Open Frequencies - Day 3

The annual VNM Festival returns with Open Frequencies, a three-day program spotlighting bold, globally engaged approaches to new music by artists working at the forefront of experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural sound practices. Sarah Pagé (Montreal) 30 minutes Harp and koto player Sarah Pagé delivers a solo harp performance that showcases her virtuosity and experimentation, while drawing constellation-like paths across genres, borders, and musical histories. Employing a myriad of techniques and tools to accentuate the harp, Pagé capitalizes on both the very physical and altogether mystical tones inherent in the instrument. The mere range of sounds Pagé is able to pull out of the harp while remaining tethered to its essence is astounding. Gordon Grdina (Vancouver) 30 minutes JUNO award-winning oud and guitar player Gordon Grdina offers a solo set on the oud. An exploration at the cutting edge of contemporary jazz and classical heritage, this performance presents an original synthesis that bridges mainstream jazz, free improvisation, and classical Arabic music. Grdina masterfully utilizes the oud—the ancestral Middle Eastern stringed instrument and predecessor to the European lute—to chart a distinct language that reflects deep modernity existing fluidly within traditional Persian and Arabic roots. Piu (Nanaimo) Milao (unfolding) World Premiere 2026, 25 minutes A dynamic live performance by musician, composer, and producer Priyanka Chakrabarti (Piu), blending live electronics, raga-inspired vocals, and field recordings. Traversing genres and cultures, the set moves between contemplative and energetic moments, creating an immersive and deeply textured listening experience. This work is also informed by material from her debut album Milao (2026), presented in a reimagined live rendition that expands the compositions. Milao, which means “to come together,” is an exploration of memory, time, and the shifting landscapes of belonging. Inspired by Indian raga and folk music, the album weaves analog textures, live vocals, and field recordings, creating a rich sonic experience. Layering modular and analog synthesizers with her own vocals and organic textures, Milao becomes a meeting ground: of cultures and places, of past and present, of grief and renewal. It is an act of gathering and holding memory while reshaping it into something that can move forward. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Nadah El Shazly is no longer able to perform this evening. To purchase a Festival Pass for all three nights, please visit: Open Frequencies - Festival Pass Banner credits: Shannon Harris