig Pedersen, Ellwood Epps - trumpets, Elisa Thorn - harp, Vicky Mettler, Tony Wilson - guitar, Lisa Cay Miller - piano, Raphael Foisy Couture, Aaron Lumley, James Meger, Nicolas Caloia - bass, Ivan Bamford, Isaiah Ceccarelli - drums
Vancouver events - curated by Cole Schmidt
Resident Artists: Liz Lima (clarinet) Yves Charuest (saxophone) (Montreal)
October 28 Merge ElkHorn (Vancouver) collaborates with vocalist/clarinetist Elizabeth Lima (Montreal). Sick Boss Trio (Vancouver) collaborates with saxophonist Yves Charuest (Montreal)
November 4 House concerts with Vancouver Improvised music community
November 5 Western Front, Improvisation workshops
November 6 Western Front, Yves Charuest (saxophone), Elizabeth Lima (clarinet and voice), Peggy Lee (cello) Stefan Smulovitz (electronics), Ben Brown (drums) Kenton Loewen (rums)
2017
Resident Artists: Vicky Mettler (guitar) Ellwood Epps (trumpet) (Montreal)
Cole Schmidt (guitare) Peggy Lee (violoncelle) (Vancouver)
2017 Program
Montréal Events - Curated by Craig Pedersen:
Resident Artists: Cole Schmidt (guitare) Peggy Lee (violoncelle)
Juin: Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival
2 20:30 La Sala Rossa, Hommage à Pauline Oliveros
4 14:00 Casa del Popolo, Atelier
5 20:00 La Sala Rossa, a/Mary Margaret O'Hara
6 24:00 La Sala Rossa, Jam
7 20:00 La Vitrola, Marathon
11 20:00 La Sala Rossa, Concert
Vancouver events - curated by Roísín Adams
Resident Artists: Vicky Mettler (guitar) Ellwood Epps (trumpet)
Nov. 9 21:00 Merge, Improv
Kevin Romain (drums) Lyle Hopkins (bass) Róisín Adams (piano)
2Vicky Mettler (guitar) Ellwood Epps (trumpet) Lisa Cay Miller (piano) Meredith Bates (violin)
Nov. 10 20:00 Toast Collective, Sonic Psych
Jordan Barnes-Crouse (synth)
Vicky Mettler (guitar) Torsten Muller (bass)
3Ellwood Epps (trumpet) Joshua Zubot (violin) Colin Edward Cowan (bass)
Nov. 12 19:00 Western Front, Marathon featuring a new work by Roisin Adams, resident artists and Vancouver improvisers
Nov. 14 21:00 Gold Saucer
Viviane Houle (voice) Vicky Mettler (guitar) Ellwood Epps (trumpet)
Nov. 16 20:00 Feature Concert Roundhouse Community Centre
Ellwood Epps (trumpet) Paul Plimley (piano) Dylan van der Schyff (drums)
Vicky Mettler (guitar) Ross Birdwise (voice/electronics) Torsten Muller (bass) Kıvanç Tatar (trumpet/electronics)
Nov. 17 20:00 NOW Society Ensemble at the Roundhouse
Ellwood Epps (trumpet) Vicky Mettler (guitar) Joshua Zubot (violin)
James Meger (bass) Lisa Cay Miller (piano) Skye Brooks (drums)
Lina Allemano (trumpet) and Kris Davis (piano) join the NOW Society Ensemble
2018
with Artists in Residence Ida Toninato and Sam Émilie Gerard-Charest (Montreal)
Ron Samworth and Mili Hong (Vancouver)
Montréal Resident Artists: Ron Samworth (guitare) Mili Hong (batterie)
Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival, Montreal
Juin
9 13h La Vitrola, Atelier
11 24h La Sala Rosa Resto, Jam
13 15h-2h Casa del Popolo, Marathon Mardi Spaghetti
14 20.30h La Vitrola, avec Revival Ensemble
14 21h La Vitrola, avec Will Guthrie
Resident Artists Ida Toninato and Sam Émilie Gerard-Charest (Montreal)
Vancouver program
October
29 16,19h Western Front, Workshops
30 21h Gold Saucer, Sawdust Collector Series
November
1 20h @ 8EAST
2 20h with NOW Society Ensemble at the Western Front
3 21h Merge, Improv
4 17h Western Front, Marathon
5 20h Modulus Festival Concert
2019
with Artists in Residence
Elizabeth Miller and Sam Shalabi (Montreal)
Ron Samworth and Marina Hasselberg (Vancouver)
Vancouver Resident Artists: Elizabeth Millar (clarinette) Sam Shalabi (guitare, oud)
Nov
1 21h China Cloud, Freedom Muzik
3 21h Conduit Gallery, Collab
5 21h Golden Saucer, Sawdust Collector
6 22h What Lab, Fish Sung Sounds
7 17h 8EAST, Marathon
8 21h Toast Collective, Quiet City
9 20h Western Front, Concert
Le Juin, 2019 Montréal: Ron Samworth (guitare) Marina Hasselberg (violoncelle)
Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival
Juin
9 24h El Centro, Midnight Music
11 15h Casa del Popolo, Marathon Mardi Spaghetti
13 13h Casa del Popolo, Atelier
14 13h La Plante, avec L’Ensemble Habitant
15 20h Casa del Popolo, Spectacle
2022
