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Thread: Aranis Call It A Day

  1. #1
    I'm here for the moosic NogbadTheBad's Avatar
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    Aranis Call It A Day

    From the Aranis FB site, translation via FB

    Hierbij een officieel bericht namens Aranis...
    Zoals jullie weten is Aranis al bijna 16 jaar bezig zich te profileren met programma's met eigen composities of bewerkingen van muziek van anderen (gelijkgestemde) componisten. We gingen vele samenwerkingen aan met diverse groepen en gastmuzikanten en speelden zo’n 400 concerten in binnen- en buitenland met hoogtepunten in Japan, Verenigde Staten, Portugal, Verenigd Koninkrijk, Duitsland, Nederland, Polen, Tsjechië, Frankrijk en Letland. We brachten zeven full- albums uit en brachten programma’s in diverse bezettingen waarbij we samenwerkingen met lokale muzikanten en koren nooit uit de weg gingen. We wonnen Gouden Vleugels 2007 (de Radio Klara Tandemtrofee voor het meest beklijvende concert en de Jeugd en Muziek Prijs Kamermuziek), De Mano Mundo M3 Publieksprijs en onze CD’s werden meermaals genomineerd binnen de categorie ‘beste buitenlandse CD’. Onze laatste CD betrof een eigen interpretatie van het werk van Nirvana, terwijl ons huidige programma (dat nog niet verscheen op CD), de sprong maakt naar muziek van 800 jaar geleden.
    Door het huidige politieke- culturele klimaat, is het helaas voor Aranis niet langer houdbaar om verder te groeien als groep. We leggen de lat hoog voor onszelf en proberen onszelf steeds weer uit te dagen en ons publiek te verrassen. Om een nieuw muziekprogramma te maken, zijn wij gemakkelijk twee jaar aan het werk.
    Dat is de tijd die nodig is om nieuwe muziek te schrijven, in te oefenen, opnames te maken, een enscenering uit te werken, promotie te voeren, concerten te verkopen, …
    De huidige culturele besparingspolitiek leidt vooral tot minder speelmogelijkheden voor minder commerciële muziekgroepen en minder subsidiemogelijkheden voor nieuwe artistieke producties.
    Om professioneel te kunnen werken is er een minimum aantal concerten nodig samen met een basisondersteuning voor de creatie van een nieuw programma.
    Deze basisvereisten krijgen we niet langer georganiseerd.
    Daardoor hebben wij besloten om (voorlopig) met Aranis te stoppen. Uiteraard vinden wij dit heel erg jammer. De groep kwam nooit eerder zo goed overeen, dus daaraan ligt dit zeker niet. Bovenal zijn wij heel erg dankbaar voor alle kansen die we hebben gekregen: de vele cc’s en programmatoren die ons jarenlang hebben geboekt, de prachtige festivals waar we te gast waren, het fijne publiek etc! Het was een onvergetelijke tijd!!
    We hopen dat er in de komende jaren wat zal veranderen op vlak van cultuur (al houden we ons hart vast).
    En als er terug mogelijkheden komen zullen we met veel goesting verder werken aan nieuwe Aranis- programma’s.
    Groet! Jana, Joris en de hele Aranisploeg!!!
    NB: we plannen nog enkele laatste concerten tot einde seizoen 2018-2019 (deze verschijnen op onze website dit voorjaar).



    An official message on behalf of aranis...

