The weekend festival celebrating the legacy of musical pioneer and former Asheville resident Bob Moog officially kicked off Friday afternoon with a welcoming reception at the Moog Factory at 160 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville.
“Moogfest is a long time in the making,” said Ashley Capps, president of AC Entertainment of the electronic music festival now in its second year. “It is just such a pleasure to do business with this community. It truly is an inspiration.”
Mike Adams, CEO of Moog Music told the crowd that though the event did technically originate in New York City years ago at B.B. King’s Restaurant, he is glad it found a new home.
“I hope it continues to grow and prosper here in Asheville for years to come,” Adams said.
Michelle Moog Koussa, director of the non-profit Bob Moog Foundation for education, agreed and expressed how she had seen firsthand how the event benefits the local economy.
“Just from walking around downtown and talking to store owners and restaurant workers, they told me this was the busiest weekend they had all year. I moved here when I was 10 and watched my father enjoy this area so much,” she said. “This place is really where Bob Moog’s spirit truly is and I am honored, awed and inspired to carry on that legacy.”
—story and photos by White Lightnin’