Reprising its core themes of community, conversation and world-class techno, the programming includes two nights of exceptional DJs, collaborations with the underground’s leading collectives, thought-provoking panel discussions and stunning art installations. Stage 1 will be in Knockdown Center’s atrium, a sprawling and magnificent hall. The lineups for Stage 2 have been arranged in collaboration with two collectives whose names are synonymous with defiantly queer underground rave culture: Herrensauna and Fast Forward. A newly added Ambient Stage expands the scope of the programming. This year we’re partnering with Resident Advisor for a free discourse program of talks and workshops.

Enter a new dimension of MATTE Black.

MATTE Black has been uniting creative communities to experience music and art for 10 years strong. After two long years on hold, we’re happy to be back.

An orchestration of sound and form. A symphony of light and dark. A collision of sense and experience. A bridge to a new verse.

FRANK TURNER
50 in 50 Tour

G JONES at The Knockdown Center on April 9th for a special audiovisual “DJ Set” performance along with Mr. Carmack, Ivy Lab and so much more!

It’s crazy, really. Next month marks 20 years of DFA releasing records. We put out our first two singles—the Rapture’s “House of Jealous Lovers” and the Juan MacLean’s “By The Time I Get To Venus”—back in March of 2002.

Anniversaries, schmaniversaries, but given everything we’ve all collectively been through, this feels like a plausible excuse to throw a party. So that’s what we’re doing.

It’s kind of return to the bad-idea, over-ambitious DFA parties of yore, with 3 rooms full of DJs and bands, label family, friends old and new, fellow travelers, plus ones who wish they were at some other party, and all of you wonderful people who have supported us throughout the years. It’ll be a long-ish night – 8PM to 4AM – so plan accordingly. Pace yourselves. Bring a buddy. Don’t fight the current. Blow a whistle and signal to the lifeguard. Hold my hair.

“Bushwig Presents” brings us a concert with Fatboy Slim, Hercules & Love Affair (DJ Set), Brooklyn hero’s Carry Nation, and a Dollhouse Lounge with shows from local drag icons Charlene, Dev Does, Horrorchata, Inita D, La Zavaleta, Merrie Cherry, and Neon Calypso.

A “whenever we want to” affair that if judged by its inaugural edition, will continue Bushwig’s hallmark frenetic cross-disciplinary, multi-amazing attack on the usual dolldrums, but with a firmer footing in music. 

Kerri Chandler has been injecting soul into dance music since the early nineties, making him one of house music’s originators. He is a house legend, icon, inspiration, key figure, and a true house music purveyor.

Joaquin ‘Joe’ Claussell is one of New York’s highly respected dance figures for his work as a DJ, producer, remixer, and his record label “Spiritual Life Music”. Much of the global dance movement can be traced back to Claussell’s highly percussive style that incorporates Latin, African, Brazilian and other world rhythms with elements of jazz, rock, disco, and live instrumentation.