    As you know, aranis has been working for almost 16 years with programs with their own compositions or edits of music from others (like-minded) composers. We went on many partnerships with various groups and band, and played around 400 concerts in Japan, United States, Portugal, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, France and Latvia. We spent seven full albums and brought programs in various occupations where we were never out of the way with local musicians and choirs. We won golden wings 2007 (Radio Klara Tandemtrofee for the most haunting concert and the youth and music prize chamber music), the mano mundo m3 audience award and our cds were nominated on several occasions within the category " best foreign CD Our last cd was an interpretation of the work of Nirvana, while our current program (which has not yet appeared on CD) makes the jump to music from 800 years ago.
    In the present political climate, it is unfortunately no longer sustainable for aranis to grow as a group. We set the bar high for ourselves and try to challenge ourselves again and surprise our public. To create a new music program, we are easily at work for two years.
    That's the time needed to write new music, practice, take pictures, make a staging, promote, sell concerts,...
    The current cultural besparingspolitiek lead to less space for less commercial bands and less funding opportunities for new artistic productions.
    In order to work professionally, a minimum number of concerts will be needed together with a basisondersteuning for the creation of a new program.
    We can no longer organise these basic requirements.
    As a result, we have decided to stop with aranis. Of course we find this very regrettable. The group has never been so good, so this is certainly not. Above all, we are very grateful for all the opportunities we have received: the many cc's and programmatoren who have booked us for years, the beautiful festivals where we were guests, the fine audience etc! It was an unforgettable time!!
    We hope that, in the years to come, we will have a change in culture.
    And if there are possibilities, we will continue to work on new aranis programmes.
    Salute! Jana, joris and the whole aranisploeg!!!
    NB: We plan a few last concerts until end season 2018-2019 (these appear on our website this spring).
    Ian

    Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
    https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/

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    Moderator Poisoned Youth's Avatar
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    Well it's never really a surprise at this point when a group discontinues its efforts, but it's a sad day for Aranis fans, nonetheless. I am grateful for the quality music they released over the years and was super thrilled to see them live at NEARFest.
    WANTED: Sig-worthy quote.

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    I'm here for the moosic NogbadTheBad's Avatar
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    Yeah, I wasn't that enamored with the direction they'd taken since Roqueforte (their best album with Songs From Mirage IMHO) but they were wonderful the three times I saw them live (including the epic 17 piece at my first RIO with Present & UZ). When they were good they were very very good. I guessed they were struggling for funding and they always took that route to getting the music out, which did seem to limit some of their musical choices. They are also lovely people, always enjoyed chatting with them. Hopefully they'll continue to appear in other bands (eg Flairck).
    Ian

    Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
    https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/

    Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
    I blame Wynton, what was the question?
    There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.

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    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NogbadTheBad View Post
    Hopefully they'll continue to appear in other bands (eg Flairck).
    Hopefully the contingent that was against doing Nirvana covers will emerge as a new original-music band.

  5. #5
    Member thedunno's Avatar
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    Very sad about this. Since Songs from Mirage they were one of my favorite bands. I love everything they did, including the last Nirvana inspired album. Songs from Mirage and Made in Belgium II are my favorites.

    Will certainly try ro catch them on one of their last shows.

  6. #6
    ...Blessed to have seen them at NF

    RIP: Aranis
    G.A.S -aholic

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    Outraged bystander markwoll's Avatar
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    Thankfully the music of theirs that I have will not disappear with the band.
    Really nice stuff.
    "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
    -- Aristotle
    Nostalgia, you know, ain't what it used to be. Furthermore, they tells me, it never was.
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    Member Steve F.'s Avatar
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    Sorry to hear this. Good music and really good people.
    2018 opens with bad news.
    Steve F.

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    “Remember, if it doesn't say "Cuneiform," it's not prog!” - THE Jed Levin

    Any time any one speaks to me about any musical project, the one absolute given is "it will not make big money". [tip of the hat to HK]

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    please add 'imo' wherever you like, to avoid offending those easily offended.

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    Yes, I was very sad to read it on the FB page as well... It is very hard to continue making the non-commercial music as they do, without any support from the government.
    The fans didn't support them too well either. If you remember, some time ago they tried to crowd-source the money for their "Smells like Aranis" album, and the donations were very scarce...

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    Member Yodelgoat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Silantyev View Post
    ...It is very hard to continue making the non-commercial music as they do, without any support from the government.
    Wait, does the Belgium support any kind of artists? Has Aranis been somehow singled out for exile? I will have to look into them, Unfamiliar with their music. What are their influences? (is that apropos to ask?)

    Its interesting that governments are handing out grants to artists...

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    Member Steve F.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yodelgoat View Post
    Its interesting that governments are handing out grants to artists...
    Wake up, pal. Goggle this and France, Belgium, Germany, and to a lesser extent Canada, Spain, Italy, Portugal, UK.....
    Steve F.

