I WILL FOLLOW
ABOUT THE U2 CONFERENCE
The U2 Conference has welcoming and inclusive spaces for studying the music, work and influence of U2 and U2 fandom. Fans, students, scholars, critics, and artists bring their curiosity, critical thinking, and passion for developing their appreciation and understanding of U2–and all things connected to U2.
We share stories, research, and conversation, and make personal and professional connections. We gather in virtual spaces and physical spaces.
Our first meeting was in 2009 in Durham, NC, on the weekend of U2’s 360° tour stop in Raleigh. Bono greeted our “confab” from the stage.
There have been six conferences since 2009. We anticipate our next one later in 2023. Please see the U2 Conferences page for more information about each conference.
The U2 Conference team is:
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- Scott Calhoun, U2 Conference Director and Independent Scholar
- David Comay, Independent Scholar
- Natalie Dielman, U2 Fan and Programming Coordinator, Way Library, Perrysburg, OH
- Johnny Duncan, U2 Fan and Curious Human
- Sherry Lawrence, Former Staff Writer for atu2.com
- Angela Pancella, Director of Development and Parish Life at St. Francis Xavier (College Church), St. Louis, MO. Contributor to U2 and the Religious Impulse: Take Me Higher
- Ian Ryan, Former Staff Member for atu2.com and U2 Lyrics Lover
- Jo D., U2 Fan and Creator of U2 and Coffee
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Scott Calhoun created the U2 Conference in 2009 with a team of curious U2 fans who help keep it going to this day. His interests are in identity formation, sense-making, and personal growth, and how the arts, the imagination, communities, faith, and the numinous all influence those activities. His Ph.D. in English is from Bowling Green State University, Ohio. He lives in Xenia, Ohio, with his family.
He is a curator for “U2: Made in Dublin,” a permanent exhibit at The Little Museum of Dublin, and was a staff writer for @U2 (atu2.com) from 2004 – 2020.
He edited three volumes of scholarly essays about U2:
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- Exploring U2: Is This Rock and Roll? (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011)
- U2 Above, Across, and Beyond: Interdisciplinary Assessments (Lexington Press, 2014)
- U2 and the Religious Impulse: Take Me Higher (Bloomsbury, 2018).
He also edited the Tempo Series of books on rock, pop, and culture for Rowman & Littlefield.
As a staff writer from 2004-2020 for @U2 (atu2.com), he wrote reporting, reviews, interviews, and opinion:
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- Bono Writes About Being Exposed For New Book On The Psalms, reporting (March 10, 2020)
- Bono’s Support for PEPFAR Helped Save 27 Million Lives, reporting (Feb. 6, 2020)
- Bono Boards Zipline To Bend The Universe Toward Justice reporting (Sept. 12, 2019)
- James Henke, Rock Critic Who Called U2 “The Next Big Thing,” Has Died obituary (July 9, 2019).
- U2 Goes Across The Threshold With Bespoke Pop Art, analysis (May 8, 2018)
- U2 and the Limits of Fundamentalism, Part One & Part Two, commentary (March 13, 15, 2018)
- The Shadow Man Cometh: Flannery O’Connor’s Influence on U2’s The Joshua Tree, analysis essay (Sept. 12, 2017)
- Behind The Scenes: More From Bono & Friends On The Psalms, reporting and opinion (May 13, 2016)
- Bono Brings a Bit Of Finglas to Flathead Lake in New Film about the Psalms, reporting (May 19, 2016)
- Rare Recording Featuring Three-Fourths of U2 for Sale reporting (July 3, 2006)
- U2 Says They Prefer Vision CD from 1981 Not Be Sold, reporting (Nov.25, 2006)
- U2: Revolution, book review (Dec. 16, 2014)
- U2: The Definitive Biography, book review (Nov. 20, 2014)
- The Spirituality of Bono, book review (July 4, 2014)
- Andrea Morandi’s Lavoro D’Amore, reporting and review (Feb. 22, 2010)
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Interviews:
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- David Bentley Hart, philosopher, scholar of religion and cultural critic, for “Stealing David Bentley Hart’s Wisdom for U2’s Travelling Show” (Aug. 6, 2018)
- Steve Lillywhite, Grammy-winning producer (June 16, 2011)
- Flood, Grammy-winning producer (July 26, 2013)
- Anthony DeCurtis, Grammy-winning writer, contributor to Rolling Stone (Nov. 27, 2007)
- Bill Flanagan, EVP/Editorial Director of MTV Networks, contributor to Rolling Stone, author of U2 at the End of the World and other books, and contributor to CBS’ “Sunday Morning” (Nov. 26, 2011)
- Jim Henke, former VP of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and former Music Editor for Rolling Stone (March 1, 2008).
- Eugene Peterson, author, pastor, and translator of The Message (Feb. 9, 2006)
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His academic vita is available here.
He welcomes the opportunity to connect with you about U2 and discuss the band’s music, work, and influence, or talk about other mutual interests. Please reach him through the contact form.