With an extensive program of discussions, workshops, lectures, and film presentations, Elevate Festival 2009 fostered a better understanding of serious world crises (in the areas of climate and energy, natural resources, nutrition, economy, politics and media) that are currently posing significant challenges to humanity. At this juncture, the focus was on examinations of alternative perspectives and analyses diverging from inadequate explanatory models, which are frequently distorted by political interests and dominated by mainstream media and public discourse.

Participants:

Leading expert on the ecological crisis, geoengineering and nanotechnology, and laureate of the Right Livelihood Award, Pat Mooney (CA); NY Times journalist and winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Price for investigative reporting, David Barstow (US); co-founder of the daily news program Democracy Now! and laureate of the 2008 Right Livelihood Award, Amy Goodman (US); historian and long-standing reporter for Austrian public TV ORF, Raimund Löw (AT); leading expert on agricultural policy and sustainable food systems, and winner of the 2008 and 2009 Derek Cooper Award at the BBC's Food and Farming Awards, Geoff Tansey (UK); bestselling author and Attac Austria co-founder Christian Felber (AT); renowned journalist and lecturer at the University for Journalism FH Vienna, Anneliese Rohrer (AT); professor of geophysics and director of the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, Gottfried Kirchengast (AT); outstanding economist and political scientist, Gabriele Michalitsch (AT); organic farmer and ÖBV Via Campesina Austria speaker, Irmi Salzer (AT); journalist and author of the Austrian media encyclopedia, Harald Fidler (AT); distinguished political scientist and professor emeritus of Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Joachim Hirsch (DE), and many more.

participating artists:

.mrt (AT) ]BANDE[ (Yukon, Fnord) & Marv on Tagtool (AT) 00Piano (AT) A:lex (AT) Bass Clef (UK) Bitz (AT) Byetone (DE) Canc (AT) Channel-f (AT) Christoph Fringeli (CH) Clara Moto (AT) Cluster (DE / AT) Cooly G (UK) Damo Suzukis Network (JP) Darkstar (UK) Dave Aju (US) Despoilah (BE) Dual (AT) Dub Coretette (AT) Elexx.Ender + Henry Bootz (AT) Evangelista (US) F. Puschmann (AT) feelipa & El Rakkas (AT) FFF (NL) Glitterbug (DE) Gross Prophet (AU) Grzek & d.nye (AT) I:Gor (PL) Ikonika (UK) Jackmaster (UK) Jahcoozi (DE) Jon Hopkins (UK) King Midas Sound (UK) KK Null (JP) Kode9 & The Spaceape (UK) L`Orange (AT) L-Vis 1990 (UK) Ladyscraper (UK) luma.launisch (AT) M.A.R.S. (AT) Markus Lindner (AT) Martyn (NL) Micachu & The Shapes (UK) Microthol (AT) Mr. Monkeyshines (AT) Next Life (NO) Omar S (US) orjo (AT) Phillipe (HR) Portable aka Bodycode (PT) Ray Okpara (DE) Redstar (AT) Reflector (AT) Rhythmus 42 (AT) Ritornell (AT) Sebastian Feyerabend (AT) sebo.n (DE) Seefeel (UK) Simon/Off (AT) Sito (AT) Slack Hippy (AT) Sterling (AT) The Clonious (AT) The Incredible Hexadecibels (NZ) The Striggles (AT) woei (AT)

>> elevate 2009 website

The aim of Elevate 2008 was, together with scientists and activists, to raise awareness of the importance of Commons and to shed light on the social and cultural conflicts in the usage of these goods. This was the framework for discussions, workshops, films and lectures as well as for the presentation of innovative projects.

