![]() |
|||
|
In advance of the release of the Halloween-themed dance track “Abracadabra Again” on Friday, September 1, here is the official video.
UK composer Elizabeth (Lizzy) Westcott has hired The Junkman to be the Technical Music Consultant for her new family music theatre production for the Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, United Kingdom. The musical work is adapted from Izzy Gizmo book series by author Pip Jones. The stage sets will be a massive Rube Goldberg style sound-set of gizmos – all made from reused materials. I will be assisting Lizzy in the selection of reused materials for each of the various songs in the musical. The idea is to integrate specific reused material sounds into this large sound set. This will enable Izzy the ability to accompany herself on the sound set of gizmos as she sings songs live throughout the show. More on this super fun project later!!
The Junkman (Donald Knaack) has collaborated with the critically acclaimed author of thirteen traditionally published mystery novels, Amy Patricia Meade, to bring a unique storytelling/music program to students of all ages. Called Storyjams, the classroom workshop inspires children to create their own stories while simultaneously teaching them about story structure, sound color, and how rhythm and music can enhance a written narrative or tell a story all its own. Amy’s section of the program meets the majority of NYS Anchor Standards for Writing. Donald Knaack’s portion meets the majority of NYS Music Anchor Standards. Workshops are interactive with each student creating a story to either read aloud or share on the classroom story tree. A jam session & a question and answer session will follow each workshop.
Duration of each classroom presentation is 30 to 45 minutes dependent upon student age and scheduling constraints.
One full day (6-8 classes) of workshops: $1,000.00
The most comprehensive and analytical work that ever been produced on The Junkman’s life and work:
https://medium.com/noods-radio/donald-knaack-producing-the-environment-83b5a1eef765
Last week, The Junkman opened the Boston Blooms Summer Street Block Party with an hour long concert. His performance was sponsored by The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, and The Boston Globe.
—————————————————–
The Junkman recently returned home to the US after five years living and working in the United Kingdom under a Tier One Exceptional Talent Visa. Numerous concerts and workshops in schools ,universities, and museums throughout the country, as well as a six month residency at Cockington Court outside Torquay on the English Riviera in which he offered concerts, workshops, artist encounters, as well as a very successful two month interactive installation of his Junk Music Playstations made from kitchen utensils in the Court’s Kitchen Gallery. He also created a prize–winning interactive sound sculpture for the Court’s sculpture trail made from auto parts and highway signs.
He also spent one and one half years at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory working alongside Chief Engineer Nathan Churchill designing and creating a seventeen independent voice percussion robot. This robot is fully programmable and MIDI driven. The laboratory is located at the University Western England (UWE) in Bristol. The entire project was fully funded by the EU (European Union). This robot will be the percussion orchestra that accompanies Thor in Knaack’s upcoming opera, Odin, then and now.
And last but not least, The Junkman performed concerts and workshops throughout the country at festivals including, Grinigog, Basingstoke B’ Love Festival, The MAC (Midlands Arts Centre) in Birmingham, and the Dunbar Civic Week, and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Scotland.
The newest episode of Salvage Super Sounds episode is all about the ringing, the clanging, the pinging, and the clanking as The Junkman goes METAL!