Moogfest 2016 Lineup includes Gary Numan, GZA, Odesza, and more!

Durham, NC. December 8, 2016
Moogfest – the synthesis of music, art, and technology – today announced their tenth, and most experiential, lineup yet. Headlining performances include Gary Numan playing a three night residency of his trailblazing early albums, a two-night residency by GZA, ODESZA, Laurie Anderson, Oneohtrix Point Never, Suzanne Ciani, Blood Orange, and Sun Ra Arkestra; with keynote presentations by transhumanist activist and pharma tycoon Dr. Martine Rothblatt, and computer scientist Jaron Lanier, a pioneer in the field of virtual reality. More than one hundred other acts are already confirmed to perform, while the conference program continues to develop in partnership with a range of esteemed universities, innovative businesses, and art/technology organizations. Program partners include MIT Media Lab, Google, Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, The New Museum’s New Inc., IDEO, Gray Area, and the EyeO Festival.

During the day, Moogfest explores the future of technology and creativity with a mind-expanding conference featuring panels, workshops and installations. At night, Moogfest celebrates the future of sound with performances by early pioneers in electronic music, alongside pop and avant garde experimentalists. Notably, this announcement features many creative thinkers–like polymath artist Laurie Anderson, and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan–who will participate in multiple parts of the diverse program.

For the first time ever, Moogfest will take place in Durham, NC. Moogfest activates seventeen venues, throughout the walkable downtown core, from intimate galleries to grand theatres, including a free outdoor stage with participatory, all-ages programming. Durham promises to be an ideal setting for Moogfest: a city uniquely blending diversity, authenticity, world class innovation, and culture, with a long history of great music.

Future Pop 
Headlining talent also charts a zig-zagging course across today’s synthesizer infused pop landscape, from the vibrant electronic duo Odesza, to the future soul of Blood Orange(playing in North Carolina for the first time), a return of utopian rockers YACHT, and even the comic stylings of Reggie Watts.

Experimentalists
Immersive noise and minimalist sonicscapes from some of today’s most progressive experimental artists, including sunn O))), Ben Frost, Tim Hecker, Silver Apples,Oneohtrix Point Never, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Olivia Block, Alessandro Cortini, and Lotic.

Ambient Music Innovators
A rich program of sustained tones and cascading moods led by Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno’s prolific Grammy winning protege, Suzanne Ciana, and the UK’s originators of ambient house The Orb.

Hip-Hop

The Future of Creativity
Futurist philosophers set the tone for a mind-expanding conference. Keynotes by Dr. Martine Rothblatt, author, entrepreneur, transhumanist, inventor of satellite radio, and Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and composer who has pioneered the field of virtual reality. Other conversations include sound explorer Onyx Ashanti presenting developments in his ‘exo-voice’ sonic prosthesis, while Gil Weinberg and The Robotic Musicianship Group at Georgia Tech perform with Shimon, an improvising robotic marimba player that uses artificial intelligence.

Orchestral Ensembles 
The intergalactic voyage of Sun Ra Arkestra channel the cosmic philosopher himself.Arthur Russell’s Instrumentals ensemble, making their US debut. Floating Points’ live project veers fluidly from warm electronic to jazz to sonic space rhythms.

Dance Floor Titans
Ryan Hemsworth brings together a crew of international DJ/producer friends for a kick-off party. Celebrated king of late-night disco, DJ Harvey gets down with other dance and techno luminaries Robert Hood, Kode9, and Simian Mobile Disco, with ascending masters Kyle Hall and Paula Temple who will be transforming a downtown venue into a deep, dark dance party.

Don Buchla Celebration
This day-to-night program, curated by Rick Smith, features performances from masterminds in analog sound, including Grammy-nominated producer Suzanne Ciani and Nine Inch Nails accomplice / solo artist Alessandro Cortini. Smith’s personal collection of Buchla instruments and documentation, one of the world’s most comprehensive, will be on display throughout the festival weekend.

All Ages
Free and open to the public, an entire day of music programming and workshops that celebrate electronic music for kids of all ages. Hosted by DJ Lance Rock & Yo Gabba Gabba, with Mark Mothersbaugh, Bootsy Collins, DJ Nanny Canteloupe,thereminist Dorit Chrysler, Johnny Bravo creator Van Partible and creative scientistKate Stone. Also, Modular On The Spot, an outdoor modular synth performance and picnic-style gathering that offers a truly organic alternative listening environment.

Durationals
Durationals are three to four-hour-long experimental sessions with immersive visuals. Liturgy drummer Greg Fox kicks off the series, followed by legendary hip hop producer Mike Dean, innovative electronic composer Suzanne Ciani, and others. Ambient, tribal, and trance music pioneer, Robert Rich performs the ultimate durational performance with a 10-hour sleep concert.

An Intimate Sanctuary
An afternoon of intimate church performances by the joyously hypnotic singer songwriters Julianna Barwick, Moses Sumney, Daniel Bachman, Julia Holter, and 2015 Welsh Music Prize Winner Gwenno making her US debut.

Curated Conversations
The first human Cyborg, Neil Harbisson curates a provocative conversation about Transhumanism. Chuck Lightning, of Janelle Monáe’s Wondaland Arts Society, organizes an Afrofuturism program. Ryan Germick, leader of the Google Doodle team, hosts an expanded talk-show about The Future with guests including veteranPixar story artist Emma Coates and cartoonist and comic theorist Scott McCloud.

Reggae Hacker Soundsystem
A conversation with journalists Angus Taylor, David Katz and artists Laurent “Tippy” Alfred, Lister Hewan-Lowe, and Mad Professor culminates in an outdoor Saturday party with a true-to-form reggae soundsystem. Mad Professor also leads a masterclass as part of the daytime program.

Radio and the Radiophonic
Explore radio as technology and practice with Megapolis Audio Festival and Anna Friz, Jeff Kolar, Kaitlin Prest, and Sharon Mashihi. Popular audio podcasts, Song Exploder from Hrishikesh Hirway, and No Effects from Tanlines’ Jesse Cohen, will be recorded in front of live audiences.

Film Festival
A daily exploration of music in science fiction and horror films opens with ADULT. performing a live score to The Three Grace(s) Triptych, I Speak Machine live scoring three of their science fiction shorts, The Haxan Cloak and Leopold Ross in conversation following a screening of Crocodile Gennardiy, plus It Follows with composerRich Vreeland. The expanded film program continues with Future Projections, a program of short film and video work drawn from 125 years of techno-prophecy, curated by Ben Russell.

Art Installations
Interactive media art and immersive sonic environments throughout the festival, including a 50th anniversary tribute to the 1966 performances by Experiments in Art and Technology. New commissions and site-specific collaborations developed in partnership with the Research Triangle Park, innovation consultancy IDEO, artists Kyle McDonaldand Lori Napoleon aka Antenes.

Masterclasses and Workshops
Charting a course for the future, Moogfest invites attendees to participate in workshops, expert demos, and masterclasses. The program ranges from the experimental, to the practical and professional–for either novice or expert. Masterclasses are hosted in theater spaces, while workshops in classrooms and labs throughout the city are limited to small groups. Stay tuned for schedule and registration details.