Here are some of the must-see acts over the four days of the MEME 2013 festival. This is by no means a comprehensive list: check out www.memetic.ca for the full lineup and ticket info.
The Cube
- Deepchild (Aug. 16, 9:30 p.m.): Currently based in techno's creative hub, Berlin, Deepchild's nuanced approach emphasizes both his skills as a producer and remixer, along with his ability to control crowds as a live performer. Part of Noah Pred's Thoughtless Records' stable, his ability to hit all of techno's pressure points makes him a must-see act.
- Funk D'Void (Aug. 17, 10 p.m.): Lars Sandberg (a.k.a. Funk D'Void) is one of those acts with strong roots in electronic music culture, but who is having a wider impact outside the scene. His deftly executed take on techno should easily win over the crowd.
- Drumspyder (Aug. 18, 5:30 p.m.): If you're a regular at the Winnipeg Folk Festival (especially Pope's Hill and the Big Blue at Night stage), Drumspyder's lush, organic approach to his bass-driven live sets are the perfect bridge into world beat-influenced electronic music. Augmented by live hand drumming, the San Francisco native's unique sound will bring out the belly dancers.
- Desert Dwellers (Aug. 18, 10 p.m.): With a history rooted in sprawling full-moon parties and Burning Man, Amani Friend and Treavor Moontribe tie together elements of bass, breaks, dub, big beat and psychedelic grooves into something that is both out-of-this world, yet grounded in the "raw sounds of the natural world."
After Cube
- Boddhi Satva (Aug. 16, WAG): Infusing the sounds of the Central African Republic, where he was born and raised, with an eclectic approach to electronic music, Satva's stock is on the rise. With a busy international tour schedule and a residency at the W Hotel in Doha, Qatar, Boddhi's complex rhythms shouldn't be missed.
- Daniel Steinberg (Aug. 16, WAG): A tech-house innovator, Berlin's Daniel Steinberg has continually caught the ear of tastemakers for the past decade. Steinberg's playful style will keep the party going.
- My Favorite Robot (Aug. 17, Pantages): Returning to the festival for a second year, this time the red-hot My Favorite Robot crew will be represented by founding member Jared Simms with a winning formula that is a carefree excursion into trippy, vocal-heavy house and sleek, luxurious techno.
Locals
- Opening Night Showcases (Aug. 15 at Union Sound Hall & The Cheer): With a jam-packed lineup that covers a wide swath of electronic music and also features ex-Winnipeggers Cain.1 (Banff), Turtilian (Montreal) and Rick Logic (Toronto), MEME is kicking things off at Winnipeg's newest club, Union Sound Hall, and both indoors and outdoors at The Cheer in Osborne Village.
- The Shake (Aug. 16, 6 p.m., the Cube): Proven party-starters Lotek and Manalogue know how to throw out the right amount of beats and bass for any crowd. Their sets at MEME have always been some of their best.
- Deir, Mike Jasper, Nikki Volan, Ali Khan, Mich EP and Nathan Zahn (Aug. 17, 4-10 p.m., the Cube): Highlighting some of Winnipeg's veteran DJs and one of the city's critically acclaimed techno producers, this six-hour stretch Saturday will be equal parts groovy, deep, funky, minimal and celebratory.
- Kasm (Aug. 18, 3 p.m., the Cube): Part of the Balanced Records crew, the founder of CKUW's long-running Quadrafunk radio show and one of the city's ambassadors of electronic music culture, his role in helping shape the city's scene can't be overlooked.