It may seem strange that we have selected Ian “Mac” McLagan to be one of the headliners for an event under the mantle of “living Systems”, particularly when he is surrounded by accomplished proponents from fields as seemingly futuristic as transhumanism, bio- and nanotechnology, future networks, alternative energy and the like.

Yet, in Mac, we have a one-man “living system” who has remained at the center of rock music and ultimately become the hub of a very active social network within the world of rock and roll, connected at various times to bands and artists including The Small Faces and later The Faces, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Taj Mahal, John Hiatt, David Lindley, Paul Westerberg, Billy Bragg and Patty Griffin, to name just a few.

Mac has developed a highly successful career spanning four decades. Over that time, he (like all of us, as products and parts of “living systems”) has been influenced and affected by the people, interactions, sounds and media that he has encountered.

Mac took up the keyboard because he heard sounds on the radio, players like Otis Span, Johnny Johnson, Booker T and Billy Preston who inspired him to become the wonderful musician that he is. And he, in turn, has influenced countless other musicians to take up the craft. They in turn will pass that on to others.

As Keith Richards says: “If you turn out to be a musician, everything that you have ever heard comes out in what you play.”

Mac’s role as a highly influential and critical node in this living ‘social network” is a perfect example of a social structure that facilitates communication between a group of individuals or organizations, which are related by one or more specific types of interdependency: a special or common interest; shared values; visions, ideas, or perhaps ideals; friendship, and sometimes even dislike or conflict. Above all, it has been the fluidity in the ties that have made Mac’s relationships as powerful and influential and ones that will outlive both Mac and those of us that have had the opportunity to follow and share in his evolution.
If it were not for Mac, there would have been no Faces, Itchycoo Park, Stay With Me, Miss You, Black Crowes, The Jam, The Sex Pistols, etc., or any of the future names that we have yet to discover that will carry his bits of his creative DNA.

We are proud to have Ian McLagan perform with his Bump Band at Plutopia 2009. His performance will be prefaced by a short introduction from Bruce Duval, who has studied Mac’s contribution both to the world of music and as a “living system” and network hub.

This year we have assembled a masterclass of amazing performers, artists, speakers and showstoppers. While it is important that the event comprehensively focuses on the “Living Systems” theme, it should be remembered that it is also time to party after a day of high-powered panels at SXSWi or SXSW Film, or just a tiring day at the “office”.

Topping the music bill is Ian McLagan & the Bump Band – ‘Mac‘ is a genuine dyed-in-the wool rock’n’roller and former member of the legendary Small Faces and the Faces.

He has toured and recorded with: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Taj Mahal, John Hiatt, David Lindley, Paul Westerberg, Billy Bragg and Patty Griffin, to name some but hardly all of the notables that McLagan has worked with over his fourplus decade career.

The Heather Gold Show

The Heather Gold Show is back again. Her show is a live and online experience that brings together diverse passionate people and you to talk about questions you care about.

Heather is a geek comedian who likes truth, people and making connections. She does this on stage, page and screen and interactively when she can.

Bruce Sterling

World-renowned science fiction author, Bruce Sterling, best known for his novels and his seminal work on the Mirrorshades anthology, which helped define the cyberpunk genre, will be showcased.

Sandy Stone

Sandy Stone from ActLab, back from the Fourth International Workshop on Technologies of the Body, will perform on the frontier of cyborg, gender, and cultural studies, feminist theory, and media production.

Ocean Conservancy promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life. Ocean Conservancy believes it’s time to understand that going green starts with living blue. It’s time to start a sea change.

Living systems considered from a different angle involves the work of Jonathan Cohen with his section on Corporate Social Responsibility & Living Systems and Joe Davis-Fleming whose work deals with socio-economic determinants that influence health care disparities between multi-racial/ethnic communities, both domestically and globally, as well as possible models for remedying the resulting inequities that exist in healthcare delivery systems.

There will be art exhibitions relating the “Living Systems” theme with exhibits from as far afield as Bangkok through the work of Sarawut Chutiwongpeti with his visions of Dystopia and Utopia. Sarawut is interested in finding out how contemporary art can enhance the distribution of information and foster a profound universality in the human nature and cross-cultural artistic and critical collaboration.

Two of the most important and inspirational participants are Stanza from London and the Black Pig Liberation Front from Boston.

Stanza creates coded abstract interactive paintings, generative artworks, mashups, and even DNA based installations. He is probably best known for his long-term Emergent City project, which uses sensor networks to create knowledge and interfaces about urban living. Recent exhibitions include in Venice Beinnale, Tate Britain, Sao Paulo Biennale Brasil, Immedia USA, and Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo in Mexico, The Digital Hub Dublin.

The Black Pig Liberation Front is a killer ritualistic terror and love ensemble complete with grunt ‘n’ groove DJs led by Denis Mahoney. They have worked with Sonic Youth, J Mascis, DJ Spooky, Mike Watt, Blag Flag and many leading lights from the New York scene. Their performance here will use scenes from Josip Beuys and the idea of art as a living system
itself while reviewing the situationist history of psycho-geography.

In addition, there will be everything from fashion shows using non-traditional materials, robotic fortune telling, immersive musical instruments, an interactive Steampunk couch, robot paintings, Aztec Temples, sound sculptures and DJs such as the infamous David Demaris as Dr Strangevibe, Thomas Fang’s Furby Youth Choir and much more.