History

Beginnings (1999-2000)

The idea for Anarchestra was initially conceived at a 1999 New Years Eve event at Fort Thunder in Providence, RI during a conversation between Andy and Providence, RI musician Mike Rinaldi. The initial instruments created for the project were built by Thurlow and Rinaldi over the first few months of 2000, and consisted mostly of kalimbas and xylophones.

The primary initial goals of the Anarchestra were to make music more accessible and inclusive (both in terms of cost and complexity), as well as increase the diversity of sounds people were able to utilize in their music. As Thurlow put it in a 2013 interview, Anarchestra: "um . . . yeah, so I did this": “Music should reflect the kind of society we want. And so, the music that I do [with Anarchestra] reflects that too; I want everybody to join in and do it and have fun, and play and feel enabled and empowered and take some responsibility for how it comes out.”

Chilmark, MA (2000 - 2003)

Thurlow moved to Chilmark, MA in March of 2000. During this period the instruments developed significantly, progressing from simple tuned key idiophones to include chordophones, aerophones and membranophones. Most of the instruments from this period resemble traditional instruments such as harps, guitars, basses, drums, and flutes and reeds.

The first recordings of Anarchestra were made in 2001, with Thurlow himself playing all the instruments and overdubbing them. The first recording made was ''Rumor''.

Anarchestra held its first public event at the Katherine Cornell Theater in Vineyard Haven, MA during the summer of 2002, where it was presented as part of Mobius, a collective arts show. The primary home of Anarchestra during this period was Labyrinth Speakeasy, a venue in West Tisbury, MA.

Santa Fe, NM (2003 - 2006)

Thurlow moved Anarchestra to Sante Fe, NM in 2003, where he learned how to make magnetic pickups of various sizes and designs. Before this period, all amplified instruments in Anarchestra used either premade piezo contact mics or recycled magnetic pickups; after, all pickups and most other electronics on Anarchestra instruments were hand built by Thurlow.

The frequency of shows and recordings increased throughout this period - over a dozen recordings were made, and Anarchestra was represented at two Santa Fe High Mayhem Festivals.

West Tisbury, MA (2007)

Thurlow and part of Anarchestra moved back to Martha’s Vineyard in 2007, reinstalling itself at Labyrinth Speakeasy in West Tisbury. The instruments were taken on tour for the first time in this period, playing at Marlboro College in Marlboro, VT; the Putney School in Putney, VT; The Iron Pour at Mass College of Art and Design in Boston, MA; Twin Oaks Community in Louisa, VA; and several others. The instruments also made their first return to Providence, where they were played as part of a fashion show at Firehouse 13.

Tucson, AZ (2008 - 2020)

Thurlow relocated to Tucson, AZ in 2008, where he lived until he passed away in 2022. During his time there, Anarchestra has become a regular feature at local venues and events such as the Sculpture Resource Center and the Tucson Sculpture Festival.

This period saw the continued expansion of the instruments, with the standard focus on increased accessibility - making sure there was an instrument for anyone who wanted to participate (regardless of musical or physical capability). Proximity to several Tucson area steel yards also provided significant new options for Thurlow to expand the types of instruments Thurlow could build.

Anarchestra also was also the subject of a short film during this period, which led to several pieces of media coverage.

New England Return and Foundation Establishment (2020-2022)

In 2020, several long time Anarchestra participants created a non-profit to manage the instruments after a stroke left Thurlow unable to manage them. They began work to bring the instruments back to New England to feature them in local galleries, museums and performance spaces, with the goal of eventually establishing a permanent space for them. The instruments are currently housed at the Hathaway Center in Providence, RI, where they are open two nights a month and by appointment.