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    “Remember, if it doesn't say "Cuneiform," it's not prog!” - THE Jed Levin

    Any time any one speaks to me about any musical project, the one absolute given is "it will not make big money". [tip of the hat to HK]

    "Death to false 'support the scene' prog!"

    please add 'imo' wherever you like, to avoid offending those easily offended.

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    Member moecurlythanu's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yodelgoat View Post
    Wait, does the Belgium support any kind of artists? Has Aranis been somehow singled out for exile? I will have to look into them, Unfamiliar with their music. What are their influences? (is that apropos to ask?)

    Its interesting that governments are handing out grants to artists...
    It's Socialism at work, Yodelgoat. However if I read the OP correctly, Austerity measures have left less money to distribute for such causes, and bands on the fringe are feeling the bite. Aranis being one. Trane probably has the full story.

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    Member thedunno's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yodelgoat View Post
    Its interesting that governments are handing out grants to artists...
    I am not sure that Aranis got direct money from the Governement. They all had day time jobs next to Aranis to pay the bills.

    I do not know much about the cultural sponsoring of the Belgium governement but I know how it used to work in the Netherlands. The Governement had a budget for cultural sponsoring that went into the whole system. So it was not really that the artists and acts got direct money, although new acts that were recorgnized as a special talent could get a budget to build a name for themselves. The money went to labels, theaters, events, musical education etc.

    Since the financial crises in 2008 the budgets have decreased dramatically. I especially noticed this in the programming in the theaters. Before I was able to see many young diverse and expirimental acts performing for small crowds. Now those acts seem to have completely dissapeared. The interesting acts that are still around are a bit older and were able to make name for themselves when the system was still intact. Theaters are now forced to make money. Not only the tickets prices have increased, also the programming has become a lot more conservative.

    For many years I looked a bit envious to belgium. While things were going downhill in the Netherlands Aranis were still able to do a lot of shows in belgium. I usually came over once or twice a year to see them and they performed in small theaters for about a 100 people for a ticket price between 10 and 15 euro. I know their label also received state sponsoring. On the covers was printed "the album is made possible by the Belgium governement". For the last two albums Aranis needed crowdfunding so I suppose this sponsoring was cut back. Over the last couple of years the number of shows they were able to do also decreased.
    I think this is their main fustration. Despite putting a lot of time and effort in it on a professional level for 16 years, things were getting harder and harder for them instead of better.

    Personally I think the importance of a rich and varied cultural landscape for a society is something that can not just be valued economically and should not be left to the market to regulate. I would like to see my governement play a more active role here and I do not mind paying some extras taxes for that.

  14. #14
    That's Mr. to you, Sir!! Trane's Avatar
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    Comes only as half a surprise, really!!
    About three weeks ago, I'd written (in French) to Martin /Alucard a PM about Belgium's RIO/prog scene; and I was not exactly optimistic.

    Quote Originally Posted by Poisoned Youth View Post
    Well it's never really a surprise at this point when a group discontinues its efforts, but it's a sad day for Aranis fans, nonetheless. I am grateful for the quality music they released over the years and was super thrilled to see them live at NEARFest.
    Well if some band in a "rich" area of Europe (Flanders) are calling it a day, you can imagine how difficult it is for bands in a "poor" area (Wallonia).
    Indeed, in Flanders, cultural budgets were much bigger and Aranis certainly exploited that vein very well. Bands like UZ and Présent (or The Wrong Object) have had a much tougher time, since the budgets of a depressed French-speaking Belgium were ridiculous small next to its Northern half.

