2016 Moogfest Program Details Announced

Moogfest organizers shared with us program details for Moogfest 2016, scheduled for May 19 – 22 in Durham, NC.

During the day, Moogfest explores the future of technology and creativity with a ‘mind-expanding conference’, featuring panels, workshops and installations.

At night, Moogfest celebrates the future of sound, with performances by early pioneers in electronic music, alongside pop and avant garde experimentalists.

Here are the program details that have been announced:

Pioneers in Electronic Music

gary-numanElectronic music pioneer Gary Numan will perform his first three albums (Replicas, The Pleasure Principle, and Telekon) over three consecutive nights in three different venues.

Musical experimentalist Laurie Anderson weaves stories and song in her solo performance, “The Language of the Future” and then returns to the stage the next day to host a daytime conversation.

Future Pop

Headlining talent also charts a zig-zagging course across today’s synthesizer infused pop landscape, from the vibrant electronic duo Odesza, to the future soul of Blood Orange (playing in North Carolina for the first time), a return of utopian rockers YACHT, and the comic stylings of Reggie Watts.

Experimentalists

Immersive noise and minimalist sonicscapes from some of today’s most progressive experimental artists, including sunn O))), Ben Frost, Tim Hecker, Silver Apples, Oneohtrix Point Never, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Olivia Block, Alessandro Cortini, and Lotic.

Ambient Music Innovators

suzanne-ciani-moog-modular-synthesizerA rich program of sustained tones and cascading moods led by Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno’s prolific Grammy winning protege, Suzanne Ciani, and the UK’s originators of ambient house The Orb.

Hip-Hop

GZA leads Moogfest’s strongest ever hip-hop and rap lineup, supported by a roster of emerging talent including Lunice, Tory Lanez, Denzel Curry, Dr. Dre protege King Mez, and Well$.

The Future of Creativity

Keynotes by Dr. Martine Rothblatt, author, entrepreneur, transhumanist, inventor of satellite radio, and Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and composer who has pioneered the field of virtual reality. Other conversations include sound explorer Onyx Ashanti presenting developments in his ‘exo-voice’ sonic prosthesis, while Gil Weinberg and The Robotic Musicianship Group at Georgia Tech perform with Shimon, an improvising robotic marimba player that uses artificial intelligence.

Orchestral Ensembles

The intergalactic voyage of Sun Ra Arkestra channel the cosmic philosopher himself. Arthur Russell‘s Instrumentals ensemble, making their US debut. Floating Points’ live project veers fluidly from warm electronic to jazz to sonic space rhythms.

Dance Floor Titans

Ryan Hemsworth brings together a crew of international DJ/producer friends for a kick-off party. Celebrated king of late-night disco, DJ Harvey gets down with other dance and techno luminaries Robert Hood, Kode9, and Simian Mobile Disco, with ascending masters Kyle Hall and Paula Temple who will be transforming a downtown venue into a deep, dark dance party.

alessandro-cortini-buchla-synthesizerDon Buchla Celebration

This day-to-night program, curated by Rick Smith, features performances from masterminds in analog sound, including Grammy-nominated producer Suzanne Ciani and Nine Inch Nails accomplice / solo artist Alessandro Cortini. Smith’s personal collection of Buchla instruments and documentation, one of the world’s most comprehensive, will be on display throughout the festival weekend.

All Ages

Free and open to the public, an entire day of music programming and workshops that celebrate electronic music for kids of all ages. Hosted by DJ Lance Rock & Yo Gabba Gabba, with Mark Mothersbaugh, Bootsy Collins, DJ Nanny Canteloupe, thereminist Dorit Chrysler, Johnny Bravo creator Van Partible and creative scientist Kate Stone. Also, Modular On The Spot, an outdoor modular synth performance and picnic-style gathering that offers a truly organic alternative listening environment.

Durationals

robert-richDurationals are three to four-hour-long experimental sessions with immersive visuals. Liturgy drummer Greg Fox kicks off the series, followed by hip hop producer Mike Dean, innovative electronic composer Suzanne Ciani, and others. Robert Rich will perform the ultimate durational performance with a 10-hour sleep concert.

An Intimate Sanctuary

An afternoon of intimate church performances by the joyously hypnotic singer songwriters Julianna Barwick, Moses Sumney, Daniel Bachman, Julia Holter, and 2015 Welsh Music Prize Winner Gwenno making her US debut.

Curated Conversations

Neil Harbisson curates a conversation about Transhumanism. Chuck Lightning, of Janelle Monáe’s Wondaland Arts Society, organizes an Afrofuturism program. Ryan Germick, leader of the Google Doodle team, hosts an expanded talk-show about The Future with guests including Principal Designer of Google Cardboard, Jon Wiley, veteran Pixar story artist Emma Coates, and cartoonist and comic theorist Scott McCloud.

Reggae Hacker Soundsystem

A conversation with journalists Angus Taylor, David Katz and artists Laurent “Tippy” Alfred, Lister Hewan-Lowe, and Mad Professor culminates in an outdoor Saturday party with a true-to-form reggae soundsystem. Mad Professor also leads a masterclass as part of the daytime program.