Participants:

Farmer and winner of the Right Livelihood Award 2007, Percy Schmeiser (CA); musician, author and multimedia artist, Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky (US); journalist and Science Commons expert, Kaitlin Thaney (US); leader of Creative Commons Brazil, author and professor of law, Ronaldo Lemos (BR); author and Commons expert, David Bollier (US); founder of the Free Knowledge Network, Petra Buhr (DE); Commons activist and blogger Silke Helfrich (DE); Anne Schweigler (DE) from the BUKO campaign against biopiracy; political scientist and economist Massimo De Angelis (UK); Michael Tuck (US) from History Commons; the farmer and La Via Campesina activist Heike Schiebeck (AT); Hans-Jochen Luhmann (DE) from the Institute of climate, environment and energy in Wuppertal; bestselling author and publicist Christian Felber (AT); Stefan Meretz (DE), who studies the political economy of the free software movement; expert for international political economy and climate change, Achim Brunnengräber (DE); "legal project lead" of Creative Commons Austria, Florian Philapitsch (AT); co-director of the documentary film "Good Copy Bad Copy", Henrik Moltke (DK); and many more

participating artists:

Felix Kubin (DE) Fuck Buttons (GB) Attention Cosmonauts! (AT) Mimu (AT) Clara Moto (AT) Orjo (AT) DJ Spooky - That Subliminal Kid - A/V-Performance (US) EmeeGrant.pdf (AT) The Bug feat. Warrior Queen & MC Flowdan (UK, JM) Tim Exile (DE) Mark Pritchard aka Harmonic313 (GB) Rustie (GB) Dorian Concept (AT) Alfred Gassenhauer (AT) kon.txt (AT) Deadbeat (CA) DJ Pinch (GB) IZC (AT) El Rakkas (AT) Pita (AT) Pre (GB) MoHa! (NO) Drum Eyes feat. DJ Scotch Egg (UK, JP) Dokkebi Q (JP) Jakuzi´s Attempt (AT) N>E>D (GB) Bogdanovic aka DJ Redstar (AT) F. Puschmann (AT) Atom? (CL) Jay Haze a.k.a Fuckpony (DE) Danton Eeprom (GB) DJ Glow (AT) Dangerous Tweakers (AT) Illinoise (AT) Vikkake (AT) Starkey (US) Drums of Death (GB) Cee (AT) B.L.O. (AT) Chris Chronic & Focus (AT) Monster Zoku Onsomb (AU) Reverse Tunes (BR) LFO Demon (DE) Mad EP (US) Ars Dada (NO) Raxyor (US) Koolmorf Widesen (IT) Syncope (AT) Monstamash (AT) Jacques Prell vs. Johannes Jeindl (AT) Eiterherd (AT) DJ c64 (CA) Cheever (AT) Martin Kober (AT)

>> elevate 2008 website

The Elevate festival 2007 adressed different critical views on the topic of democracy through a dense schedule of lectures, discussions, workshops and film screenings. It was a gathering of forward thinking activists, authors and scientists as well as a playground for new ideas and projects.

The stage was set for an open minded discourse and intellectual ex-change through talks from a combination of internationally acclaimed guests and local activists, as well as through public interaction in panels and discussions. Three topics over three days - "technology", "media and journalism" and "critique, theory and perspective" offered abundant opportunity for wide participation.

Guests included: the long term U.S. member of congress, Cynthia McKinney; Nieman Fellow in Journalism at Harvard University, and radio news Director turned CNN and Emmy Award winning ABC News Producer, Danny Schechter; filmmaker, Eminem video director, guerrillanews.com founder and activist Ian Inaba from New York; U.S. community Internet pioneer and wireless communication expert Sascha Meinrath; british author Dr. Richard Barbrook; net-activist and co-founder of "telepolis" online magazine, Armin Medosch; the software developer and author  Corinna "Elektra"  Aichele from Berlin; the author and publisher Christian Felber as well as the political scientist Univ. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brand; the president of Reporters without Border Austria and long term ORF editor Dr. Rubina Möhring, the danish documentary film maker Karsten Kjaer and many other people who are concerned with and engaged in the topic of democracy.

participating musicians and artists:

