Mockingbird Foundation Unveils 2024 Phish Studies Conference Video Archive

The Mockingbird Foundation released the video archive from the 2024 Phish Studies Conference. The collection includes 19 presentations from more than 50 speakers available for free on its official YouTube channel.

The 2024 Phish Studies Conference took place May 16 – 19 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Scholars from a wide range of disciplines examined various aspects of Phish, including their music, fan culture and broader social impact.

The all-volunteer, non-profit Mockingbird Foundation was founded by Phish fans in 1996. The organization has awarded over 760 grants in all 50 states, totaling more than $2.75 million in proceeds toward supporting youth musical education efforts.

“The Mockingbird Foundation is thrilled to present this free, one-of-a-kind resource to the Phish community and beyond,” said Stephanie Jenkins, Mockingbird board member and conference committee chair. “This collection, which celebrates all things Phish, is the culmination of years of hard work by the Phish Studies community and reflects Mockingbird’s core commitment to music education.”

Presentations covered issues ranging from Phish fan identity and cultural practices to legal issues surrounding copyright and concertgoing. Speakers also provided analyses of song structures and setlist data, among other topics.

JamBase contributor Benjy Eisen delivered the keynote address, titled “Gamehendge State of the Union Address.” Eisen’s speech is among the presentations now available to watch on YouTube.

View Eisen’s keynote address below and follow this link to watch additional videos from the 2024 Phish Studies Conference.