Everyday People has been a force in NY for years, and we had pursued them for a while before they decided to set up shop at Knockdown Center. In 2016, they were throwing regular events in Long Island City and often collaborating with other organizers like Dope BBQ (another Knockdown Center alumni) on the Crosstown Cookout series. These were large, multi-group partnerships that brought out serious talent and an excellent crowd. In September of 2017, they invited none other than T-Pain. He was easily one of the biggest stars the venue had hosted at that point, and there was perhaps some light wariness that he would phone it in. In the end, there was no need to worry. T-Pain is a consummate performer and he absolutely brought it for the Cookout. This was a world class show for an intimate crowd having the time of their lives.

Since then, we’ve continued to work with Everyday People regularly. A vital part of the Black musical and cultural landscape of NYC, EP mixes aspirational glamor with a loose, come-as-you-are sense of fun. Everyone wants to be there, and to look their best. One of our favorite aspects of their events is the queer friendly, progressive attitude they embody. Everyday People counters more established (and conservative) “Grown & Sexy” idioms with a young & sexy stylishness that’s perfectly in step with the next generation. A solid crew of resident DJs know exactly how to set the mood, and with a seemingly-simple, deceptively effortless arrangement of a few key components, Everyday People transforms the space. We look forward to having them back this year.

Another longtime collaborator is, of course, Bushwig. Regular readers of this newsletter should have at least a passing familiarity with the singular drag smörgåsbord. But in the midst of all the queens, it can be easy to forget Bushwig also features headlining artists as well. In 2016, that was Wolfgang Tilmans, the truly multidisciplinary German photographer / musician / artist. At that time, Bushwig was marked both by the excitement of rapid growth and by the stresses of basic survival in hostile environments. “Right now we are in a drag explosion,” said co-founder Horrochata at the time. “BUSHWIG is part of this revolution; the new wave of drag and the next generation of queens. The latest performers in New York are struggling as the city is getting gentrified faster than ever."

This made Tilmans an ideal guest. In addition to being a queer icon and an artist of startling, arresting talent, his work also interrogates penetrating dualities. Speaking on his exhibition “Fragile,” he writes of “the acceptance of the fragility that defines us as individuals and our interpersonal relationships as a strength,” and of using “failures, ruptures and fragility as an impetus to develop new processes. They point to the imperfect nature of our lives and reveal unsuspected perspectives on life's materiality.” Indeed.

Another outstanding moment of queer liberation at the Ruins was Big Freedia’s show-stealing set at 2022’s Pitchfork Presents. She co-headlined the event with fellow New Orleans pop artisan Dawn Richard, and the night was marked with an explosive, undeniable sense of joy and communal catharsis. Freedia took to the stage for the last outdoor set of the night, and quickly had a crowd up there surrounding her. The staff was not excluded; our head of security Josh Clarker got into the mix, twerking with surprising grace. And why not? He wasn’t needed anywhere - the whole place was in too good a mood.

One last memory of on-stage antics: NY In Broad Daylight, the punk/rap hybrid festival organized by Show Me The Body. The NY group has a rep for a lot of reasons: insane live shows, the use of a banjo in lieu of a guitar, a militant, anti-authoritarian ethos and close ties to the skate, graffiti and hip-hop undergrounds. The short version: they’re cool. Sets by Zelooperz, Lustsick Puppy and WiFi Gawd counterbalanced showings by heavy rock from Militaire Gun and Soul Glo. It’s rare that a mosh pit breaks out in the Ruins, and for safety reasons we really try to keep stage diving to a minimum. But at this one, it was nearly futile to try to contain either. Any single bit of photographic or video evidence of the event will almost certainly feature someone in mid air or someone else getting slammed into. We had invited in some of the wildest artists and most rough-and-ready fans for an afternoon of fun, and got exactly what you’d expect. It was great.

See you this summer.