Conventions & Awards

Moogfest Returns In 2014 With New Music Tech Conference and 5 Days Of Music

Moogfest-logoMoogfest is a music festival in Asheville, NC created by the folks at Moog Music. Sometimes referred to as an electronic music festival, Moogfest has included such towering figures as Morton Subotnick but also books acts like The Flaming Lips and Nas. Of course, Moog's creations have been used by many acts and Moogfest 2014 isn't shouting out EDM. Instead, after a break in 2013, Moogfest will return in April 2014 with an expanded program including a five-day music and tech conference. It looks like Moogfest is finally ready to start realizing its potential beyond booking a lot of great acts.

Moogfest has been a unique music festival with eclectic booking that comes from taking a somewhat different stance on connecting diverse acts. They've also booked related events such as Brian Eno's talk in 2011 but have not, at least in recent years, taken the opportunity to expand beyond such events.

After taking 2013 off, Moogfest returns in 2014 and, though they haven't yet announced who's coming, the expanded program is likely to be excellent.

Moogfest 2014 Details:

Takes place in Asheville, NC, Wednesday April 23 – Sunday April 27.

Tickets go on sale November 14.

5 nights of music:

"Past Moogfest performers include Brian Eno, James Murphy, Richie Hawtin, Terry Riley, Massive Attack, M83, The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Suicide, TV On The Radio, Grimes, Sleigh Bells, Hot Chip, St. Vincent, Amon Tobin, Tangerine Dream, Keith Emerson, Orbital, Squarepusher, Flying Lotus."

Debut of music and technology conference:

5 days of New Media art installations and interactive technology experiences/exhibitions
5 days of talks, panels, discussion, presentations, and film screenings with futurist thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, artists, and musicians
Synth building workshops and other interactive education
An open source hardware hackathon

Free events:

4 day street festival, including new media art installations and live music
2 day North Carolina Tech Expo & Interactive Job Fair
5 day new electronic instrument pop-up shop

The North Carolina Technology Association will produce the 2 day Tech Expo.

Already a big event for Asheville, Moogfest's new additions sound likely to raise its profile beyond the world of music.

Hopefully I'll be in the thick of it. I haven't connected well with Moog Music in the past but I get the feeling this will be a great event that I would regret missing.

More: Moog Music Markets With Moogfest, Sound Lab Artist Videos & New Retail Outlet

Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (@fluxresearch/@crowdfundingm) also blogs at Flux Research and Crowdfunding For Musicians. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.

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