This past weekend I made my 3rd annual pilgrimage to Basilica Hudson, a repurposed 19th-century factory turned arts and performance venue in Hudson, NY, for the 24-Hour Drone, an immersive sound art and experimental music festival spanning (you guessed it) 24 hours. It’s a seamless event where 24+ artists perform consecutively from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday, during the last weekend in April. Hundreds gather with sleeping mats and camping chairs, books and sketch pads, and any supplies they feel they need as they settle in for a mind-bending sonic experience. The common theme in the music is the drone, long drawn out sustained tones that can be generated by any number of instruments, or configurations thereof, from the synthetic and electronic to the purest human voice. The sets span a spectrum from conceptual group performance art to a single artist circuit bending with an array of machines. Each performance rolls right into the next with no fanfare. Subsequent artists set up while the current artist finishes, making every set an integral part of the whole.
While this was Basilica Hudson’s 5th year for the 24-Hour Drone, it was the third consecutive year for me to make the trip. Two years ago in 2017, as I lay on the concrete floor being washed over by sounds, I was inspired to erase my own artistic filter and I planted the seeds for this website and the creative philosophy that I now follow. That year, and the year that followed, I stayed at the venue for the full 24-hour cycle and I experienced the onslaught of noise and intense experimentation that happens throughout the night. Chill ambient tones don’t emerge until the morning light. This year, however, I decided to enjoy the late night comforts of a local inn, and return refreshed in the morning for the finale.
The acts throughout the day on Saturday were an eclectic mix including the electronic noise artist AHRKH, my favorite performer of the weekend, a regional harp duo called Bouquet, and an Indian ensemble featuring the world renowned musician Ustad Shafaat Khan. The highlight of the morning was Mark Trecka, who sourced all of the sounds for his performance during the previous 23 hours of the event itself! It was a delightfully diverse mix of found sound and loops that slowly evolved throughout his timeslot.
While some of the artists perform their usual brand of sonic art, others create sets specifically for the 24-Hour Drone. Some of it is meditative and pleasant, and some are incredibly intense and often challenging to the senses requiring a decent set of earplugs. I realized this year, that my experiences at these events transcend the music itself. For me, it has been more about slowing down and sitting still in a truly unique and creative environment and letting my mind wander to places I could never force it to go. It’s an environment that inspires me to play with new ideas and explore where I could take those ideas. And it has become an annual reminder to erase my self imposed filters and live an authentic creative life.
All photos by Adam Aronson
