Bob Moog
Bob Moog (Pronounced ‘MOHG’) was an American pioneer for electronic musicians, with many inventions including the Moog Synthesizer. He received a Grammy Trustees Award for lifetime achievement in 1970, and was the inspiration for the 2004 documentary Moog. When Moog died in 2005 of a brain tumor, the Bob Moog Foundation was born, with the intentions of carrying on his legacy in the progression of electronic music. Keeping his memory alive in 2011 is the second annual electronic music festival, Moogfest.
Happening Halloween weekend (Oct. 28-30), Moogfest is a city-wide music festival in Asheville, N.C., specializing in multi-genre musicians who think outside the box. Not all of the artists performing at Moogfest use Moog products, but a lot of them do. Some of the artists this year include Moby, TV on the Radio, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, St. Vincent, Childish Gambino, The Flaming Lips, Beak>, Passion Pit, Ghostland Observatory, Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Flying Lotus, Dan Deacon, M83, Battles, Baths and Tobacco, just to name a few.
In the tradition of SXSW and others, Moogfest is a city-wide festival, meaning that all of the musicians will be performing in different venues across Asheville. Unlike Bonnaroo, there will be no camping, but they offer travel packages that include a hotel, but I’m sure most people will be crashing on the couches/floors of friends. Some of the venues this year are the Asheville Civic Center Arena, The Animoog Playground, Moogaplex, Fine Arts Center, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Asheville Music Hall and the YMI Cultural Center.
Moby
Moogfest will also be having a Costume Contest powered by U.S. Cellular, with a very unique way to enter. Instead of having everyone with a costume lineup next to a stage, they are having the contestants send picture messages of them wearing their costumes and their Moogfest wristbands, or standing in front of a Moogfest 2011 sign to moogfest@vibes.com. The categories and prizes are
SCARIEST – A Limited Edition Moogfest poster.
FUNNIEST – A Limited Edition Moogfest poster.
MOST MOOGIE – Two weekend passes to Moogfest 2012.
TEAMS/PAIRS – Matching Moogfest festival T-shirts.
BEST IN SHOW – A Moogfest 2012 VIP package which includes two VIP tickets and hotel stay for Moogfest 2012 and Frontier Fly Bucks provided by Frontier Airlines.
Probably the most anticipated attraction of Moogfest 2011 would be Brian Eno’s 77 Million Paintings, what Eno describes as “visual music.” The evolving series of images and sound are constantly changing, offering a different experience for everyone who views them.
Eno will also be doing a lecture while controlling a projector, a speech titled “Illustrated Talk.” Brian Eno is a much sought after musician, artist and lecturer, whose insights are in demand by institutions around the world. The “Illustrated Talk” is a separately ticketed event, meaning that even though you have a Moogfest 2011 wristband, you have to pay an additional $15 to see/hear the world renowned Brian Eno.
Moogfest has so much to offer! They also have a Trick or Treat program in affiliation with local businesses in Asheville where you can show your Moogfest 2011 wristband and get special treats! “Arcade” is an Asheville Bar/Arcade that has wii, Xbox Kinect, and classic Nintendo at the bar, and they are offering Moogers 20 free tokens and free entry. The Irish pub “Hannah Flanagans” is offering $2 Shocktop Drafts. The Octopus Garden smoke shop is giving away free cigarette papers. There are really just too many great things to speak of that got left out of this article. Go explore moogfest.com to find out more.