Radio and the Radiophonic

Explore radio as technology and practice with Megapolis Audio Festival and Anna Friz, Jeff Kolar, Kaitlin Prest, and Sharon Mashihi. Popular audio podcasts, Song Exploder from Hrishikesh Hirway, and No Effects from Tanlines’ Jesse Cohen, will be recorded in front of live audiences.

Tara Busch at Moogfest 2011Film Festival

A daily exploration of music in science fiction and horror films opens with ADULT. performing a live score to The Three Grace(s) Triptych, I Speak Machine live scoring three of their science fiction shorts, The Haxan Cloak and Leopold Ross in conversation following a screening of Crocodile Gennardiy, plus It Follows with composer Rich Vreeland.

The expanded film program continues with Future Projections, a program of short film and video work drawn from 125 years of techno-prophecy, curated by Ben Russell.

Art Installations

Interactive media art and immersive sonic environments throughout the festival, including a 50th anniversary tribute to the 1966 performances by Experiments in Art and Technology.

New commissions and site-specific collaborations developed in partnership with the Research Triangle Park, innovation consultancy IDEO, artists Kyle McDonald and Lori Napoleon aka Antenes.

Masterclasses and Workshops

moogfest-circuit-bendingMoogfest invites attendees to participate in workshops, expert demos, and masterclasses. The program ranges from the experimental, to the practical and professional–for either novice or expert. Masterclasses are hosted in theater spaces, while workshops in classrooms and labs throughout the city are limited to small groups. Stay tuned for schedule and registration details.

Full list of talent:

A growing list of participants include: Actress, ADULT., Alessandro Cortini, Amos Gaynes, Angus Taylor, Anna Friz, Antenes, Arthur Russell’s Instrumentals, Ben Frost, Ben Russell, Bicep, Blazer Soundsystem, Blood Orange, The Body, Bootsy Collins, Christian Rich, Chuck Lightning, Daniel Bachman, Daniel Lanois, Dave Tompkins, David Katz, Dawn of Midi, Dawn Richard, Daye Jack, Demo Taped, Dennis Bovell, Dennis McKenna, Denzel Curry, DJ Harvey, DJ Lance Rock & Yo Gabba Gabba, DJ Nanny Cantaloupe, Dorit Chrysler, Earthly, Emma Coates, Empress Of, Explosions in the Sky, Floating Points, Gary Numan, Gil Weinberg & Shimon Project, Greg Fox, Grouper, Gwenno, GZA, Hanz, The Haxan Cloak, Heathered Pearls, Hieroglyphic Being, Hundred Waters, I Speak Machine, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Jaron Lanier, Jeff Kolar, Jlin, Joe Paradiso, Jon Wiley, Julia Holter, Juliana Huxtable, Julianna Barwick, Justin Grotelueschen, Kaitlin Prest, Karen Gwyer, Kate Stone, King Mez, Kode9, Kristen Gallerneaux, Kyle Hall, Kyle McDonald, Larry Gus, Laurel Halo, Laurent “Tippy” Alfred, Laurie Anderson, Leopold Ross, Lister Hewan-Lowe, Lotic, Lunice, M. Geddes Gengras, Mac McCaughan, Mad Professor, Made Of Oak, Mark Mothersbaugh, Dr. Martine Rothblatt, Mike Dean, Modular on the Spot, Moses Sumney, Mykki Blanco, No Effects with Jesse Cohen, Odesza, Olivia Block, Oneohtrix Point Never, Onyx Ashanti, The Orb, Paula Temple, Professor Toon, Qrion, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Rabit, RBTS Win, Reggie Watts, Rich Vreeland, Rick Smith, Rival Consoles, Robert Hood, Robert Rich, Ryan Germick, Ryan Hemsworth, Sam Conran, Scott McCloud, Shallou, Sharon Mashihi, Silver Apples, Simian Mobile Disco, Son Lux, Song Exploder with Hrishikesh, Sun Ra Arkestra, Sunn O))), Susan Kare, Suzanne Ciani, Tim Hecker, Toby Heys, Tory Lanez, Trandle, Tyondai Braxton, UV boi, Van Partible, Veronica Vasicka, Via App, Well$, YACHT, Zombi, Neil Harbisson

Dates and Tickets

Moogfest 2016 is coming up May 19 – 22 in Durham, NC. Festival ticket prices begin at $249, and range up to $499 VIP tickets. An Engineer VIP Package ($1,000) will include all the VIP perks, plus a two-day workshop building an as-yet-unreleased Moog synth module.

More information is available on the Moogfest website.

6 thoughts on “2016 Moogfest Program Details Announced

  1. Wonder if they’ll do an open to the public modular marketplace like last time around. I’d like that a lot even if I’m unable to shell out the money for the main events

    1. I DO hope they do that again but they need to give it a bigger space and make sure that space isn’t shared by guest speakers. It is way too much to ask large group of people looking over modular to be quiet while speakers or instructors are presenting. It would also be nice to see more modular manufacturers present.

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