Moogfest hints at announcement regarding 2016 festival details

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Word on the street is that an announcement may be imminent regarding details of the 2016 edition of Moogfest. A July 11 post on the Moogfest page on Facebook:

When you see the Moogfest 2016 announcement on the horizon…moogfest_2016

In case you’ve forgotten, here’s where we last left Moogfest:

-In January, IndyWeek.com reported that Moogfest organizers were considering moving the festival to Durham.

-The April 2014 edition of Moogfest was held in Asheville and was a five-day affair that featured top-notch entertainers, as well as panel discussions and presentations that encompassed technology and art, as well as music. This version of Moogfest was produced by Moog Music Inc. who worked with a national promoter. Moog Music CEO Mike Adams said the event would serve as an economic development driver that could attract new talent to the area, and he secured $90,000 in taxpayer money from Buncombe County commissioners and another $40,000 from Asheville City Council, as well as $50,000 in in-kind services from the city. The festival was held in about 20 venues around the city. In all, Moogfest 2014 included more than 100 musical performances and 100 speakers, as well as panels, multimedia installations and public art exhibits and expos.

-After the event, Moog Music officials announced that the festival lost $1.5 million, and that the event would skip 2015 and return in 2016. The festival sold more than $712,000 worth of tickets, according to a grant application Moogfest made to then then-Buncombe County Culture and Recreation Authority. The festival expenses totaled more than $2.7 million, with organizers spending more than $1.5 million on artists and artists travel, hotel and meals, according to the application. Adams, Moog Music’s CEO, reiterated the need for public funding support of the event.

-Moogfest arrived in Asheville in 2010 when Asheville-based Moog Music Inc. teamed up with promoter AC Entertainment to produce a big electronic dance music event at music venues across town. (The event was a small, New York-based tribute to electronic music pioneer Bob Moog, who lived and worked in Asheville, prior to 2010.)

-Moogfest celebrates the innovative spirit of Bob Moog, who would have been 81 this year. He moved to Asheville in 1978, where he continued to work on his inventions until his death in 2005. Here’s a timeline of Moog’s work.

 

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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11 Comments

  1. Tony Zeoli July 14, 2015

    It’s been confirmed – just go the press release – MOOGFEST is moving to Durham. That’s a definite.

    Reply
  2. Elvis Presley Costello July 14, 2015

    the only reason we attended the one in Asheville was for the 1 or 2 good rock bands they included inside of that electronic garbage

    Reply
    1. Kipper July 14, 2015

      You’re aware that Moog makes electronic musical instruments, right? I hope you this post was a joke.

      Reply
  3. Phippie July 13, 2015

    Durham makes more since. As a city Asheville is more and more geared to older tourists then young folks so this shouldn’t surprise anyone, if they choose to move. The culture here is stunted by it’s lack of resources and money. All and all it just falls short as a creative center imo. The artists and muscians all move on to bigger places and scenes because Asheville really isn’t quite there yet. We’re not there yet but maybe someday!

    Reply
    1. Downtown Julie July 13, 2015

      Correct. Asheville is a small, tourist city. It’s unique but not that unique, there “Ashevilles” all over the place and they all think they’re special. You can’t bring a world class music festival into a town this small. End of story.

      Reply
      1. chris July 14, 2015

        …there [are] “Ashevilles” all over the place…

        WTF are you talking about?

        Reply
  4. Murphy July 13, 2015

    Hasn’t it already been decided that it will move to Durham?

    Reply
  5. chris July 13, 2015

    If they jump ship to Durham for more money, they won’t be getting mine.

    Reply
    1. RobotDanceMonkey1975 July 13, 2015

      “Whole lot of bitches jumping ship.”

      Reply
      1. BL July 14, 2015

        RDM, I love your quotation marks. Was that Ben Franklin? Tipper Gore?

        Reply
        1. RobotDanceMonkey1975 July 14, 2015

          You’re close! It’s Three 6 Mafia!

          Reply

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