Final Details Announced for Next Week's Basilica Music Fest, Presented in Association with Pitchfork

Marina Abramovic image courtesy OMA

This summer marks the official launch of music programming at Basilica Hudson, a waterfront arts and performance space located inside a reclaimed 19th-century factory in Hudson, New York. The artist-owned venue, which offers views of the Catskill Mountains, is run by creative directors Melissa Auf der Maur (formerly of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins) and filmmaker Tony Stone.

Presented in association with Pitchfork, the Basilica Music Festival is a two-day event taking place next weekend, August 10-11. While it's dubbed a "festival", it is not one in the traditional sense-- it's more of a uniquely crafted weekend getaway that includes music, art, camping, and a sunset cruise. Only a limited number of tickets are available.

On Friday night, August 10, Brandon Stosuy's Show No Mercy has organized a showcase called "Metal Machine Music" featuring Liturgy, Mick Barr, C. Lavender, Brian Dewan, a late-night DJ set by Rainbow in the Dark (featuring Robin Carolan of Tri Angle Records), and an installation of kinetic sculptures by artist Kris Perry.

On Saturday, Brian DeRan of Gleam House/Leg Up! Management has curated "Neidan!", a night of music featuring Gang Gang Dance, Prince Rama, the Psychic Paramount, and Hiro Kone. Blanko & Noiry have also been added to the "Neidan!" showcase. This performance collaboration between the artists Chris Kachulis, Frank Haines, and Reuben Lorch-Miller explores "vaudeville, show tunes, the occult, psychodrama, Viennese Actionism and experimental electronic music."

Before that, on Saturday afternoon, Basilica Music Fest will host Blazer, a New Mexico-based sound system owned and operated by Excepter's Nathan Corbin and specializing in heavy dub, roots, ragga and dancehall. (This will be followed by a Saturday evening sunset cruise on the Hudson River that ends in time for "Neidan!".)

Throughout the weekend, the art exhibition "Suggested Destination" will also be on view, featuring work by Larry Clark, Jim Krewson, Sadie Laska, William Stone,  Nancy Barber, Jonesy, Pia Dehne, Rose Kallal, Todd Jordan, and Tammy Schnabel.

We're also pleased to announce another reason to come to Hudson for the weekend. Sunday morning will feature a 90-minute presentation by the artist Marina Abramovic in the raw space of what will become the Marina Abramovic Institute for the Preservation of Performance Art.

The presentation, which includes a virtual tour of the Institute's design concepts and a question and answer period, starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 12. Abramovic will be joined by Institute Director Serge Le Borgne for the discussion. The building will remain open to the public until 5 p.m. that day.

Follow the Basilica Music Festival on Twitter for additional updates. More info can be found on the festival's website, including details on travel and accommodations (camping, motels, B&Bs). Tickets are on sale here, where you can also reserve camping spots and a place on Saturday's cruise. Individual day tickets for Friday and Saturday are $15 each. Advance weekend packages are $25.

The official Basilica Music Festival poster can be found below. Before that, watch Gang Gang Dance perform "Glass Jar" at last year's Pitchfork Music Festival: