Adolphe Sax. Laurens Hammond. Les Paul.
Some names are inextricably tied to the music they helped create. For electronic music, that name is Robert Moog. And this Halloween weekend at Moogfest 2010, more than 60 of the biggest acts in the genre will pay homage to the man who made it all possible.
The three-day electronic festival takes place Oct. 29 to 31 in Asheville, North Carolina, where Moog spent the last 30 years of his life. He invented the Moog synthesizer in 1964, and some of the world’s most popular groups—the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin—instantly latched onto the new instrument, introducing its sound to the world and cementing its place as a musical mainstay.
“He spawned an entire generation of synth-led progressive rock and electronic music,” said Aron Magner of Philadelphia’s Disco Biscuits. “He changed the face of music in general.”
Featuring a diverse array of artists including Big Boi, MGMT, Girl Talk, Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation, Moogfest seeks not only to remember the inventor’s legacy but also to showcase the ways in which his innovations continue to evolve. Jeff Cuellar, director of marketing and business development for AC Entertainment—the organization hosting the event—said the goal of the festival is to look forward as much as it is to look back.
“These artists are ones who are taking music to new heights and new directions,” he said. “They’re taking Bob’s vision and adapting it to today and where we are in music.”
Though not all of the musicians utilize Moog products, they deeply respect his developments and are enthusiastic to pay tribute.
“It’s a chance to be part of something special; it’s not just another date for them,” Cuellar said of the bands. “There were artists actively coming to us saying, ‘We want to play Moogfest.’”
Nik Kozub, the bassist for the Canadian dance outfit Shout Out Out Out Out, said the event is unique because “it’s a festival based on artists who share a love of synthesizers and an understanding of the history and importance of the instrument.”
Formerly held as a single-day event in New York City, the festival moved to Asheville this year, and Cuellar is confident that the change in location will prove beneficial.
“[The city is] nestled in the mountains, it’s quaint, yet it has one of the top five clubs in the country [the Orange Peel],” Cuellar said. In addition to the Orange Peel, Asheville’s most famous concert hall, performances this weekend will be hosted in four other venues in the historic downtown. All of the clubs are within walking distance of one another, creating a unique, homegrown experience. The small mountain town known for its thriving artistic community is “an up-and-coming Austin [Texas],” Cuellar said, comparing it to arguably the nation’s premier destination for live music.
The transfer to Asheville is also representative of the festival’s endeavor to create a more immersive feel. Complementing the live music will be a number of workshops, panel discussions and film screenings geared toward exposing participants to the full spectrum of Moog’s accomplishments. Topics include synthesizer history, studio analyses and technical demonstrations.
“The layman who has only heard the name Moog can come find out from some of their favorite artists why this product is so special,” Magner said.
Of course, in the end it’s all about the music. And in that regard, Moogfest seems poised to deliver.
“The lineup is really the bread and butter of any festival,” said Gregg Gillis, known to audiences as Girl Talk. “This lineup looks pretty insane; it’s one of the best I’ve seen all year long.”
Moogfest 2010 will take place Oct. 29-31 at five locations in Asheville, N.C. One-day passes are available for $75 and can be purchased online at moogfest.com.
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