Moogfest 2016

Moogfest is a premier festival dedicated to showcasing synthesis of art, music, and technology. Previously hosted in Asheville, NC where the Moog synthesizer factory resides, this year Moogfest will take place in Durham, NC. Conveniently located within a short drives distance to RDU international airport, Moogfest has made a bold move towards further globalization of their attendance base.

“Human beings coming together of elements welcomes you because the definition of synthesis is exactly that;things coming together for the congress” — Reggie Watts

I personally had the pleasure of attending Moogfest in both 2011 and 2014. I can say first hand that the trip and the expenses are well worth it. Along with a host of great nightly performances lined up, Moog has numerous daytime workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses to educate and inspire in many different fields.

Phase 1 and 2 lineup announcements have been released, and I eagerly await the full festival schedule.

One workshop that immediately grabbed my attention is entitled “Dub: History and Future”. Hosted by Mad Professor, a prominent Dub Producer and Engineer. I look forward to hearing his perspective on the role Dub music played in shaping how we as a collective approach music production, and how it continues to inspire us to innovate. In addition, Mad Professor will also be featured on a panel alongside other speakers: Angus Taylor, David Katz, Laurent “Tippy” Alfred, Lister Hewan-Lowe, and Ras Kush. The topic is Reggae Sound Systems and Dub Production. As a Sound System enthusiast, I’m very eager to have all these people in the same room.

GZA of Wu Tang Clan fame (amongst other countless affiliations) and acclaimed American author and academic Mark Anthony will be hosting an open conversation named “Time Travelling with Hip Hop”. Professor Anthony Neal specializes in Black Popular Culture at the Department of African and African-American Studies at Duke University in Durham NC. Im certain that this will not be one to be missed, and the possibilities for conversation are likely limitless between these two.

Alongside the daytime festivities, the heavy hitting lineup of nightly performances offer the perfect complement to a day of education and historical enrichment. On the back of his above panel, GZA is holding a two night residency which will surely prove to be an exciting place to be at any time. I can already imagine the crowd going wild when they hear “Lyrics are weak like clock radio speakers” from the classic album Liquid Swords resonate over the PA. In addition to GZA, the lineup thus far includes performances from grime king Skepta, and Mykki Blanco holding down the hiphop corner.

“This annual festival–which is dedicated to the synthesis of technology, art, and music and donors the legacy of music visionary Dr. Robert Moog–is in a league of its own and girded by a lofty mission: “[to chart]
the course for a future of unknown sight and sound.”” — ​National Geographic

Another highly anticipated nighttime performance features audio from Hyperdub Bossman Kode9, and live visuals from German Creator Lawrence Lek. With a background and training in architecture and sculpture, Lawrence Lek describes himself as an artist of simulation. After familiarizing myself with some of his work I’m left wishing I’d wake up tomorrow being may 19th, because as of yet I can only dream about the resulting combination. Moogfest is no stranger to the flawless fusion of imagery and audio. In 2011 I was completely blown away by Amon Tobin’s ISAM performance. It will always be a memory that immediately comes to mind whenever I remember my first experience with the festival, and I expect similar strokes of genius to come from a pair like this.

In closing, the rest of the festival lineup, and the final schedule and venue list is still forthcoming. Moogfest will be focusing on community outreach as they look towards their Durham debut. They will be hosting numerous pop up sales around the triangle to offer discounted festival passes to college students in the triangle for just $99. Standard festival passes are available now at www.moogfest.com for $249, and VIP festival passes are available for $499. Get yours now to make sure you can be a part of this unique fusion of art, music, and technology.

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