Liverpool to host a festival celebrating 60 years of The Moog synthesiser

Liverpool is set to host an electronic music festival celebrating 60 years of The Moog, the pioneering synthesiser that revolutionised the soundscape of popular music.

The Moog at 60 will take place at Liverpool Hope University’s Capstone Theatre from 21-24 November 2024.

This landmark celebration will pay homage to the revolutionary instrument and its inventor Robert Moog, which changed popular music forever in 1964.

The Moog, a name synonymous with electronic music, was the first-ever commercial synthesiser. Through its revolutionary concept of analogue modular synthesis, the instrument heralded a succession of technological developments in music throughout the 60s and 70s. It was a key feature in the most innovative electronic and experimental music, progressive rock and jazz fusion of the time.

Paving the way for a succession of technological developments in music, The Moog created a new sound which was soon embraced by legendary acts such as Kraftwerk, George Harrison, and the Rolling Stones.

Following a period in electronic music production in the 80s and 90s dominated by digital synthesis, more recently analogue modular synthesisers have returned to the centre stage in electronic music, with artists enthralled by the instruments’ timbral richness and their tactile sensitivity and playability.

Opening the festival in Liverpool on Thursday 21 November will be a headline show featuring Will Gregory Moog Ensemble; a collective led by Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory and whose members include Portishead’s Adrian Utley and composers Graham Fitkin and Ben Foster. Expect sounds from their latest album Heat Ray, an album inspired by the work of Greek mathematician Archimedes.

On Friday 22 November, the Capstone hosts a Lydia Kavina and The Twelve Hour Foundation double bill. Theremin player Lydia Kavina has graced stages with renowned orchestras such as the London Symphony, Radio France Orchestra and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, whilst The Twelve Hour Foundation, whose music is released on the Castles in Space label, has had airplay from the likes of Stuart Maconie, Gideon Coe, Pete Wiggs and Project Moonbase.

On Saturday 23 November, the festival welcomes another double bill in Dave Bessell and Polypores. A classically trained musician with a doctorate in classical orchestration, Dave Bessell has also enjoyed an extensive career in popular music contributing to albums by Killing Joke and Suede. Polypores’ music has been released by respected electronic music labels such as Castles In Space, Polytechnic Youth, Woodford Halse, DiN and Frequency Domain.

The celebration culminates on Sunday 24 November with A Tribute to Kraftwerk: 50 Years of Autobahn and Far Beyond. For the 50th anniversary of the iconic group’s international breakthrough album Autobahn, music technology expert Mark Jenkins presents a striking live solo performance of the band’s hits. For lovers of these innovators and pioneers of electronic music, this very special anniversary gig is simply a must.

The Capstone Theatre’s Neil Campbell said:

“During the past few years, The Capstone Theatre has become a hotbed of electronic music and we have hosted many packed out nights. This, our first-ever festival of electronic music, will be particularly special — featuring some incredible acts in celebration of the groundbreaking instrument that changes music forever. We’re thoroughly excited.”

Event tickets start at £16.50, with festival bundle tickets available from £55.