Ottawa, January 19, 2022 – In light of the current health situation, the BIG BANG festival will be going digital with part of its scheduled programming on February 19 and 20. It is with regret that the National Arts Centre team has made the decision not to hold in-person performances for this annual family sound adventure. The entire team is currently working to reschedule the performances to a later date, and will contact ticket holders in the coming weeks to inform them of their options.

 

But we’re not giving up! A variety of digital content and activities will be available at http://www.bigbangfestival.ca over the weekend of February 19–20 to allow families to bring some of the energy of the festival home and discover artists from across the country ... and beyond. On the program: a bilingual radio show hosted by the festival’s young ambassadors, short films, musical worlds to discover at home, and a live online dance party with DJ Rise Ashen!

 

“Against all expectations, once again this year the festival will have to turn exclusively to online formats. And so we invite you to enjoy a mini BIG BANG in the comfort of your living room! However, together with the artists, we still hope that before too long we’ll be able to welcome children and their families back in person for a sparkling sound festival. Being able to share the joy of music remains the most beautiful objective.”

—Mélanie Dumont, Festival Programmer and Artistic Director, Youth Programming, NAC French Theatre

 

 

BIG BANG Radio

Beginning February 19

Crank up the volume: it’s time for BIG BANG Radio, the essential audiozine for finding out everything there is to know about the festival! Hosted by a new group of ambassadors ages 11 to 14, this podcast instantly plunges you into an exhilarating musical bath. One-on-ones with great artists, appearances by mystery guests, and—surprise!—a backstage tour of the festival!

 

The BIG BANG boom

February 19, 6 pm

Reservations opening soon

Our virtual dance floor is open! For this special evening, DJ Rise Ashen is in charge of the rhythm. With characteristic energy, he delivers lively beats to get you moving—get ready for a workout! And, surprise: he’s invited some of his dancer friends to party with us!

Noisy Neighbours

Beginning February 19

A skyscraper somewhere in a city, somewhere in the world. Children live here on their own, and all their neighbours are musicians. This amazing show by Zonzo Compagnie won the award for Best Digital Production for Young Audiences at the 2021 Young Audience Music Awards.

 

Musical Postcards

Beginning February 19

Introduced at the digital version of the festival in 2021, Musical Postcards are back this year to transport you right across the country. Just press “Play” and you’re off to meet musicians who’ve created a short musical performance just for you.

 

 

WHAT MAKES THE BIG BANG UNIQUE? 

The BIG BANG loves to travel, and what’s more, it loves to take visitors of all ages on adventures. It builds on the legacy of the OORSMEER festival, founded by Wouter Van Looy in 1995, to offer children an artistic and musical program designed specifically for them, and which they even help deliver by participating in certain interactive installations. 

 

Over the past 10 years the festival has travelled to several European cities, from Tallinn to Lisbon, from Antwerp to Athens, from Seville to Dublin, from Lille to Enschede, via Ghent, Brussels, Rouen, Reykjavik and Copenhagen. In 2019, the event took a giant leap across the ocean to land in its first North American city: Ottawa! Since then, each edition has been a resounding success, bringing together thousands of curious people attracted by the many guest artists and some 30 invigorating performances and micro-concerts. Don’t miss the festival’s return to the NAC, in force and in person! The BIG BANG at the National Arts Centre is making a digital pivot for the second time in 2022.

 

 

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BIG BANG FRIENDS 

The Ottawa presentation of the BIG BANG is the result of the NAC’s relationship with Belgium’s Zonzo Compagnie, which specializes in musical theatre for young audiences and is directed by Wouter Van Looy. Over the past few years the NAC has presented several Zonzo performances, including Listen to the Silence, set to the music of John Cage; Slumberland, an exploration of the world of dreams and the night; and Mile(s)tones, a show about legendary jazzman Miles Davis. 

 

The BIG BANG in Ottawa is supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme, Winterlude, the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Foundation, and Sun Life. 

The BIG BANG is an initiative of Zonzo Compagnie. 

 

 

PLAN YOUR VISIT 

Explore the full lineup and book your spot right here: http://www.bigbangfestival.ca  ;

 

 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE 

The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams—the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety—and nurtures the next generation of artists and audiences from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation

 

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