Festival Recap

Big-name players are a crucial part of music festivals. They lend credibility to the event and draw a crowd from their legions of die-hard fans. At festivals that boast line-ups of dozens of bands, most music lovers can pick out a handful of bands they’re anxious to see. But sometimes even better than seeing the long-time icons or hot acts is finding the hidden gem you’ve never heard of before--and suddenly can’t get enough of.

As evidenced by the art installations and special workshops around Asheville over Halloween weekend, Moogfest is more than just a series of concerts and an excuse to party, and the festival’s homage to Bob Moog is taken seriously. Whereas other festivals or events might pay tribute to a person, technology, or idea in name only, the appreciation fans, artists, and music industry experts have for Moog and his instruments was prominent throughout the weekend.

Going away for Halloween weekend usually means missing out on hometown Halloween parties and fun. But, as I quickly discovered, going to Moogfest over Halloween weekend means taking the festivities to a new level (and extending them by a few days).

As (mostly) life-long Yankees, with relatively little experience in the South, we were delighted with the charm, physical beauty, and hospitality The Tuned Inn staff received during our time in Asheville. The town seems to embrace all things Moog, and with the family and foundation's history there, Moogfest plus Asheville feels like the perfect fit. Restaurants and stores were obviously happy with the extra business brought in by the festival and the "Support Local" decals in many business windows are clearly more than just lip service.

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