Synthesize Your Life: A wrap-up of Mini MoogFest 2017

MUSIC REVIEW

Mini MoogFest 2017

MoogFest visitor jams on a Korg tinyPiano in an impromptu duet with Earth, Wind & Fire's Larry Dunn on the big screen. Photo by Christopher Porter.

If we Ann Arbor District Library staffers were excited synthesizers, we'd be whooping with pitch-bent, major-key oscillations from the joy Mini MoogFest 2017 brought us. Our third annual iteration of this event greatly expanded upon our two previous offerings, and we had a fully packed house at the Downtown Library on Saturday, Nov. 18. Librarians on the scene estimated that over 350 people -- including around 75 kids -- made their way through Mini MoogFest, where they built synths using littleBits, played around with AADL's Music Tools, and enjoyed live performances from area electronica artists. Below is a roundup of photos, videos, and social media posts covering Mini MoogFest 2017.

North Coast Modular Collective's Bill Van Loo shot and edited this video the night before Mini MoogFest during the Secret Lab setup:

Mini MoogFest 2017

Panorama of the Secret Lab in full bleep-bloop-squiggle-whoosh swing. Photo by Christopher Porter.

Mini MoogFest 2017

AADL staffers Molly Jones and Toby Zurenko prep the littleBits, Korg's Lego-like synthesizer system. Photo by Christopher Porter.

Mini MoogFest 2017

Alex Taam, who produces music under the name Mogi Grumbles, brought his Moogs and modular for fest attendees to explore. Photo by Christopher Porter.

Multiple videos of Alex Taam's oscilloscope (hover your mouse over the middle right of the image to bring up an arrow to scroll through the clips):

 

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Taam's modular-synth setup was a huge hit:

 

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Mini MoogFest 2017

Numerous companies that produce or sell electronic music gear sent sticks, buttons, T-shirts, and more for fest-goers. Some of those participating in the giveaways include Make Noise, Line 6, Boss, Roland, Korg, Electro-Fautus, Control, Perfect Circuit Audio, Reverb, and Sweetwater. Photo by Amanda Szot.

Panning around the Secret Lab:

Mini MoogFest 2017

North Coast Modular Collective's Joe Bauer sets up for the group's presentation and performance. Photo by Christopher Porter.

North Coast Modular Collective's Joe Bauer soundchecks:

First photo, Bauer's spaghetti wires. Second shot, Mike Dykehouse's rig (hover your mouse over the middle right of the image to bring up an arrow to scroll through the clips):

 

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Mini MoogFest 2017

Full house for the trio of Sean Patrick Curtis, Kendall Babl, and Chuck Sipperley. Panorama by Mariah Cherem; bottom photo by Christopher Porter.

Sean Curtis Patrick sets up his synth table for the day's opening performance and shown in silhouette:

 

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Excerpt from Kendall Babl, Sean Curtis Patrick, and Chuck Sipperley's performance:

A video plus photos from Mini MoogFest (hover your mouse over the middle right of the image to bring up an arrow to scroll through the clips):

 

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Mini MoogFest 2017

Mike Dykehouse performs before a full house. Photo by Amanda Szot.

Mike Dykehouse live shot:

 

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Video excerpts from Dykehouse's performance:

 

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North Coast Modular Collective divided its show into three parts. Here's an excerpt from Joe Bauer's performance:

And an excerpt from Bill Van Loo's:

Dan Blades rounded out North Coast's set:

Mini MoogFest 2017

North Coast Modular Collective's Bill Van Loo shows his synth gear to audience members who came up after the performance. Photo by Christopher Porter.

Mini MoogFest 2017

"A Brief History of Synthesizers "> Synth Basics"

Related: ➥ Download a PDF of the festival's handout: "A Brief History of Synthesizers "> Synth Basics" ➥ The Ann's photo coverage ➥ Pulp's Mini MoogFest 2017 overview ➥ Pulp interviews with Sean Curtis Patrick Mike Dykehouse, Alex Taam, and North Coast Modular Collective ➥ WCBN interview with AADL's Mariah Cherem to preview the festival:


Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp.

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