artists in Residence Feven Kidane, Andromeda Monk, Meredith Bates (Vancouver)
June - Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival
13 - Second Sight, Meredith Bates, Ambroise
15 - Sick Boss/Sam Shalabi/Andromeda Monk
17 - Kee Avil Lancement D'Album CREASE + Meredith Bates, Mark Molnar, Jessica Moss, Feven Kidane, Andromeda Monk
19 - Meredith Bates, Feven Kidane, Andromeda Monk, Thanya Iver, Sam Shalabi, Hamin Honari, Jaames Nicolas Dumile Wiloughby
22 - Neti-Neti + Feven Kidane
2023
with Artists in Residence Marilou Craft and Raphaël Foisy (Montreal)
Vancouver Program
November
4 Sat. 4-6pm 8EAST Opening reception: Popolo Press poster exhibition
5 Sun. 10pm 8EAST NOW Society improv marathon
8 Wed. 8pm 8EAST Raphël Foisy, Ross Birdwise, Adrian Avendaño, Matthew Ariaratnam & how to survive a high rise hotel fire
9 Thurs. 8pm 8EAST Marilou Craft with Laura Doyle, Cole Schmidt, Nikko Whitworth,
Raphaël Foisy with Joshua Zubot, Lisa Cay Miller
10 Fri. 8pm Tyrant Studios final concert: Marilou Craft, Raphaël Foisy, Andrea Wong, Adrian Avendaño
11 Sat. 2-3:30pm 8EAST NOW improv workshop with Marilou Craft & Raphaël Foisy
2024
Artists in Residence
Ari Swan and Markus Lake (Montreal)
Nikko Whitworth and Haley Bird (Vancouver)
Full program Trading Places: Un Échange 2024
Montréal: how to survive a high rise hotel fire
Nikko Whitworth (bass) and Haley Bird (oboe)
Juin: Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival
16 16:30 La Sala Rossa: Being Five + Hand to Earth + how to survive a high rise hotel fire
21 13:00 Casa Del Popolo: Mardi Spaghetti Marathon
22 18:00 La Sala Rossa: The End + how to survive a high rise hotel fire
Vancouver: Markus Lake (bass) Ari Swan (violin)
September: 8EAST Social Space for New Culture and The Hargrove
22 7pm Marathon at The Hargrove
24 8pm 8EAST Improv
26 8pm 8EAST Improv
27 8pm 8EAST Improv
28 2pm Workshop at 8EAST
29 4pm Community Gathering at 8EAST
2025
Artists in Residence
Jarrett Martineau and Cordelia M’Sadoques (Vancouver)
Allison Burik and Fahmid Nibesh (Montreal)
Full Program
Montréal:
Jarrett Martineau (electronics) and Cordelia M’Sadoques (voice)
Juin: Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival
24 16:30 La Sala Rossa: Ritual Purification + Artist Talk
25 17:00 La Sala Rossa: CHXMERAS
25 18:00 Casa Del Popolo: Cordelia M’Sadoques
26 12:00 daphne: Artist Talk Raven Chacon and Jarrett Martineau
26 17:00 Casa Del Popolo: Get Free! Soirée d’Impro à Casa
Vancouver:
Allison Burik (saxophone, clarinet)
Fahmid Nibesh (guitar, electronics, percussion, voice)
September: 8EAST Social Space for New Culture
22 7pm Concurrence Gathering
23 8pm 8EAST Improv
25 7pm The World to Come
26 8pm 8EAST Improv
27 2pm Workshop at 8EAST
27 8pm 8EAST Improv
28 7pm Trading Places: Un Échange Marathon
MEXICO CITY 2026
From Montréal: James Goddard (alto sax, mbira with electronics), JahSun (drums)
From Vancouver: Anju Singh (violin, electronics), Adrian Avendaño (drums)
From Mexico City: Aleida Pérez (violin), Alex Motta (bass)
February
16 8pm Teatro Lola Cueto
17 8pm 33 1/3
18 8pm Venas Rotas
19 6pm Radio UNAM
20 9pm El Armadillo
21 9pm Jazzorca
22 8 - 11pm Marathon, Kubo Coyoacán
MONTREAL June 2026 Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival
James Goddard (alto sax, mbira with electronics), JahSun (drums)
Anju Singh (violin, electronics), Adrian Avendaño (drums)
Aleida Pérez (violin), Alex Motta (bass)
June
Dates and events coming soon!
VANCUOVER November 2026 at 8EAST, 8 EAST Pender Street
James Goddard (alto sax, mbira with electronics), JahSun (drums)
Anju Singh (violin, electronics), Adrian Avendaño (drums)
Aleida Pérez (violin), Alex Motta (bass)
November
19 8pm Concurrence Gathering, in collaboration with Musqueam, Squamish and Tsliel-Waututh Artsts
20 7pm Talk: Activism and Creative resistance
20 9pm Improvised music concert with Vancouver artists and musicians
21 2pm Double Workshop - improvising together, all levels of musical and sound making ability welcome
22 6pm Marathon events featuring over 25 musicians
24 9pm Improvised music concert with Vancouver artists and musicians
25 8 - 11pm Improvised music concert with Vancouver artists and musicians