’99 TO IBIZA: LATE ’90s / EARLY ’00s HOUSE & TECHNO w/ DJs Carissa Illy, B. Blahnik, The Perfect Cyn, Jon Lewis DeMarquez – 21+
Spend Memorial Day weekend Sunday night on the dancefloor, with late ’90s and early ’00s House sounds curated by:Carissa IllyB. Blahnik The Perfect CynJon Lewis DeMarquezTHE ONE AND ONLY BALEARIC BOOGIE!PRESENTED BY IBIZA BOYS
CANCELLED: Chromonicci – w/ Julia Logue – 21+
This event has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. All ticket buyers will be refunded automatically.Christian Crenshaw aka chromonicci is a producer, vocalist, visual artist and DJ whose versatility as a creator and performer has propelled him to over 200K+ monthly listeners on Spotify and a global fanbase. Curating a transformative and fluid sound, chromonicci has collaborations & credits with both rising stars and legends alike; Masego, Alex Isley, Montell Fish and Cloudchord to name a few. His flair for performance and signature “Nicci bounce” have landed him on tours with icons like UZ & Mr Carmack. 2023 marks a pivotal moment in chromonicci’s career where he reveals ERA III., a major stepping stone that pushes him further into an authentic sound as a multi-hypenate artist. The EP takes cues from its predecessor, the Abstract Soul EP and continues to build the sonic world that is anchored by his distinctive vocals and synesthetic soundscapes. New listeners and long-time fans will be transported into his creative mind when listening through the 5-trsack masterpiece, and it will come to life through a vibrant and city-specific live experience coming to a number of venues around the US this summer. “I think I’ve been battling this thing where even when yelling at full volume, I’ve questioned if I’m using my voice. With this project, I wanted to spend some time wrestling with the different perspectives that often come with exploring expression and self love, and the harsh and beautiful realities that those things entail. From friendship, romantic love, to self compassion I am excited to power into a time where I hear my voice, and even better…I actually love it.” – chromonicciwith local support from Julia Logue!
Holocene’s 20 Year Anniversary!; KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH, ANCIENT HEAT (REUNION SHOW), SHY GIRLS (DJ SET), GENEVIEVE D – 21+
To celebrate 20 years (and counting) of Holocene, we’ve crafted a series of events to showcase some of our favorite artists from near and far – those visionaries who inspire us, and those local loves who warm our hearts and make us proud. Tonight we present a performance from visionary LA based composer Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, a reunion performance from Ancient Heat (9 piece live disco band!), and DJ sets from dear friends Shy Girls and Genevieve D (of Nightclubbing).Kaitlyn Aurelia SmithKaitlyn Aurelia Smith is a classically-trained American composer, performer, and producer from the Pacific Northwest. Her music is a form of auditory interpretation, powered by curiosity and her toolkit of modular, analogue, and rare synthesizers (including her signature Buchla), orchestral textures, and voice. Since her first self-releases in 2012, she has explored the endless possibilities of electronic instruments and the relationship between sound, shape, color, body movement, and expression. Spanning releases on Western Vinyl, RVNG Intl., Ghostly International, and her own multidisciplinary project, Touchtheplants, her work has drawn acclaim from all reaches of the experimental music world, including NPR, The New York Times, The Wire, and Rolling Stone. The latter named Smith’s 2017 LP The Kid their avant-garde album of the year. Her collaborations include projects with Danny Elfman, Patti Smith, Emile Mosseri, King Gizzard , Suzanne Ciani, Anoushka Shankar and commissions for Apple, BBC Orchestra, Epcot Center, Google, and others. With Let’s Turn It Into Sound, her latest album on Ghostly, Smith moves through vibrant avant-pop and neoclassical songcraft, expressing a feeling that words alone cannot.Ancient HeatAncient Heat is a large ensemble dance band, formed in 2010 by composer and producer Brendan Grubb. The 8-piece powerhouse revels in an exhilarating mixture of west coast funk, disco and R&B, merged with infectious polyrhythms and a healthy dose of psychedelia. While they confess major affection for more mainstream disco divas, Ancient Heat’s orchestration is decidedly experimental and daring. In the world of Ancient Heat, disco is not a genre but a force of nature. As their name suggests, the band seems to have tapped into a secret primordial well of funky sensualism, working their alchemical magic for the dancefloor and making all that glitters into gold. In both their exuberant re-contextualization of classic works and their own inventive compositions, they convey an unpretentious style and a deep sincerity. This is a group with their feet on the ground, ditching the irony, egos, and iciness of more slick dance acts. Instead, they bring us a west coast approach, with an earthy harmony about them that recalls the deep awe of the forest more so than the glitz of the club. The group dresses in all white for their compelling live performances, leading the local press to label these magic-makers: “a cross between Abba and The Children of God.” It’s a spectacle of skilled musicianship and ecstatic theatrics that you’ll need to see to believe….”
