Hard Rubber New Music Society presents

Absolute Unit

18-piece orchestra featuring

Aysha Dulong, Christopher Kelly, Giorgio Magnanensi, Priyanka Chakrabarti (Piu), Stefan Smulovitz – electronics
Elliot Doyle, Trent Otter – drums
Noah Franche-Nolan, Dean Thiessen – keys
André Lachance, Ron Samworth – plectrums
Adam Kyle, Brent Mah, John Nicholson, Ardeshir Pourkeramati – saxes
John Korsrud, Jocelyn Waugh – trumpets
Sarah Jo Kirsch – vocals
Ephemeral Objects – projections/ visuals

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

8 pm, doors at 7 pm

Fox Cabaret 2321 Main Street

Tickets at the door subject to availability or at https://www.showpass.com/absolute-unit/ – Sliding Scale

For those looking for an unusual musical experience, Absolute Unit is an unpredictable 18-piece spectral post-lounge orchestra, playing indescribable music combining drum'n'bass, ambient, noise, soundart, and a few funky hits from the 70s. Absolute Unit is made up of an all-star collection of Vancouver's top artists: 5 laptop/ electronica performers, two drummers, two keyboard players, bassist, guitarist, 6 horns, vocalist and projection artist.

Innovative, irreverent, high-energy and fun, this concert will feature the celestial visions of Ephemeral Objects.

Started in 2022 by musician/ composer John Korsrud, Absolute Unit has history of creating site-specific performances, starting with workshops at LanaLou's in Vancouver's DTES and more recently exploring the immersive acoustics of the Woodwards Atrium. This will be its second show at the Fox Cabaret.

Since 1992, the Hard Rubber New Music Society, founded by Korsrud, has grown to be one of Canada’s most active and unpredictable producers of new music. Recipient of the Alcan Arts Award, the Society released its fifth recording, the Juno-nominated Iguana in 2022. The Hard Rubber Orchestra has toured across Canada and to Europe and produced large multi-media events including Cantata for the King and the new music ice show, The Ice Age.

Stay tuned for upcoming shows:

Saturday, May 23, 2026: Hard Rubber Orchestra premieres new work by Anna Webber, Matt Choboter and Noah Franche-Nolan.

Hard Rubber New Music takes place on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), QayQayt First Nations