A Time to Howl
Howl! Arts Collective crosses genres and explores community activism with a new live album.
They say there is strength in numbers.
It’s a philosophy that expands beyond just looking out for each other—to feeding the collective, creative psyche.
A local group of artists known as the Howl! Arts Collective explores this method in its latest album, which is being launched Nov. 13 at La Sala Rossa.
The album, Howl Live, is a compilation of live recordings from multiple artists in the group, collected over a span of shows put on by the collective.
“It compiles the best of live recordings from our concert series,” said Stefan Christoff, collective member and one of the musicians featured on the disc.
The tracks were selected for their variety and quality with the help of CKUT radio DJ Nick Schofield, who hosts Underground Sounds, and is also one half of Saxsyndrum.
Schofield mixed and mastered the album which, considering the variety of music it contains, was no small feat.
Rather than sticking to one genre, Howl Live features multiple styles, ranging from the dulcet tones of harpist Sarah Pagé, to the trumpet solo/poetry piece by Jason “Blackbird” Selman.
“We are also a group that tries to work across musical scenes. We’ve organized concerts […] from experimental jazz, to hip hop to spoken word poetry,” said Christoff.
The record launch party will have live performances from many of the musicians featured on the disc, and will celebrate the spirit of independence upheld by all members of the group.
The collective receives no state or corporate funding, and are chiefly out to explore the often tight-knit relationship between social activism and the arts.
“That’s also important for us. We wanted to illustrate to people the vibrancy of independent culture in the city,” said Christoff.
The show will also be broadcast live on Jazz Euphorium, CKUT’s jazz show, so tune in and catch every musical moment even if you can’t make the show.
If you’re interested in live music and social change, this album launch might just be what you’ve been howling for.
Howl! Album Launch // Nov.13 // La Sala Rossa (4848 St. Laurent Blvd.) // 8PM // $5-$10 Facebook event
