Moogfest, a four-day celebration of music, art and technology, will take over the Bull City starting Thursday.

The festival features more than 250 artists at 17 walkable venues throughout Durham. During the day, there will be workshops from future-minded pioneers.

The keynote speeches at Moogfest really set the tone for the festival, organizers say. Each delve into the future of creativity and transhumanism.

On Friday at 2 p.m. at Carolina Theatre, Dr. Martine Rothblatt, creator of GeoStar satellite navigation and Sirius XM Radio, and founder and chief executive officer of the multi-billion dollar biotech United Therapeutics, will speak about the future of humanity and how it applies to business, life and creativity. Rothblatt, a transgender woman, has helped preserve the consciousness of her wife in the form of a robot.

Saturday’s keynote address, also at 2 p.m., from Jaron Lanier will delve into virtual reality and music.

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At night, the festival transforms into a live music hub for cutting-edge music in unique and intimate venues throughout the city. Notable performers this year include Grimes and Miike Snow.

Tickets for Moogfest are $249 for three-day general admission. A limited number of single-day passes – $129 for Thursday, Friday or Saturday and $69 for Sunday – are also available.

In addition to paid events, Moogfest also boasts a large slate of free events, mainly at American Tobacco Campus.

History of MoogFest

This is Moogfest’s first year in Durham.

Moogfest began in New York City in 2004 as a tribute to Moog Music founder and inventor of the analog synthesizer, Dr. Robert Moog. The electronic music festival ran there through 2008, before moving to Asheville in 2010.

After 2012’s festival, Asheville’s partnership with event promoter AC Entertainment ended. There wasn’t a Moogfest in 2013. Instead, the Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit was held. Moogfest returned to Asheville in April 2014. Later that year, Moogfest announced it would continue as a biannual event.

Notable headliners throughout the years have included The Flaming Lips, Primus, Massive Attack, Moby and TV on the Radio.

Over the years, the festival evolved to includes a conference for creative and technology professionals. Last year, Moogfest worked with Google Creative Lab, MIT Media Lab, EYEO and the New Museum on innovative concepts for its daytime programs.

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