Holocene’s 20 Year Anniversary!: INNER CITY (DJ SET), KIM ANN FOXMAN, BEN TACTIC & LEEONN – 21+
To celebrate 20 years (and counting) of Holocene, we’ve crafted a series of events to showcase some of our favorite artists from near and far – For this final evening, we end the festivities on the dance floor over our new Danley sound system with: Inner City DJ set, Kim Ann Foxman, plus local support from our friends and frequent collaborators at Spend the Night, Ben Tactic and Leeonn. The story of Inner City is intractably linked with its founder Kevin Saunderson, widely credited as one of the progenitors of techno and a landmark figure in dance music. The beginning of Inner City as a project came in 1987. The music Saunderson was playing and producing in Detroit at the time, alongside fellow The Belleville Three members Juan Atkins and Derrick May, laid the path for what came to be known as Techno, and birthed an entire global culture to follow. Inspired by marathon sets by pioneering DJs Ron Hardy and Larry Levan, Saunderson set out to break from the strictures of Detroit techno’s tracky, dark machine funk by adding vocals to his productions. Work with contemporaries at the time had led to a unique sound based on colourful keyboard chords and snappy drums. What followed was a whirlwind: “Big Fun” and “Good Life” dominated not only clubs but the charts, sweeping top 10s all across Europe, and starting a run of four consecutive No1s on the US Billboard Dance Chart. Their enduring popularity in club and radio rotation continues to this day, standing out as top-tier classics in the pantheon of modern music. Paradise, their debut album, went Platinum in the UK, setting in motion years of high demand on the live touring circuit, and spawning further hit singles such as “Ain’t Nobody Better,” “Do You Love What You Feel”, and 1992’s “Pennies From Heaven”. To the delight of fans, Inner City was revived in the early 2010s. New material was forthcoming, too: 2011’s “Fantasy”, 2014’s “Bad Girl” – featuring remixes from a then 21-year-old and fast rising Dantiez Saunderson, Kevin’s son and musical protege – and, most recently, “Good Luck” in 2017, with Danitez integrated as a full member of the group.Kim Ann Foxman, is a New York based artist, DJ and producer that continues to flourish by staying true to what she believes in. Between her dynamic DJ sets, productions and her latest band project, Pleasure Planet, ‘KAF’ has become a prominent and influential perspective in dance music. Moving to New York in the early 2000s, she became a staple DJ during a halcyon time in the city’s club scene, before teaming up with Hercules & Love Affair as vocalist for their first two highly acclaimed albums, that saw them become beacons and stars for the club world’s ever-shifting identity, going on to undertake multiple world tours, before eventually breaking away to follow her own adventures once more. Returning to her clubbing roots, KAF stepped from band to international touring DJ with aplomb. Utilizing all her music experience she is known for creating long dance floor journeys with a special psychedelic twist, playing to clubs and festivals around the globe, from her hometown residency at Brooklyn’s Good Room to her regular appearances at Berlin’s Panorama Bar, she’s become an icon to many, encompassing art, music and fashion.
