Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon will host the first peer-reviewed academic conference devoted to the music and fan culture of Phish. “Phish Studies: An Interdisciplinary Conference On The Band, Its Music & Its Fans” will take place on OSU’s campus between May 17 – 19, 2019.

Organizers of the Phish Studies conference put out a call for proposals. Some of the topics mentioned are music and lyrics, elements of live performance, fan culture, business and quantitive analysis. Potential participants are asked to submit abstracts of 200 – 500 words for either individual 20-minute papers or 90-minute panel proposals featuring a minimum of three presenters. Here’s more on the submission process:

Complete panel proposals should include an abstract for each panelist’s contribution as well as a 250-word (max.) justification for the panel. We encourage proposals from scholars at any stage of their career, including graduate students as well as scholars outside of academia. Abstracts should specify the presenter’s methodological and theoretical approach, summarize conclusions, and specify the broader academic implications of the research. Abstracts are due no later than January 15, 2019.

Proposals can be submitted through OSU’s online abstract submission system. Dr. Stephanie Jenkins, who started a class on Phish in 2014, will serve as the Committee Chair.