Bradford Cox is coming back to the stage. The Deerhunter mastermind will play his first show in seven years at the Making Time ∞ festival in Philadelphia, reviving his solo project Atlas Sound for the occasion.
The set is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at Fort Mifflin. The festival runs from September 18 to 20.
The Return of Atlas Sound
Cox has largely retreated from public life since 2019. His only known appearance in the intervening years was a seemingly ad hoc noise show at a vintage market in Georgia in 2023.
That quiet stretch now ends with a full live set under the Atlas Sound name. It marks the first billed performance from Cox in seven years.
A Long Hiatus
Deerhunter and Atlas Sound both appear to have been on unannounced hiatuses since 2019. That was a busy year for Cox.
- Deerhunter released Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?
- Atlas Sound played a one-off set at Desert Daze
- Cox walked a runway for Gucci
Since then, nothing was officially announced. No tours, no albums, no statements.
The 2023 Noise Show
The Georgia vintage market performance in 2023 was the sole exception to that silence.
Making Time ∞ at Fort Mifflin
Fort Mifflin provides the backdrop for the weekend. Cox’s Sunday afternoon slot is part of the festival’s final day.
No Deerhunter Plans Announced
The announcement does not mention Deerhunter. Cox is performing as Atlas Sound, not with his better-known band.
Deerhunter has not released an album since Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? in 2019. The band has not announced any plans to reconvene.
Sparse Details
No details on Cox’s recent activity or future plans were forthcoming. The announcement is sparse.
It gives a time, a venue, and a project name. That is all.
Sunday’s Slot
The 4:30 p.m. Sunday set is confirmed on the lineup. After seven years away, the show stands as a rare public moment from an artist who has kept his distance.
Key Facts
- Who: Bradford Cox, performing as Atlas Sound
- What: First billed show in seven years
- Where: Making Time ∞ festival, Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia
- When: 4:30 p.m. on Sunday
- Festival dates: September 18–20
- Last Deerhunter album: Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (2019)
The announcement answers one question and leaves many others open.
Source: pitchfork.com
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