DURHAM – You can literally watch the sounds of music being built by hand in Durham at a Moog Music “pop-up” factory while enjoying the music, arts and culture during Moogfest.
Three workers are assembling the latest Moog synthesizer instruments, the new semi-modular Grandmother, as people watch in the Moogfest pop-up factory in Bay 7 at the American Tobacco campus in Durham.
Moog has already built 500 of the synthesizers at its Asheville plant, and its re-seller, Guitar Center, brought 150 to the event. It sold 100 of those by Thursday morning and the ones built in the pop-up factory will go on sale when the initial 150 are gone.
The Moogfest pop-up factory at the American Tobacco campus in Durham. Copyright Capitol Cities. All Rights Reserved.
This is the third year Moog operated the pop-up factory at the Moogfest event, but previously it was held in the Power Plant at the American Tobacco campus.
The workbench at the Moogfest pop-up factory. Copyright Capitol Cities. All rights reserved.
This year, its surrounded by 20 vendors with their latest keyboard, percussion and guitar synthesizer devices on display and available to buy.
More than 20 synthesizer vendors offer their wares for inspection and trial at the Moogfest store. Copyright Capitol Cities. All Rights Reserved.
An exhibit of Ralph Steadman’s art and artifacts is also on display. Steadman was the original “Gonzo” artist who illustrated the articles and books of the late Hunter Thompson, such as “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
Jim DeBardi, communications manager with Moog, tells WRAL Techwire, “People love to see this stuff made. People have a personal, emotional relationship with the tools they use to create. So seeing the tool created is a magical experience.”
Moog worker Angie Kramer constructing a Grandmother Synthesizer at the Moogfest pop-up factory. Copyright Capitol Cities. All rights reserved.
The “Electronic Bazaar” of synthesizer vendors lets potential buyers come in and talk to the designers of the instruments they use or have coveted for six months, DeBardi said.
The Moogfest “Electronic Bazaar.” Copyright Capitol Cities. All rights reserved.
By the way, Upstairs Reverb LP Records offers a trove of vinyl discs for sale.
More coverage:
