SOUND & VISION

On April 2, AGO First Thursdays brings together some of Toronto's most experimental artists to explore the intersections between sound and visual art.

Turning up the volume in Walker Court will be Juno-nominated MC and artist Tre Mission. He will co-headline the event with Toronto rock supergroup Lids, featuring members of Metz, Holy Fuck and The Constantines.

Further blurring the lines between music and art, the evening will feature bold performances and installations by various artists including Marla Hlady, Christopher Willes and Shmu. Plus, don’t miss a special installation of archival video from Toronto’s legendary Extermination Music Night events, organized by Daniel Vila.

A highlight of the evening will be Music and Performance: The Limits of Canadian Identity, a wide ranging conversation about how race, class, gender and multiculturalism influence music and its performance. Moderated by Toronto artist and musician Casey Mecija (Ohbijou), joining this discussion will be performers Alaska B (Yamantaka//Sonic Titan), Roland Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) and Lido Pimienta. 

Join the Toronto Shape Note Singers and try your hand at traditional singing from the Sacred Harp in the hollow square. This is not a performance — grab a songbook and join!

Plus, don’t miss sets by DJ Mama Knows (Anni Spadafora of New Fries) and DJ New Chance (Victoria Cheong) and exciting pop-up talks by artists and thinkers, including David Dacks, artistic director of the Music Gallery. And, of course, it wouldn’t be an AGO First Thursday without delicious food and drinks, our monthly Out of the Vaults installation and some hands-on art-making.

Follow the #AGO1st hashtag on Twitter and Instagram for updates on AGO First Thursdays. RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook.