Zola Jesus (Photo courtesy Sacred Bones)
Going to Moogfest 2017 next month? Parklife DC recommends four acts to catch while you’re there!
808 State (Photo by Antony Crook)
1. 808 State
Since 1987, 808 State have revolutionized dance music with acid house, Madchester, and electronica. 808 State’s first album Newbuild is considered a milestone in UK electronica.
The duo of Graham Massey and Andrew Barker have been active touring and DJing, although their last original release occurred in 2002 with the album Outpost Transmission. In 2011, 808 State released the career retrospective Blueprint, featuring newly revisited tracks from 1988 to 2003, as well as original versions of remixes and two new tracks, “Spanish Ice” and “Metaluna.”
808 State will perform at Moogfest 2017 VIP Opening Party at 5pm on Thursday, May 18, at The Armory (220 Foster St., Durham, NC). Later that night, they return to The Armory from 10-11:15pm for a performance open to all Moogfest ticketholders.
On Friday, May 19, Graham and Andrew participate in an interview, In Conversation with 808 State, at 11:30am-1pm in Carolina Theatre, Cinema 1 (309 W. Morgan St., Durham, NC).
Zola Jesus (Photo by Jeff Elstone)
2. Zola Jesus
Nika Roza Danilova, better known as Zola Jesus, released her fourth-full length album, Taiga, in 2014, trading her darker sounds for more ethereal trip hop. In a surprise appearance, Zola Jesus will perform at Moogfest 2017 on Friday, May 19, from 745-845 pm at Motorco Park (723 Rigsbee Ave., Durham, NC).
In a show from January 2015, Zola Jesus defied expectations, as did her band. She was accompanied by a drummer, synthplayer and a trombonist! Trombonist Daniel Eaton added both majesty and melody in a manner no other instrumentalist could have for many of the new compositions. He left his mark in numbers such as opener “Taiga,” which begins solemnly enough before tumbling into an EDM whirlwind punctuated by brass.
Animal Collective (Photo by Tom Andrew)
3. Animal Collective
On Feb. 17, Animal Collective released The Painters EP, a new companion release to last year’s album Painting With, their 10th studio album, via Domino. The Baltimore psychedelic-leaning quartet have strong DC connections, and Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz) play a lot of local shows.
Indeed, immediately after disembarking Moogfest, Animal Collective will head to 9:30 Club, where they will play a sold-out show on Monday, May 22.
Animal Collective will first appear at Moogfest 2017 for the interview series, In Conversation with Animal Collective and Syrinx, on Friday, May 19, 5-6:30pm, at Carolina Theatre (Fletcher Hall, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham, NC). The band then performs on Friday, 10:45pm-12am, at Motorco Park (723 Rigsbee Ave., Durham, NC).
Peanut Butter Wolf (Photo by Joel Frijhoff)
4. Peanut Butter Wolf
Chris Manak, better known as Peanut Butter Wolf, is an American disc jockey and producer from San Jose, California. He founded Stones Throw Records, where he fosters innovative hip hop since 1996.
Peanut Butter Wolf will perform a tribute DJ set with a special section dedicated to synth legends who have recently passed, including Keith Emerson and Bernie Worrell on Saturday, May 20, 3-5pm, at American Tobacco Campus (318 Blackwell St., Durham, NC).
Moogfest 2017 recently published its full schedule, which you can review at https://moogfest2017.sched.com. Log in to build your own personalized schedule!
Moogfest 2017
The City of Durham, North Carolina
Thursday, May 18-Sunday, May 21, 2017
10am Thursday thru 6pm Sunday
$249 General Admission; $499 VIP
$1,500 Engineer VIP includes two-day synth-building workshop
All ages