Ars Nova Workshop presents a two-night program of hypnotic performances by Chicago trio Bitchin Bajas at Solar Myth on December 6 and 7, 2022.

Formed in 2010 by guitarist and organist Cooper Crain as an outlet for mesmerizing and eclectic electro-acoustic music, Chicago trio Bitchin Bajas make hypnotic instrumental music with a delicate balance of synthesizer and non-electronic instruments.

After its start as a solo side project for Crain, and with the additions of Dan Quinlivan and Rob Frye forming a trio, the group’s psychedelic sound and textural explorations evolved as their discography expanded to include both casual recordings and more ambitious studio creations. Frequently released cassettes and EPs evolved into full-lengths like the 2016 Bonnie “Prince” Billy collaboration Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties, the band’s 2021 tribute to Sun Ra, Switched on Ra, and the 2022 double album Bajascillators.

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Switched on Ra

On their latest album, Switched On Ra (2022, Drag City), the trio apply their ethos of mesmeric musical loops to the vision of one of their heroes, Sun Ra. Employing vintage synthesizers, drum computers and vocoders, Bitchin Bajas channels the cosmic jazz and far-out synth experimentation of the Afrofuturist icon and brings it to their own stratospheric levels.

Bitchin Bajas will be performing Switched on Ra live for the Wednesday, December 7 program at Solar Myth.–>