The two veteran Chicago improvisers and longtime collaborators take the stage at Elastic to perform their avant blend of rock, folk and chamber music.

Hailed as “Chicago’s first lady of the cello” by Timeout Chicago Magazine, Dutch cellist Katinka Kleijn defies today’s traditional definition of a cellist, transitioning comfortably through the styles of classical, experimental, contemporary, improvisatory, folk and progressive rock, as well as across the traditional fields of solo, chamber and orchestral performance. A member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Kleijn is in frequent demand as a soloist, performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Charles Dutoit in Penderecki’s Triple Cello Concerto, as well as with the The Hague Philharmonic, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Illinois Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestras of Elmhurst, DuPage and Sheboygan, and as a soloist in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Kai on the CSO’s MusicNOW Series.

Bill MacKay cut his teeth in various bands and projects spanning genres across the United States, and has created an extensive body of original work, while energizing the folk, avant-garde, and experimental diaspora.MacKay’s blissful harmonic control and just-outside-the-box guitar mastery are one with his compelling songwriting, and his creative voyage and imaginative influences are fully displayed on his most recent solo records: Fountain Fire (Drag City, 2019) Esker (Drag City, 2017), and SpiderBeetleBee (Drag City, 2017) his second duo set with Ryley Walker.These recordings along with his unmatched live performances reveal a startling range – from the folk of Appalachia, avant-rock, and blues to jazz, raga-esque excursions, and western modes. MacKay’s music has received praise in reviews by the Chicago Reader, Mojo, The Ear, Uncut, Downbeat, Paste, Pitchfork and New City among other publications. https://billmackay.com/

Brett William Naucke (b. 1985) is an American electronic composer, recording, and performing artist based in Chicago, IL.

Naucke’s sonic output has been primarily focused on marrying an ever-evolving practice of synthesis with personal and conceptual narratives. His most recent recordings have been released by Spectrum Spools, Umor Rex, and Hausu Mountain in addition to many others since 2009. Beyond live performance, Naucke has provided the original scores for several films, sound design for interactive gaming, and presented many works for multi-channel audio installations.

Naucke also ran the Catholic Tapes record label from 2007-2015 releasing over 100 documents of American underground electronic music. He has worked extensively with a variety of synthesizer and effects manufacturers on product development and testing in addition to lecturing and teaching on modular synthesis. He has been a member of avant-art collective ONO since 2013 as well as a frequent collaborator with many acts including Bitchin Bajas, Panicsville, Pulse Emitter, TALSounds, Matchess, Michael Vallera, and Ryley Walker.

“Music may not actually have height, width or depth, but Brett Naucke’s certainly feels three-dimensional. Using synthesizers, field recordings and a variety of other sources, the Chicago-based artist crafts expansive pieces that are like physical spaces you can enter and explore.” -Marc Masters, NPR

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Tags: Bill MacKay, Brett William Naucke, Katinka Kleijn, Logan Square, Tim Breen