MOOGFEST, What It Is Right Now?

You have to read that in your best Kelis voice as featured on Busta Rhymes’ What it is. Now that I’ve got you on the right page, let me tell you what it is.

So if you’ve followed BBoyTechReport’s social feeds you probably know that I am a Moog fan. I just dig the legacy and sense of community that Moog Music, Inc. represents. More to that point you probably know that MoogFest 2014 is just about nearing the jump off point. It happens on April, 23 – 27, 2014 in Asheville, NC.

Traditionally, this is a festival of tech panels from pioneers, engineers and various luminaries in the synth and musical instrument world by day. But at night its a live music festival of eclectic, funky and fun musicians and performance artists from all subgenre’s of electronic music. Themed on Dr. Moog’s good name, brand, time-tested synthesizers and overall influence on electronic music MoogFest has been around since 2004 and has grown into one of the most well regarded festivals today.

MoogFest.com says

“Since 2004, Moogfest has been a gathering for the musicians that worked closely with Bob and his instruments. When Moog Music brought the festival home to Asheville in 2008, it adopted a three-day multi-stage format to include contemporary bands and producers that exemplify the innovative spirit of electronic music.” – More on the history here: http://www.moogfest.com/info

Why should you know about Moogfest? Well, I’ll tell you… HipHop is electronic music. Never mind, in this sense, electronic music is a genre. HipHop as electronic music is a technique and a style. It’s sort of like Jerk in Jamaican food, its not only a flavor its a technique and esthetic. Electronic instruments play a huge part in early and contemporary HipHop. Word to Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock. Afrika Bambaataa made the Roland TR-808 cool. Other musicians at that time couldn’t have cared less about these “machines”, whereas HipHop artists embraced them all. This is evident by the mere mention of some electronic instruments. Take for instance the the MPC 60 or SP1200 or TR-808 and the ever present sound of almost any Moog synth. It’s simple, HipHop music is electronic music, not to be confused with electronic music as a genre. Digest…

That said, you should know that beat making and experimental hip-hop is making a good showing at MoogFest 2014. LA based label, and experimental beat making juggernaut, BRAINFEEDER have sent two of their best and most well-known representatives, Flying Lotus and Tokimonsta, to perform at MoogFest.

As a beatmaker, synth enthusiast and techy I am all about MoogFest. It’s so inclusive of all of the things I am into. Interestingly enough, I’ve found that hip hop heads just don’t know “what it is with MoogFest.” I see MoogFest as it is in 2014 as a blend of past, present and future. Nile Rogers & Chic, Kraftwerk and Pet Shop Boys on the same event with Fly Lo and RjD2 is epic to say the least.

As far as festivals go, if you can imagine, for a bit, a cross between South By South West and Rock The Bells but with a serious experimental and informative tech twist… you can probably wrap your heads around “what it is with Moogfest“. The days are bursting with legendary speakers and panel discussions filled with the likes of Roger Linn, Dave Smith and King Britt (and so many more). The evenings are filled with historical concert events filled with the likes of KraftWerk, Flying Lotus, Tokimonsta, Pet Shop Boys, RJD2, Chic Featuring Nile Rogers and M.I.A.

Even with all that’s offered in the panel discussion and concerts, there is so much more. VIP Engineer tickets are available which pretty much allow you to get VIP access to everything from concerts to special events. But the added bonus here is the fact that you get “Two x 3-hour synth building workshops with the Moog engineers where you will have the opportunity to build, modify, and take home your unreleased Moog synthesizer.” Well, I am no doubt on that ship.

One of the more exciting parts of the event, I’m sure, will be the KraftWerk 3D show. I’m not sure what that means but I am eager to check it all out. For those that don’t know Kraftwerk’s name I’m certain you’d be familiar with their music. BBoys & BGirls have been block club party break dancing to Trans Europe Express for decades now. Even J Dilla, on Welcome to Detroit, paid homage to KraftWerk with “B.B.E. (Big Booty Express).”

But there is still more. We’re not done yet! For the more experimental and technically savvy, there is a the 4th annual Circuit Bending Contest where music tech heads will mod the old and new gear to get all sorts of while glitchy and musical noises and sound. The coolest geek with the illest circuit bent gadget wins the pot of gold. If you are in attendance you get to witness the entire spectacle.

There is also the Synthesis Tech Show which is described as “Synthesis will feature product demonstrations, interactive company presentations, and workshops on the tools and technology of tomorrow, brought to you by the North Carolina companies of today.” So picture a CES sort of tech show but mad more techy offerings. I love this stuff.

So now, if I haven’t given you an idea of ‘What it is right now?!‘ let’s check out some tunes.

KraftWerk

Flying Lotus

Tokimonsta

RJD2

Now that you know the MoogFest, and What it is right now, I hope to see you there on April, 23 – 27, 2014 in Asheville, NC. I personally can’t wait. But for those that can’t make it, stay tuned to BBoytechreport.com’s various social feeds and website. We’ll be there in full paparazzi regale reporting back to you every step of the way.

For those that would like to win the chance to attend, stay tuned via BBoytechreport.com and our twitter feed. BBoytechreport, in conjunction with Moogfest.com will be giving away two general admission tickets within the next week or so. This is your chance to attend and partake in all the goodness described above.

For more information on MoogFest 2014 head over to Moogfest.com.

Buy tickets here. http://www.moogfest.com/tickets

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