Holocene’s 20 Year Anniversary: MORITZ VON OSWALD (DJ SET), LAUREL HALO (DJ SET), DJ E3 – 21+
To celebrate 20 years (and counting) of Holocene, we’ve crafted a series of events to showcase some of our favorite artists from near and far – those visionaries who inspire us, and those local loves who warm our hearts and make us proud. Most of these will happen as an Anniversary Week bonanza on June 7th, 8th, and 9th, but we’ll also have a very special satellite event on May 30th to kick things off.MORITZ VON OSWALD (Germany/Berlin – Tresor/Basic Channel/3MB) A central figure in the Berlin electronic music scene which coalesced around the Tresor club and label, von Oswald helped initiate and develop the famous Berlin-Detroit-Chicago axis, collaborating with path-breaking artists across the Atlantic such as Juan Atkins, Eddie“Flashin”Fowlkes, Jeff Mills and many others.As half of both Maurizio, and Basic Channel/Rhythm & Sound, he transformed this new sound in respectively minimal, and dub-inflected directions, originating traditions in electronic music that continue to this day.Over the last decade, von Oswald has branched out into more experimental and improvisational contexts: a landmark release for Deutsche Grammophon in which he was commissioned alongside Carl Craig to recompose music from Ravel, and Mussorgsky; a critically acclaimed collaboration with Norwegian jazz trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer; and continued recorded and live work as The Moritz von Oswald Trio with Laurel Halo and Heinrich KoĢberling; previous iterations included collaboration with Max Loderbauer, Vladislav Delay, and legendary Afro-beeat pioneer, Tony Allen.LAUREL HALOLaurel Halo is an American composer, producer, live artist and DJ, born in Detroit and currently based in LA. Drawing from a range of stylistic influence, including Detroit techno, musique concrète, film score and jazz, her music employs a careful blend of pressure, decay and nuanced emotion to explore notions of transmission and impermanence. Since 2012 she has released a number of albums ranging in genre-fluidity, complexity and scope, including Quarantine (2012, Hyperdub), In Situ (2015, Honest Jon’s), Dust (Hyperdub, 2017), Raw Silk Uncut Wood (2018, Latency). She has performed in venues, festivals, clubs and institutions across the world, including the Southbank Centre, Sydney Opera House, The Kitchen, CTM/Transmediale, Sónar, and Montreux Jazz Festival, among others. She has collaborated with artists and designers including Moritz von Oswald, Metahaven, Kevin Beasley, Julia Holter, Hanne Lippard, John Cale, and the London Contemporary Orchestra.E3E3 (Ezra E. Ereckson) is a producer, DJ, and co-boss of Portland-based dub label ZamZam Sounds (alongside Tracy/Polygon Press). Founded in 2012, the couple celebrated 10 years of vinyl-only releases last summer with a curated stage at the Outlook UK festival. A founding member of the pioneering agit-dub band Systemwide and the president of now-retired seminal US dub label BSI Records, E3 has been collecting records since the age of 13 and holding down DJ residencies since 2000- including Bassism, Signal, and a nearly-10 year run at Holocene’s legendary Atlas party alongside Anjali & The Incredible Kid. E3 has performed worldwide, including slots at Outlook Croatia, Telerama Dub Festival, New Forms Festival, and several times at Leeds UK institution SubDub. Alongside production partner Alter Echo, E3’s releases appear on dubwise labels including Scrub A Dub, Moonshine, Lion Charge, LavaLava, and Khaliphonic. Solo, E3 has tracks and releases on Hotline, Bella Union, Boomarm Nation, 45Seven, and Gourmet Beats.
Holocene 20 Year Anniversary! Piano sets by: ALELA DIANE, ANN ANNIE (chamber orchestra), John Niekrasz, Visible Cloaks (DJ) 21+
To celebrate 20 years (and counting) of Holocene, we’ve crafted a series of events to showcase some of our favorite artists from near and far – those visionaries who inspire us, and those local loves who warm our hearts and make us proud.For tonight, we invite you to join three talented local artists in the Holocene family, who will dazzle us with performances on baby grand piano in our front lounge room, for an intimate seated show. (This event is general admission seated, and seating is first come, first served)PLEASE NOTE: We are sad to inform you that Luke Wyland has had to cancel due to illness. In his stead, we will be featuring the John Niekrasz Trio, featuring Niekrasz on drums, Allie Hankins on tapes and Shao Way Wu on upright bass. They will perform first, followed by Alela Diane, and then Ann Annie closing the night.+ a special DJ set of reflective selections from Spencer of Visible Cloaks before and between the live performances! Piano sets from: Alela Diane Known for her “immaculately beautiful indie-folk songs” (Paste Magazine), Portland singer-songwriter Alela Diane has recently released her cathartic and ethereal sixth studio album, Looking Glass. Diane has been a full-time musician for fifteen years and has toured extensively in Europe and North America. The album represents a new artistic achievement for Diane. Looking Glass is the first of her records to be produced by the celebrated Tucker Martine (Neko Case, My Morning Jacket, The Decembrists). The album was arranged by her longtime friend and fellow musician Heather Woods Broderick. Notable guest musicians include Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers), Eli Moore (Lake), Mikaela Davis, Luke Ydsitie (Blind Pilot), and Ryan Fracesconi (Joanna Newsom). Ann Annie Ann Annie is the stage name for Portland based composer Eli Goldberg. In his early years as a musician, Goldberg learned various scores and soundtracks, eventually turning this into his own ambient inspired original music. Ann Annie’s live performances have slowly grown to include musicians of differing genres and styles. Most recently, Eli will be performing with a small “Chamber Orchestra”, a String & Wind section accompanied by Piano, heard through a Quadrophonic sound system.
The Mary Wallopers – w/ Sam Shackleton – 21+
Seven-piece band, The Mary Wallopers were formed by brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna traveling the length and breadth of Ireland singing and collecting songs. Their early live performances exuded a raw energy and their self-titled first album perfectly captured their sound and ethos, one filled with warmth, intimacy, chaos and enough sparks ready to light any fire. They are working on a new album which will be released later this year.
