Fri 4/26
Sat 4/27
U2 are legendary for being a Very Serious Band. A reviewer once said, “Why is it that every time you see a picture of this band, they look like they’re about to deliver the Gettysburg Address?”
Perfect material for an academic conference like the one taking place at the Marriott Key Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum this weekend.
It’s the second such conference convened by Cedarville University professor Dr. Scott Calhoun, following one in Durham, N.C. in 2009.
“The U2 Conference lets fans and academics come together for a weekend to learn from each other about their favorite band,” says Calhoun. “U2 has created more than 30 years of exciting and transformative music which begs all sorts of questions. Cleveland’s a great place to meet for a few days to explore what U2 has done because the Rock Hall and its library and archives exists to help the world enjoy and study rock and roll.”
For two days, attendees will mull over topics like ““The Edge as a Trans-Media Character in the Films of Davis Guggenheim” and “‘A Dangerous Idea That Almost Makes Sense’: Conceiving (Achtung) Baby When ‘Sensemaking’ Made Sense,” with U2 scholars presenting papers in sessions starting each day at 8:45am. Each session will also offer a more mainstream presentation as well, like Saturday’s session with former WMMS program director John Gorman, talking about U2 on the radio.
Other events include several film screenings, a Friday night performance at the Blind Pig by U2 tribute band One, and a Saturday night performance at the Hard rock Café by tribute band Unforgettable Fire, the subject of one of the films that will be shown.
Registration starts at 4 pm Thu 4/25 at the Marriot Key Center, with a pre-conference party that evening at Flannery’s Pub on Prospect and E. 4th Street. Registration fee, covering all official events, is $249. A complete schedule of events is here.
Photo: U2 at the Q by Anastasia Pantsios