In late January, our team headed to LA for the 2026 edition of the Buchla & Friends show. It runs in parallel to the NAMM-Show, but unlike the pro-audio focussed NAMM – and as the name already suggests – Buchla & Friends is all about synthesis, showing keyboard and modular synths from the hosts Buchla and a large assortment of other brands like 4ms, Ableton, Animal Factory, ALM, Bitwig, CLANK, Doepfer, Elektron, Endorphines, Frap Tools, Korg Berlin, Make Noise, Polyend, Supercritical Synthesizers, Ohmforce, TipTop Audio, WMD, and many more.
Even though the event is only in its second year, it has already become one of the biggest synth events in the US and an important meeting point for the synth community on the West Coast of the US, with enthusiasts, developers, and manufacturers coming together for an extended weekend of synth fun and nerdery.
The space for this year’s edition were the C&I Studios in Downtown LA, a creative space and events hub with an industrial setting. In front, there were also food trucks and a coffee bar offering replenishments to the crowd relaxing and socializing in the LA sunshine while taking a break from the synth action and countless instruments to try inside the main exhibition area.
In addition to the main exhibition space, there were also concerts with artists like Suzanne Ciani and Tami, as well as pre- and after-parties organized by the SoCal Synth Society and supported by Perfect Circuit, with a musical focus on electronic dance music and modular live performances well-suited to the overall vibe of the event.
In general, we felt a casual, but also passionate atmosphere across the event, whose free entry and general low accessibility level - inviting both seasoned synth nerds and total newcomers to look and play - stood in pleasant contrast to the high admission prices and industry-insider nature of the NAMM show.
Overall, we had a great time at the eventr and are already looking forward to the third edition next year!
You can find more information about Buchla & Friends here.