Moogfest unveils first daytime programming announcements for its May 2017 festival in Durham.
When major events and prominent businesses pulled out of North Carolina citing HB2 last spring, Moogfest did the opposite.
Using the four-day global music and technology festival as a platform, speakers, organizers and musicians called for those opposed to the controversial bill to unite and collectively protest (in fact holding an open-mic protest). In their opinion, a bill that limits liberties for select populations goes against the very essence of Moogfest, a festival that promotes change, openness, creativity and collaboration between disparate industries and people.
The most prominent speaker of the event, serial entrepreneur, author and transhumanist Martine Rothblatt, congratulated the festival for “turning this into a protest festival against HB2” (excerpt below).
For its second year in Durham, that theme persists this May 18-21 with a lineup of daytime programming that includes Detroit “noise band” Wolf Eyes, which according to Moogfest, “uses technology with sonic protest.” Keynote speakers will presumably follow the same theme, though they’ll be announced in coming weeks.
In a news release, festival creative director Emmy Parker says Moogfest is less concerned with topping its 40,000 attendee count from 2016 (though there’s some pressure considering that the festival’s losses prompted its move from Asheville).
“We’re more concerned with how we can make a bigger impact with what we do,” she says. In the case of HB2, her hope is that Moogfest attendees and presenters can “design a beautifully innovative and equitable future” with the festival as a platform for that kind of creativity and collaboration.
Durham is a prime stage for that considering that more than 80 percent of Durham County residents voted against HB2 proponent Governor Pat McCrory, and the Durham startup community led a campaign against the bill.
Moogfest CEO Adam Katz opened up the anti-HB2 open mic session in front of the Carolina Theatre on the first day of Moogfest. Credit: Caitlin Grimes/ExitEvent
Though Protest will be a key theme, Moogfest is also revealing some other content categories today. Relevant to the startup community will be programming like The Future of Creativity, Hacking Systems, Transhumanism, Sci-Fi Wishes and Utopian Dreams and Techno-shamanism. Instrument Design and Spatial Sound may be most relevant to the music folks in the bunch. There will be programming for kids and families through The Joyful Noise of STEAM.
Confirmed daytime presenters include wearable tech instrument maker Nona Hendryx (pictured top), the creators of the original score of the Netflix series Stranger Things, a Brooklyn record label known for its experimental and electronic artists and Portland’s Synth Library, which will host a synthesizer workshop specifically for women and non-binary (people who don’t identify with a specific gender) music enthusiasts.
New York musician Laraaji will follow up last year’s Sleep Concert with another eight hours of sound followed by his signature laughter meditation.
Moogfest promises weekly content updates and music downloads up till the festival begins mid-May. Expect the mix of presenters to be just as interesting, controversial and intriguing.
Festival passes range in price from $249 to $1,500. Buy them here.
