Founded 21 years ago by Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolf, Bang On A Can hosted its first 12-hour marathon concert in Soho. There was no main act, and the audience was free to come and go throughout the 28 emerging composers.
Today, Bang On A Can is more than just an annual music event. The organization has expanded to include the Bang On A Can All-stars and has staged productions such as Carbon Copy Building, Lost Objects ShadowBang, and The New Yorkers. Since 1987, its marathon concerts has played host to everyone from John Cage and Terry Riley to Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Yo La Tengo.
This year’s Bang On A Can will be held May 31-June 1 at the World Financial Center Winter Garden, New York. There will be performances by Alarm Will Sound, Caleb Burhans, Hartt Basses, Contact Contemporary Music, Crash Ensemble, and, of course, every hipster's electro hero: Dan Deacon.