    Yes, Aranis had day jobs, but they were all-music related.
    in the historical UZ line-up, to my knowledge, only Berckmans had a music-related job, playing music for orchestras... Dubé works as a instrument doctor

    Quote Originally Posted by NogbadTheBad View Post
    Yeah, I wasn't that enamored with the direction they'd taken since Roqueforte (their best album with Songs From Mirage IMHO) but they were wonderful the three times I saw them live (including the epic 17 piece at my first RIO with Present & UZ). When they were good they were very very good. I guessed they were struggling for funding and they always took that route to getting the music out, which did seem to limit some of their musical choices. They are also lovely people, always enjoyed chatting with them. Hopefully they'll continue to appear in other bands (eg Flairck).
    Yup, they never hit it the same way since Songs For Mirage

    I was lucky enough to catch them twice on that tour.... And they revisited it once (partially) last year, but I missed it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Silantyev View Post
    Yes, I was very sad to read it on the FB page as well... It is very hard to continue making the non-commercial music as they do, without any support from the government.
    The fans didn't support them too well either. If you remember, some time ago they tried to crowd-source the money for their "Smells like Aranis" album, and the donations were very scarce...
    From what I gather, they did take good advantage of the Flemish cultural budgets for most of the band's life, even playing classically-oriented music in high schools (for "student awareness" reasons).

    Quote Originally Posted by Yodelgoat View Post
    Wait, does the Belgium support any kind of artists? Has Aranis been somehow singled out for exile? I will have to look into them, Unfamiliar with their music. What are their influences? (is that apropos to ask?)

    Its interesting that governments are handing out grants to artists...
    It works from national or regional (the latter for Belgium) cultural budgets and how good you are to charm the decision-makers into funding your project. It's not like these funds will pay for 100% of the costs either... more like 25-30% at best. But in Aranis' case, I suspect finding concerts in local cultural centres was their main vein of subsidy income

    Quote Originally Posted by moecurlythanu View Post
    It's Socialism at work, Yodelgoat. However if I read the OP correctly, Austerity measures have left less money to distribute for such causes, and bands on the fringe are feeling the bite. Aranis being one. Trane probably has the full story.
    Absolutely: Belgium veered right-wing about two years (sorry about derailing a bit about politics, Cozy) and the mass of the wave for changes came from Flanders and the NVA (a mix of profoundly right-winged liberals and nationalist-independence activist) rising to the bigger (an unavoidable) political party, and therefore inducing a strong cut in taxes-collecting from big international firms (for "attractivity" reasons) and translating into less tax spending programs (including health and culture)
    Lately, Wallonia also suffered this +/- same change via the Judasey ex-Christian-democrats reversing an alliance and going with the liberals. If you can imagine that UZ was getting zero € from the left-wing regional gv't, it's probably going to get even worse with the new forces in play.

    If Belgium once enjoyed four prog festivals (three in the French part), we're down to only 1.5 (Prog-Resiste and Spirit of 66 >> funny thing is that they were partners at one point) and we'll have to see how the main one (Soignies) will have to survive with the change of political majority and Marc Ysaye's (from Machiavel) upcoming retirement as director of Belgium's only classic rock station
    my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.

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    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Sigh. And so it goes, all over the world.

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    Aranis split, that's pitty and sad, escecially in these circumstances

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    Member Yodelgoat's Avatar
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    I have heard that Canada had a system of grants for Artists and one of my favorites, the "Minglewood band" was a beneficiary of that program. I guess I should not be surprised by the fact that a Government would support certain projects above others (thats what governments do, pick winners and losers) Does anyone know if Rush was ever a beneficiary of Canadian Government Dollars in their formative years? No question, the Canadian Economy has benefited tremendously from Rush's activities.

    Now that I think about it, In the US, Harry Reid got congress to allocate a few million dollars to support something called "Cowboy Poetry", so I guess I was just being naive being surprised by it. I do think Prog would NOT be among the genres that would be benefited by such actions. Cowboy Poetry? yes, Yes? No.

    Curious, If Aranis was a beneficiary, what kind of money are we talking about? hundreds? thousands? more?

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    Member Steve F.'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yodelgoat View Post

    Curious, If Aranis was a beneficiary, what kind of money are we talking about? hundreds? thousands? more?
    anyone other than the band who gives you a figure is speaking out of their ass.
    Steve F.

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    www.cuneiformrecords.com

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    “Remember, if it doesn't say "Cuneiform," it's not prog!” - THE Jed Levin

    Any time any one speaks to me about any musical project, the one absolute given is "it will not make big money". [tip of the hat to HK]

    "Death to false 'support the scene' prog!"

    please add 'imo' wherever you like, to avoid offending those easily offended.

