This weekend a costumed drove of music-lovers, musicians and artists will descend upon Asheville, N.C., for Moogfest. The festival, now in its third year, pays tribute to the legendary Bob Moog by bringing together musicians inspired by the Moog synthesizer, and peppers the weekend with workshops and art exhibitions. This year’s lineup includes headliners ranging from Primus to Orbital and Nas to Miike Snow. Although headliners may be the artists that draw audiences to the fest, the artists caught in between the huge performances are often the ones raved about for weeks after the last act has ended. Here are five artists Paste considers to be must-see performances this weekend.
5. Pantha Du Prince
Pantha Du Prince will be the first artist to play the festival, so festival-goers would do well to show up on time. The German producer recently announced the January release of Elements of Light, an album with Norway’s Bell Laboratory. This festival setting, where lights and sound intertwine to make each show a unique experience, is the ideal backdrop for Pantha Du Prince’s visually conscious recent work as well as the understated house music for which he’s famous. It’s a far cry from the sweaty droning stereotypes imagined by newcomers to the electronic genre, which makes the artist a natural choice to open festival’s largest venue.
4. Killer Mike
Killer Mike is one of those artists whose efforts seem to instantly go viral—just check out his awesomely shareable music videos. Constantly sharing the stage with his friends, this weekend’s lineup itself reveals Killer Mike’s connections in the industry. He is currently touring with El-P, fellow Moogfest performer and the producer of Mike’s most recent release R.A.P. Music. At festivals, famous friendships can lead to on-stage surprises, so Killer Mike’s set at the Orange Peel is probably a safe bet.