Murcof (MEX) Sven König - sCrAmBlEd?HaCkZ! Performance (DE) Soap & Skin (AT) Le Tam Tam (AT) Element012 (AT) Cheever (AT) Orjo (AT) Jackson & His Computer Band (FR) Deerhunter (US) Modeselektor feat. Paul St. Hilaire (DE) Pfadfinderei (DE) Drop the Lime/Curses! (US) The Scarabeus Dream (AT) Amtrak (AT) Stirling (AT) Bogdan Raczynski (CAN) Mike Dred (GB) Remarc (GB) Dorian Concept (AT) Beatrip (AT) SlickDevlan (AT) Renoa (AT) Skream (GB) Amit (GB) Virus Syndicate (GB) Oris Jay/Darqwan (GB) Mary Anne Hobbs (GB) Zvonko (AT) Silent Wolf (AT) Strukt (AT) 3 Channels (PL) Andy Stott (GB) Simon/Off (AT) Clara Moto (AT) Alfred Gassenhauer & Rudolf Roschitz (AT) Wolf Eyes (US) The White Mice (US) Shawn Greenlee/Pleasurehorse (US) OvO (I) MoHa! (N) DJ Scotch Egg (J) Dorian Pearce (AT) Friedrich Locke (AT) Steffen Kube (DE) & Sebastian Feyerabend (AT) Pantytec (DE) Les Cerveaux Lents (Ark & Mikael Weill) (FR) Baby Ford (GB) Bitz (AT) Tuca (AT) Illinoise (AT) Onoxo (HR) VJ Azz (TW) Raiden (EST) Audio (GB) Apex (GB) Feelipa (HR) DJ Snare (AT) dDamage (FR) The Teknoist (GB) Krumble (FR) Slepcy (PL) Society Suckers (DE) Pisstank (GB) Gromov (RU) Frida Kore (AT) Ravage (AT) Sabotage Hybrid (AT) Eiterherd (AT) Dades (AT) Naritia (AT) Kilmou (AT) Pilatus (AT) M.A.R.S. (AT) Milou (AT)‏

>> elevate 2007 website

elevate the debate!

Also in 2006 elevate was not just about music, but also about  political discourse and knowledge. It was a gathering of forward thinking activists and initiatives as well as a playground for new ideas and projects. Topics such as "guaranteed basic income", "free media / public television and radio / perspectives of digital technology" and "digital video streaming and distribution", were presented and discussed in a relaxed atmosphere. Independent organisations and all kinds of activists were featured and were also incorporated into the planning process of the content of the festival. The festival was and is about encouraging people to think and act politically as well as empowering critical positions.

guests: ORF-Public Value head of department Dr. Klaus Unterberger, Veronika Leiner of Verband Freier Radios Österreich VFROE, Robert Suchar CEO of the free Radio Helsinki in Graz, the Hacktivistas Tatiana de la O and Lluis Gomez Bigorda from Spain, sociologist Dr. Erich Kitzmüller, Mag.a Nicole Lieger the head of department of the Ludwig Boltzmann Instituts für Menschenrechte in Vienna, author and co-editor of the magazine Grundrisse Dr. Karl Reitter

elevate and create!

Furthermore a lot of workshops are hosted by the elevate festival: Tim Exile's Clevaclox, as well as workshops on Streetart and VJing.

