Features
Moby Launches Area:One
The original Lollapalooza festival idea will get updated with a fresh coat of paint and redecorated to reflect current fashion if Moby has his way with his creation of Area:One. So far, he’s lined up artists from disparate genres such as hip-hop’s Outkast and The Roots, techno’s Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox, a regrouped New Order, and rockers Incubus for an inaugural festival tour. The outing is expected to launch July 11 and run through 16 markets.
Cities and venues – expected to be sheds and other outdoor sites – haven’t been finalized except for the tour’s August 5 closer in Los Angeles.
Just as Lollapalooza defined the traveling festival and gave exposure to new music a decade ago, Area:One is designed to do much the same by bringing together the best in new music – contemporary, cutting edge and electronic.
“My reason for putting together Area:One is that there is a lot of music in the world that I love that does not always get the appropriate exposure,” Moby explained.
In addition to a main stage, the package will include an air-conditioned techno tent with what organizers call a “unique quad sound system” for DJ performances.
Area:One will mark Moby’s only North American concert appearances of the year.
A portion of the proceeds from the caravan – produced by Moby, his American managers Marci Weber and Barry Taylor, Vince Bannon and SFX – will be donated to local charities yet to be named. The final lineup and itinerary are expected to be announced at a press conference April 23.