Bang on a Can's LOUD Weekend Closes Out the Festival at Mass MoCA with Blast
Over 70 musicians perform across three days—Philip Glass reimagined, a new chamber opera, and the resurrection of a legendary British big band.
Thursday–Saturday, July 30–August 1 | North Adams, MA
Bang on a Can's LOUD Weekend closes out the 24th annual Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival at Mass MoCA, a three-week residency for composers and performers that culminates in a marathon of experimental music spread across the museum's galleries, performance stages, and outdoor spaces. Over 70 musicians take part across the three days, with programming running from Thursday afternoon into Saturday night.
Thursday opens with the Bang on a Can All-Stars performing Philip Glass's Glassworks in its entirety in a new arrangement, alongside David Lang's Death Speaks and a debut set from Cute Boat Name, a new folk-Americana duo pairing guitar, banjo, fiddle, jarana, musical saw, and washboard. Friday is anchored by eight world premieres from this year's festival composition fellows, plus the premiere of Annie Gosfield's one-act chamber opera "Emma"—exploring the life of Emma Goldman—performed by Eliza Bagg and Mantra Percussion.
The day also includes a spotlight on Martin Bresnick and Gosfield, percussion quartets by Raven Chacon, Marc Mellits, and Shelley Washington, a set from techno-leaning drummer Gerald Cleaver, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars performing Terry Riley's "A Rainbow in Curved Air," one of the foundational works of American minimalism.
Saturday runs even longer, with Darius Jones conducting his large ensemble work WAR, cellist Maya Beiser performing Michael Harrison's raga-inspired Just Ancient Loops with film by Bill Morrison, guitarist Yasmin Williams, Morton Feldman's Piano and String Quartet, and the US premiere of Michael Gordon's 8, performed by eight festival cellists. The night closes with the resurrection of the Steve Martland Band, reviving the work of the influential British composer who died in 2013.
Leading up to the finale, free gallery concerts run daily at 1:30pm and 4:30pm, included with museum admission, featuring festival fellows and faculty performing throughout the galleries.
Advance three-day passes are $180 general admission, $280 preferred. Single-day passes run $80 for Thursday and $110 for Friday or Saturday. All events are general admission and included with museum entry; the full hourly schedule is posted at bangonacan.org closer to the dates.
Mass MoCA, 1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA. Tickets at tickets.massmoca.org.
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After a decade of writing for RI (along with many other publications and organizations) Jamie took over as editor in 2025. He has a masters in journalism from NYU, a wonderful wife, two kids and a Carolina dog named Zelda.