artists: Justice (FR)  Uffie + Feadz (FR) Christopher & Raphael Just (AT) Monster Zoku Onsomb! (AU) Tibor Holoda (SK) vj azz (TW) Gustav & Gang (AT) Luke Vibert (GB) Jimmy Edgar (US) machinedrum (US) Naos (AT) Winterphonic (AT) Cheever (AT) mimu (AT) Plaid AV with Bob (GB) Clark (GB) Tim Exile (GB) Wisp (US) X&trick (BE) Photophob (AT) Winterstrand (AT) zvonko (AT) Orjo (AT) Flimmerflitzer (AT) Tadeo (ES) Damian Schwartz (ES) [a]pendics.shuffle (US) Bitz & Puschmann (AT) Man e faces (AT) Seba (SE) Fanu (FI) DJ Distance (GB) Funk Guru (HR) Rmf (AT) SlickDevlan (AT) rec7 (AT) Team Plastique miyara supasaiyajin (AT) So und So (AT) Dorian Pearce (AT) Rentokill (AT) With Love (AT) Many Men Have Tried (AT) Dimitrij (AT) Anchors Up (AT) Rex the Dog (GB) Apparat (DE) Kero (US) Kabelton (AT) M.a.r.s (AT) Claramoto (AT) Illinoise (AT) Lux (AT) Noisia (GB) Outrage (GB) Current Value (DE) Wenshiz b2b Friday13 (AT) Zeck (AT) Bernstein (AT) Otto von Schirach (US) Drumcorps (US) Xanopticon (US) Noize Creator (DE) Gigglin Dildas (BE) tHE nAM sHUB OF eNKI (AU) Todesstern (AT) 1Bomb>1Target (AT) Eiterherd (AT) Any Maniac (AT) D.I.S. (DE) B.L.O. & Finna (AT) Naritia (AT) Beardyman (GB) JFB (GB

>> elevate 2006 website

Guests of the elevate-festival and workshop hosts were: The creator of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and encryption expert  Philip R. Zimmermann / USA, the founder of the free online enzyclopedia Wikipedia Jimmy Wales / USA, the political scientist teaching in Mexico and author John Holloway / Ireland, the journalist, director and media-guerrilla Stephen Marshall / USA, the journalist Paulo Moura from Portugal, the political scientist and economist MMag.a Dr.in Gabriele Michalitsch / Vienna

artists: Dälek (US) Waxolutionists (AT) Attwenger (AT) Puppetmastaz (DE) JFB pres. Abstractivity (GB) Linkmen (AT) Mafia Entertainment (AT) Dero (AT) MC Beardyman (GB) Throwdown Girls (GB) Aggressive Snail Attack (HR) Hailaends (AT) Sind & Essen (AT) Naos (AT) Minime (AT) Marek (AT) Autechre (GB) DMX Krew (GB) µ-Ziq (GB) Hrvatski (US) N>E>D (GB) Alive (AT) zvonko (AT) Mimu (AT) LUX (AT) Basteroid (DE) Jake Fairley (DE) Bitz & Puschmann (AT) M.A.R.S & Haadrian (AT) Paradox (GB) Equinox (GB) Kodini (AT) Kulix (AT) SlickDevlan (AT) rec7 (AT) Bust The Box DJs chfs (AT) dd kern (AT) The (International) Noise Conspiracy (SE) Mediengruppe Telekommander (DE) The Cribs (GB) Psycho Path (SI) Clockwork Orange (AT) The Scarabeusdream (AT) The Famous Band Lasch (AT) Midgard Antimaniax (AT) Forever Ends Tonight (AT) Surviving the Sunset (AT) Astpai (AT) Perishing Mankind (AT) Ellen Allien (DE) Abe Duque (US) Modeselektor (DE) Kamuflaas Digital (AT) Illinoise (AT) Ella Esque & Emanuel[RT] (AT) Evol Intent Exile DJ Hidden & EYE-D Shroombab (AT) Zeck (AT) Dan Doormouse (US) Jason Forrest aka. Donna Summer (US) Monster Zoku Onsomb! (AU) Hecate (CH) C.Fringeli (CH) Electric Kettle (FR) Parasite (GB) Rotator (FR) Eiterherd (AT) Any Maniac (AT) Naritia (AT) Anakissed (GB) Cheever (AT) e.stonji (DE) Winterstrand (DE) Lenz & Vocalist Claudia Hemmer (AT) Schauer (GB) Terocal (GB)

>> elevate 2005 website