Bang On A Can All-Stars

Internationally renowned new music ensemble, Bang On A Can All-Stars, will perform at the Historic Ramona Building, eSports Arena in downtown Santa Ana on Monday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. Hailed as innovators in their field, the six-piece ensemble, under the artistic direction of Julia Wolfe, David Lang and Michael Gordon, will perform Brian Eno’s landmark, ambient album, Music for Airports, breathing new life into the electronic masterpiece through live instrumentation. The eSports Arena is a newly opened, world class gaming venue that will be transformed into a concert hall for one-night only, welcoming music lovers of all ages to experience the modern classic that inspired a genre. The performance celebrates the 10th installment of Santa Ana Sites, a traveling art forum that presents contemporary performances in unexpected spaces.  

Bang On A Can All-Stars are a revered music collective heralded by the San Francisco Chronicle as, “the country’s most important vehicle for contemporary music.” The group has performed Music for Airports in prestigious venues across the globe, bringing their transcendent sound to locations including the Sydney Opera House, the National Music Hall in London, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Santa Ana will be the newest recipient of this dynamic concert, and in true Santa Ana Sites fashion, will host the event in an unorthodox setting that provides a new layer of imagination to the performance.

The eSports Arena is a 15,000 square-foot facility dedicated to the evolution of spectator gaming. The venue is the first of its kind in North America, offering professional and amateur gamers an opportunity to experience recreational gaming, immersive tournaments, and viewing parties for local and international competitions. Eno’s Music for Airports was crafted with the intention of filling a public space with textured emotion and experimental sound, and the gaming arena’s location and spacious interior make it an ideal venue for this remarkable piece.  

Over the past four decades Eno has held the title of composer, producer, songwriter, and vocalist, with a resume that boasts work with David Bowie, Bono, and David Byrne. Music for Airports was a revelation in the late 70’s and early 80’s, sparking new dialogue about the relevance of down-tempo, electronic-driven music. The album ultimately paved the way for ambient music as it’s known today, making Eno a pioneer in the genre. Bang On A Can All-Stars will bring his treasured piece to life through intricate, live instrumentation that pays homage to the original work.

Bang On A Can All-Stars’ Santa Ana performance is an opportunity for music and art lovers to embrace a cutting edge concert in an unforgettable setting.