Thursday, 21 May Sabbatical presents the launch of our thirteenth series release, Palisades by Melbourne based duo James Rushford & Joe Talia (SBB013).

This cavernous electroacoustic fabrication finds its heart in exploration of the unforeseen voices of their selected instrumentation and devices. These include prepared violas, autoharp, spring reverb tank, and various metal objects. The ensuing extended compositions incorporate elements of ethereal drone and instrumental concrète, with stasis as a recurring theme.

James and Joe will be joined on this occasion by a series of duo performances from Thembi Soddell & Anthea Caddy, Forth Impact! and Witness Girl. Hosted by the Old Bar (74-76 Johnston Street Fitzroy Victoria), with doors opening at 8:30pm, action from 9pm, and six dollars in.

Palisades is out now through Sabbatical and is available through the webstore immediately and in Australian independent record stores in the coming weeks.

www.sbbtcl.com

Jess Pinney's incredible solo debut, Revontulet, is out now.

Juarez is the solo project of Jessica Pinney, and Revontulet (SBB012) is her debut release for the Sabbatical label. This is a dark electroacoustic work centred on processed analogue electronics and the layering of rich vocal lines, generating an eerie intimacy that is equally inviting and unsettling. The four extended pieces comprising Revontulet were tracked and mixed by Marcus Cook at Head Gap in Preston, Victoria during July 2008.

Available from www.sbbtcl.com and Australian independent record stores. If you local doesn't have it ask them to order it in through Missing Link Distribution.

Thursday 11 December Sabbatical hosts our final show for 2008 at the Old Bar. Headlining this show is broken scum rock/grind unit Collapsed Toilet Vietnam, in one of their final performances prior to a three month break. A new release from the group (a split cassette with Pathetic Human) should be available at this show. Also performing are Wasted Truth (an awesome new duo featuring Sean Bailey of Lakes and Harriet Morgan of Downtown), Rod Cooper (legendary instrument builder obsessed with the qualities of metal) and Aktion Unit (featuring Rene Schaefer (Hand Hell) and Dan Lewis (Mirror Farm) with guest Liam Matthews on percussion). The show kicks off at 8:30pm, and entry is a mere six of your worthless Australian dollars.

Sabbatical Presents
Saturday 12 July at The Afterdark 565 High Street Northcote
8:30PM / $5

When Worlds Collide (Adam Nash, Greg Wadley)
The Inevitable Orbit (Julian Williams, Dion Nania, Frances Plagne, Greg Flywheel Greg)
Lakes (Sean Bailey)
Eye Off (Simon Taylor)
Cicatrix (Matthew Brown)

Every day thousands of people go to online virtual worlds such as Second Life to communicate, create and explore. There is also a burgeoning scene of people making art and music inside this virtual world, using the unique qualities its virtual space. Two performers who blur real and virtual spaces are Adam Nash and Greg Wadley. They have devised a mixed-reality piece - When Worlds Collide - based on Adam's Seventeen Unsung Songs installation, which is located on a virtual island in Second Life. Adam and Greg pilot their avatars around the island, triggering sounds and animations as they navigate the sculptures. The sound and vision they create is broadcast into ''real world'' venues via a projector and PA.

Adam and Greg have performed WWC twice in Melbourne. They return for a third show - with a twist - at the Afterdark bar, 565 High st, Northcote on Saturday 12th July. The twist is that Greg will be performing from San Francisco - in real time. He will be represented at Afterdark by a laptop, placed on the stage. Also playing this night are The Inevitable Orbit, Lakes, Eye Off and Cicatrix.

The ''instrument'' in this performance - Seventeen Unsung Songs - is an audiovisual installation for Second Life created by Adam (avatar name Adam Ramona). Presented by the Odyssey Art Simulator, it represents a landmark in the development of the virtual audiovisual art/music scene. Deeply interactive, it consists of immersive audiovisual sculptures that are played by the users themselves, activating sounds and animations as they navigate within the sculptures.

Adam Nash is internationally recognized as one of the most innovative artists working in Multi-User Virtual Environments. His work has been presented around the world including at SIGGRAPH, ISEA, and the Venice Biennale. He is currently one of the recipients of the inaugural Australia Council Second Life Artist in Residency grant.

Greg Wadley has played in a number of Australian bands and is a founding member of performance group the Hi God People. Through his Spill label he has produced compilations of Australian music and performed production roles on many albums. He is conducting research into virtual worlds at the University of Melbourne.

10.05.08: Sabbatical Presents the third in our monthly series at The Afterdark (565 High Street Northcote, Victoria). Appearing on this occasion are Absoluten Calfeutrail, Juarez, Oranj Punjabi, Screwtape and Marco Fusinato. Five bones in, Nine post meridiem beginning.