Dither Goes to Space for Clark I/O Fest

January 18 | Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Michael Conforti Pavilion, 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA | 3:00pm

As part of the 2026 I/O Fest: The Music of Now, the Clark welcomes Dither, an adventurous electric guitar quartet, for a performance blending experimental sound with pioneering composition on Sunday, January 18 at 3 PM. Presented by the Williams College Department of Music in collaboration with the Clark, this concert invites audiences into the sonic universe of The Expanding Universe, the seminal 1979 album by electronic and computer-music pioneer Laurie Spiegel— whose work famously included Kepler’s Harmony of the Worlds on the Voyager Sounds of Earth record sent into space. Dither navigates this repertoire and more through four electric guitars and an array of live effects, turning Spiegel’s visionary electronic textures into vibrant, analog performance. 

I/O Fest’s final-day performance promises a unique collision of experimental composition and instrumental ingenuity, situating Spiegel’s cosmic-minded legacy within a live setting that highlights improvisation, texture, and collaborative interplay. Tickets are $10, $8 for members, and free for Williams College students and children 17 and under, making this a compelling winter afternoon outing for adventurous music lovers and those curious about the edges of contemporary performance.