Kazoo! (exclamation mark included) is a collective of Guelph-based musicians, multi-disciplinary artists, and community organizers. This music series and annual festival was set up in June 2006 with “the desire to create a space for innovative new music, and make connections between diverse audiences and artists,” explained Brad McInerney, founder of Kazoo!.
After a string of packed house shows between 2005 and 2006, the crowds grew too large for their basements, and as a result they began to host shows in more traditional venues. Alongside this plan, they founded a quarterly zine, titled Kazine, which featured creative writing, photography, visual arts and politics, all based out of Guelph. This zine provided the inspiration to continue to present different mediums of art alongside live music.
Their mandate emphasizes accessibility by keeping ticket prices affordable, offering all-ages events, and amplifying voices from the margins. In addition, the collaboration between musicians and artists at Kazoo! creates a place where innovative new music and art strengthens communities and brings people together. Their mission is to “promote the role of independent music and art in Guelph by forming broad coalitions with musicians, artists and like-minded community arts organizations.”
McInerney said that Kazoo! “has fit into the creative fabric of this city in different ways at different times.” Earlier focus was on their year-round series of shows, but they found that as the Guelph music scene began to change, it felt best to step back and focus on Kazoo! Fest. Their aim for this festival is to create something truly interdisciplinary and draw connections between different mediums and communities, to fill “a void in programming by integrating music and art in unique ways,” explained McInerney.
Throughout their seven years of experience, the team behind Kazoo! has also collaborated with many different organizations in the community, including Ed Video, Silence, Fortnight Music, the Festival of Moving Media, and others. “In a way, Kazoo! Fest acts as a platform to bring together these groups of inspiring people who are all contributing different things to the Guelph arts community,” McInerney added.
They are currently working on the 7th annual Kazoo! Fest, happening from April 9 to 14 this year. Attendees should expect some big changes, as festival organizers are expanding their core programming collective and forming a Board of Directors. “It’s part of a process of opening things up and re-imagining our role in Guelph,” said McInerney. He stated that this years festival will be the most ambitious to date, with hopes to draw connections between different communities through new initiatives.
When asked where he sees Kazoo! in the future, McInerney stated that “five years
ago [he] wouldn’t have been able to predict that Kazoo! would have evolved and changed in the ways it has.” As of yet, they have hosted over 170 shows, presented over 400 bands, and organized 6 annual festivals. “We’re hoping to set the groundwork for Kazoo! to be around for the foreseeable future,” McInerney said, as some of their most recent changes have a longer-term vision in mind.