  19. #19
    Member BrianG's Avatar
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    Their music and light show at RIO fest were superb, showing their collective investment in the band. The band were full of energy and seemed happy together. But the arc of a band's life, especially with young people looking to become established and make a living, seem to be short duration these days.
    We will miss them, and honor them by enjoying their recorded work.
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  20. #20
    I'm here for the moosic NogbadTheBad's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BrianG View Post
    Their music and light show at RIO fest were superb, showing their collective investment in the band. The band were full of energy and seemed happy together. But the arc of a band's life, especially with young people looking to become established and make a living, seem to be short duration these days.
    We will miss them, and honor them by enjoying their recorded work.
    They lasted 12+ years so that's hardly a fair criticism.
    Ian

    Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
    https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/

    Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
    I blame Wynton, what was the question?
    There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by Yodelgoat View Post
    ...Now that I think about it, In the US, Harry Reid got congress to allocate a few million dollars to support something called "Cowboy Poetry", so I guess I was just being naive being surprised by it. I do think Prog would NOT be among the genres that would be benefited by such actions. Cowboy Poetry? yes, Yes? No
    Echolyn gave out Cowboy Poems Free so not sure about the demand there.

  22. #22
    That's Mr. to you, Sir!! Trane's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve F. View Post
    anyone other than the band who gives you a figure is speaking out of their ass.
    absolutely....

    And from what I know how cultural budgets are handled in Belgium, some/most of the support is of the logistic/booking side. These cultural budgets are also allocated for film-making (even the multi-winners of Cannes festival, the Dardenne brothers are getting them), theatral arts, setting art expositions and dozens other forms of artistic expressions §including world-wide-known modern dancing (like Béjart or AT De Kersmaeker) or even fashion artistes... The return for the authorities (outside a certain gratefulness of the artistes helped) is generally the amount of created jobs (if only temporary)

    Looking at Belgian prog/rock releases , you can see usually who helped pit in the releases by looking at the small pictograms at the bottom of booklets or back cover... If you see a stylised black lion on yellow background, it's Flanders who gave the support. if you see a stylised red rooster on a white or yellow background, it's the French side (sometimes it's a stylized red/yellow/blue FWB (fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles)
    my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.

  23. #23
    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    <<Personally I think the importance of a rich and varied cultural landscape for a society is something that can not just be valued economically and should not be left to the market to regulate. I would like to see my governement play a more active role here and I do not mind paying some extras taxes for that.>>

    I agree. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening here in the US, for now. That's what happens when people who make those decisions have zero appreciation of the arts. Zero. When they consider "the arts" to be pro football.

  24. #24
    Outraged bystander markwoll's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JKL2000 View Post
    <<Personally I think the importance of a rich and varied cultural landscape for a society is something that can not just be valued economically and should not be left to the market to regulate. I would like to see my governement play a more active role here and I do not mind paying some extras taxes for that.>>

    I agree. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening here in the US, for now. That's what happens when people who make those decisions have zero appreciation of the arts. Zero. When they consider "the arts" to be pro football.
    I think they are ok with culture in the US as long as a rich person is paying for the event and has full naming rights.
    And ticket prices are way high to keep the hoi-polloi from polluting the experience.
    Otherwise no.
    "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
    -- Aristotle
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  25. #25
    Member Yodelgoat's Avatar
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    I recall that some guy a few years back, took a crucifix and dropped it into a glass of his own urine, and called it "Piss Christ" - That artist was the beneficiary of at least 5k in Government grants for that work alone. Aside from its obvious controversies, I just wonder why that one artist received this and hundreds, if not thousands of other artists who also perform with their biological waste were ignored. Was it the quality of the work? or was it some kind of lottery system? I fail to see how a government could fairly decide who is worthy of their cash and who is not. I would think in the case of a musical grant, that Prog would have to compete with far more popular forms of music - like cowboy poetry folk rock, or Rap, even Jazz.

    In that world, Would Prog would be fairly represented? I have my doubts.

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