Wilco-Crafted Installations Set for SOLID SOUND 2013, 6/21-23

Continuing the tradition of creating new and exclusive artistic expressions as part of Solid Sound, several Wilco band members will premiere creative endeavors for this year's festival, taking place June 21-23 at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA.

The first, created by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, is a simulated sonic and visual experience of Wilco's Chicago studio, The Loft. The installation will allow festival attendees a glimpse into the sights and sounds of the band's personal recording and rehearsal space through visuals and never-before-heard audio samplings.

The second, created by Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, is called Earth Drums. A hands-on exhibit, Earth Drums will allow people to communicate through a collection of drums situated throughout the MASS MoCA campus.

The third, dubbed Oscillator Fumes, is a series of collaborative synthesizer performances by Wilco keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen and longtime Wilco crewmembers Nathaniel Murphy, Travis Thatcher and Josh Goldsmith. Previous exhibits premiering at past Solid Sound Festivals have included Nels Cline's Solid Sound Stompbox Station and Glenn Kotche's InGlenntions.

Another Solid Sound tradition is the festival's varied and extensive non-musical programming, which this year includes an urban birding walk; live birds of prey; post-concert guided star gazing with noted astronomer and famed solar eclipse-chaser Dr. Jay Pasachoff; an off-site naturalist hike; an axe restoration demonstration by Best Made; an environmental film series including a screening of the new documentary Musicwood; a "make-your-own musical instrument and jam session" for kids plus other kid-friendly crafts; discussions and demonstrations on home brewing, raising backyard chickens, making hot sauce, and more by Storey Publishing. Additional programming information will be available at solidsoundfestival.com.

Also now at solidsoundfestival.com, fans can submit song suggestions for Wilco's Friday Solid Sound performance that will be a full set of only fan-requested songs, including covers. Wilco has promised to learn 50 of the requested songs, and play a full set selected randomly from the 50 they've learned. Friday's concert will also feature a "stump-the-band" segment, where audience members are chosen at random to suggest a song that the well-versed band does not know or cannot play. To request a song, visit solidsoundfestival.com/song-request/.

Solid Sound Festival is a three-day celebration of music, art, comedy and more, and it takes place June 21-23 at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, MA. It features two nights of Wilco with additional musical performances by Neko Case, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Yo La Tengo, Low, Foxygen and more. There is also a full program of comedy selected by John Hodgman and featuring Reggie Watts, Al Madrigal and Jen Kirkman.

Three-day festival passes and single day tickets are available at the festival's official website, solidsoundfestival.com. Three-day tickets are $149. Single-day tickets for Friday, June 21 and Sunday, June 23 are $65. Tickets for Saturday, June 22 are $84. Note: single-day tickets for Saturday will only be available for purchase through Sunday, May 5. Three-day passes for children ages 7-10 are $50 and children 6 and under are free.

Solidsoundfestival.com also features information on camping, area lodging, direct Peter Pan bus transportation to and from the festival and more.

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