I was having doubts about Moogfest from the start, but now that the final line-up is solidifying, it’s clear that this is not a celebration of the Moog, its history and the music it spawned. It’s just another hipster alt-rock festival along the lines of the Pitchfork Music Festival, Bonaroo, Coachella, etc. Nothing wrong with that, and maybe I’m just an old electro-fart, but when you attach the name Moog to something, I think certain expectations apply.
1-I would expect it would have something to do with Moog synthesizers.
2-Realizing that could be limiting for a whole festival, I would expect it to at least be electronic.
Mark Shreeve & Moog-Little of this @ MoogFest
But with the signing of Mountain Man, the Vermont folk trio whose album, Made the Harbor, is so acoustic I’m not sure they even used electricity to record it, MoogFest just becomes another rock festival, albeit a really cool festival with a lot of electronic acts including Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation and best of all Jonsi. Read an earlier EchoesBlog and you’ll see I thought this was the best concert of the year.
So MoogFest is a festival worth attending, but its scope is disappointingly limited and sadly bereft of the grand history of the Moog synthesizer and the music it helped produce.
Below is the press release:
John Diliberto ((( echoes )))
August 10, 2010
MOOGFEST ADDS HOT CHIP, PRETTY LIGHTS, GIRL TALK, PANDA BEAR, DAN DEACON, FOUR TET, RJD2, EL-P, DÂM-FUNK, SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS, MATMOS, EMERALDS AND MORE TO 2010 LINEUP!
MASSIVE ATTACK, THIEVERY CORPORATION, BIG BOI, MGMT, JONSI AND CARIBOU ALSO CONFIRMED TO PERFORM.
HALLOWEEN WEEKEND – 10/29-10/31 IN ASHEVILLE, NC
AC Entertainment is excited to release the (still expanding) lineup of MoogFest 2010! As previously announced, this extraordinary three-day festival, celebrating the innovative vision of sonic pioneer, Robert Moog, will take place Halloween weekend, October 29-31, in Asheville, NC. Costumes are welcome. . . and clearly treats will be in abundance!
The MoogFest 2010 weekend kicks off on Friday with performances by the previously announced MGMT and Big Boi, plus Girl Talk, Panda Bear, RJD2 and others. Artists joining Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation and Jonsi for Saturday at the festival will include Four Tet, Caribou, Emeralds, and Matmos. The festival’s final day will be a Halloween party like none other, with performances by Hot Chip and Pretty Lights topping the bill.
Also confirmed to appear at MoogFest 2010 are EL-P, Dan Deacon, School of Seven Bells, Saturn Never Sleeps (Featuring King Britt & Rucyl), Dâm-Funk, Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible, the Octopus Project, Jon Hopkins, Mimosa, Kuroma, Mountain Man, DJ Spooky and Two Fresh.
These internationally renowned performers, known for pushing creativity towards new dimensions, will play in multiple venues throughout downtown Asheville, including the Asheville Civic Center Arena, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and Asheville’s world-class club, the Orange Peel.
There’s more to come! Additional artists will be joining the line up in the coming weeks, plus there will be news about late night shows and special events in clubs and venues throughout Asheville. And information regarding MoogFest 2010’s workshops, panel discussions, art exhibitions, installations and film screenings, will be announced in the coming weeks as well.
With all of these exciting elements in the works, MoogFest 2010 is proving itself to be an essential experience for music fans and sonic adventurers from all over the world.
Tickets for MoogFest 2010 go on sale Friday, August 13th at 12 Noon Eastern Time. Weekend festival passes – along with tickets for each individual day – will be available. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit moogfest.com.
MoogFest 2010 Lineup:
Friday, October 29
MGMT
Big Boi
Girl Talk
Panda Bear
RJD2
El-P
Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible
Saturn Never Sleeps (Featuring King Britt & Rucyl)
The Octopus Project
Kuroma
Saturday, October 30
Massive Attack
Thievery Corporation
Jonsi
Caribou
Four Tet
Matmos
Dâm-Funk
School of Seven Bells
Jon Hopkins
Emeralds
Mountain Man
Sunday, October 31
Pretty Lights
Hot Chip
Dan Deacon
Mimosa
Two Fresh
DJ Spooky
About Moog Music:
Asheville is the headquarters of Moog Music, the company Bob Moog formed in 1963. Moog’s push for continual innovation permeates the company’s culture to this day. In 2008, they produced the groundbreaking Moog Guitar and more projects are currently in development. 2010 marks a landmark in the company’s history as the 40th anniversary of the MiniMoog, one of the most popular of the Moog synthesizers, which will certainly be a focus of the MoogFest 2010 weekend.
Visit moogfest.com for more information and updates about the festival.
For more information about Moog Music and its founder, Bob Moog, visit moogmusic.com.
Thanks for validating my purchase of a Josni ticket a couple weeks ago 🙂 I have to really pick and choose my shows these days . . .