By Lindsey Rivait
Arts Editor
May 18, 2010

Detroit will explode with electronic music once again as the booming energy from Paxahau’s Movement, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF), takes over from May 29-31.
The three day event is comprised of 36 hours of music performed by some of the biggest names in electronic music, including Richie Hawtin presents Plastikman Live and Kevin Saunderson's Inner City, with other acts including John Acquaviva, Niko Marks, Radio Slave, Scion, and tons more.
Jason Huvaere, Movement Executive Director, is definitely excited for the Plastikman Live show, which he says is “the biggest show we’ve ever done, ever.”
Paxahau has a very seasoned team with three members, Huvaere included, that have been working together to promote electronic music for 17 years.
“It’s been a relentless pursuit of quality and events, and it eventually led us to this event in 2006. Since then we’ve tried to be responsible festival producers and directors. The fact that we work on this year-round, instead of treating it like a part-time job is really starting to show,” said Huvaere. >>

By Matthew Terry
Lance Writer

May 18, 2010

Solidarity between workers and artists—that’s the focus and goal of Windsor’s Mayworks festival with events running until May 29.
Mayworks is the month-long celebration of the working class culture in Windsor emphasized through gallery exhibitions, events, and public gatherings organized by local artists and organizations.
“It’s bringing together the arts community and labour community in Windsor,” said Ken Townsend, a fourth year UWindsor anthropology student and volunteer with the Windsor Workers’ Action Centre. “It raises employment issues to a wider audience through a medium that’s more accessible to the community.”
Mayworks officially launched with the May Day rally, which occurred on May 1—International Workers Day, primarily organized by the Action Centre and its volunteer members.
“I think the May Day rally was a success,” said Townsend. “We had 120 people at the rally this year, up from 40 [last year]. It was a success this year because of the advertising, and tapping into the community.”
Following the rally was the opening reception of Artcite’s newest exhibit, “Windsor Fights Back.” >>

By Lindsey Rivait
Arts Editor
May 18, 2010

Canadian films are known for having a unique flavour, and the latest effort from Tim Doiron and April Mullen is no different.

The Ryerson graduates who created the cult hit Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser are back with GravyTrain—a tale of two wayward detectives set in the present-day fictional Gypsy Creek, which boasts a 1970s backdrop.
The film follows police partners Charles Gravytrain (Doiron, who also penned the script) and Uma Booma (Mullen, who also directed) as they seek out Jimmy Fish Eyes, who is accused of murdering numerous people, including Gravytrain’s father.
In their search for justice, the tables are turned as Gravytrain and Booma are blamed for the murders themselves and somehow become actors in a snuff film produced by Hansel Suppledick along the way.
Shooting GravyTrain was much different than working on their previous film, although both were filmed on tight schedules. While Rock, Paper, Scissors took seven days with five people on set at all times, GravyTrain took 15 days, but with five times the locations and 20 characters. No matter how hectic it was, filming was the highlight for Mullen and Doiron >>