John Carroll Kirby & Eddie Chacon – Presented by Holocene and Soul’d Out Productions -21+
Holocene is proud to partner with Soul’d Out Productions to bring you: John Carroll Kirby & Eddie Chacon John Carroll Kirby is a producer, composer and keyboardist from Los Angeles. Though Kirby’s background is steeped in jazz, his signature sound blends genres and styles. An in-demand collaborator for artists ranging from superstars Solange, Frank Ocean and Harry Styles to beloved indie musicians Connan Mockasin and Liv.e, and many more, Kirby has lately focused on his own prolific solo output, releasing five LPs on Stones Throw Records in a little over two years. My Garden (2020), a blend of jazz and exotica, was praised by Pitchfork, The Fader, LA Times, Q, and Mojo. The same year, Kirby released Conflict, a calming piano album in response to the year’s chaos. Following his first film score for the animated feature Cryptozoo, Kirby’s 2021 jazz-fusion release Septet marked a return to ensemble playing, while Dance Ancestral (2022) with additional production from Canadian artist YuSu, saw him take a more electronic-forward approach. Alongside these albums, Kirby has released episodes of Kirby’s Gold, a web series inspired by Huell Howser’s California Gold. In the series, Kirby chats and improvises with artists ranging from a painter to an Eastern European choir and Costa Rican calypso band. Most recently, Kirby received a Grammy nod for his work on Steve Lacy’s smash hit “Bad Habit”. Coming later in 2023 are Sundown, Kirby’s album-length collaboration with R&B singer Eddie Chacon, and a new solo album.Low-key R&B legend Eddie Chacon made an indelible mark in popular music as half of the duo Charles & Eddie, whose 1992 single “Would I Lie to You” was a number one hit heard around the world. The group’s 4-million-records-sold rocket to the stars lasted a few years, and Eddie spent the next couple of decades away from the music industry. He returned to music in 2020 with the release of “Pleasure, Joy and Happiness,” produced by John Carroll Kirby. In 2022 Eddie signed to Stones Throw Records and has since released two new singles “Holy Hell” and “Comes and Goes.
GOTH PROM! ft. Bad Juju (as Siouxsie & the Banshees), Lesser Demons (live goth cover songs set) + DJ Colin Jones- 21+
Holocene presents the 2nd annual: Goth Prom, an immersive tribute event featuring: Bad Juju (as Siouxsie & the Banshees)Lesser Demons (performing a killer set of goth cover songs)Plus goth bangers all night from DJ Colin JonesCostumes encouraged for the crowning of the Goth prom King and Queen!
Suzanne Kraft & Jack J (of Pender Street Steppers) – w/ DJs Jason Urick & Austin Tretwold – 21+
Jack J (Jack Jutson) of Mood Hut and Pender Street Steppers fame and Suzanne Kraft (real name Diego Herrera) will tour the west coast of North America in late June and early July. Last year, Jack J expanded the scope of his artistry with Opening The Door, an album encompassing bittersweet and chilled pop rock, dub, ambient recalling ’80s John Martyn, Arthur Russell, all the good stuff. A unique record in Jack’s catalogue, Opening The Door represented new terrain for a beloved artist, known for underground hits like “Thirstin'” as well as DJ and studio exploits as one-half of Pender Street Steppers and a core member of the Mood Hut collective. Now, he’ll perform the new songs live with a three-piece band for the first time. Suzanne Kraft has been on a parallel path over the past few years, following the release of his 2021 full-length About You, a record of exquisite shoegaze/dream pop songs adding to a nuanced discography spanning from avant garde minimalism to club bangers. This new, guitar-driven direction flourished on a 2022 nationwide tour with Cut Copy, as well as a live appearance at Dekmantel in Amsterdam. Now a seasoned live unit including guitarist John Jones (AV Moves, Geo Rip), bassist Scott Gilmore (a solo artist in his own right with released on International Feel and Crammed Discs) and drummer Colin Blanton (Brin, George Clanton), the band is out on the road again in support of a new 7-inch, Sometimes, with more recordings on the way. Jack J and Suzanne Kraft are old friends, with a shared background in west coast experimental dance music, DJing and, now, song-based forms. The tour will start in the Pacific Northwest, bookended by live shows and DJ sets in Jack’s hometown Vancouver as well as Herrera’s hometown in LA. Herrera and Jutson have shared similar music philosophies over the years, a live tour being a natural step for two vital, like minded artists.with local support from DJs Jason Urick & Austin Tretwold (Incidental Music / Galaxy My Dear)!