I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, because Elements Music & Arts Festival is back this Saturday, August 11th, and I KNOW I’ll like it. The Brooklyn-based party squad known as BangOn!NYC will bring their incredibly innovative and entertaining music festival back to its new home in Hunts Point, BX (1108 Oak Point Ave.) this weekend. It might be blasphemous to say, but the new venue is so dope that we hardly even miss the old grain silo in Red Hook. The industrial waterfront location surrounding the NY Expo Center is massive, making it the perfect location for the multi-stage, interactive event. So climb some art cars, drop-in for a yoga session or take a stroll through the infinity cube before drowning in beats at the Water, Fire, Air and Earth stages. Time to get wavy.
As you can probably tell from my enthusiasm, Elements is more than just a celebration of music. It’s also a tribute to artistic spirits, wellness and the power of community. It’s the ultimate friend hang, and it’s also the event where you’ll discover your new favorite DJ. Now the lineup is amazing this year, and I could praise the headliners like Bassnectar, Snakehips and SNBRN until the word count makes your head explode. However, one of the things I love best about BangOn!NYC is their ability to scout and feature fresh talent before they blow up. Honestly, there’s not a bad act on this roster, but there are a few that you should keep an eye on (you’ll be able to say you saw them back when!) Here’s five acts you won’t want to miss this weekend, and a taste of their tunes to boot.
1.) J. Worra – Fairly new to the Dirtybird camp, this Chicago-born/LA-based lady is making her mark on house music. Drawing from a variety of genres, J. Worra’s infectious beats are downright refreshing, and we can’t stop listening to her single Hourglass, on which she collaborated with Brooklyn bass producer, Mark the Beast. She pins Green Velvet, Billy Kenny and Chris Lake as some of her biggest influences, which might be why every track is a well-orchestrated symphony of unexpected sounds. She also designs her own merch line. It’s weird, and I’m into it.
2.) NÄM – Sure, short entry lines are one reason to get to the venue early, but so is NÄM. The wildly talented vocalist Nora Luders joins bandmate Sam Simmons (Keys/Guitars/Electronica) in one of the day’s earliest live sets. The indie electronic duo from Austin, TX garnered attention following the release of their bouncy hit Face, which has more than 30 thousand listens on SoundCloud. Give em a whirl, and you’ll find yourself bouncin’ to the rhythm.
3.) Goldfish – So I wouldn’t put Goldfish in the up and comer category, but these guys are still very much gaining steam stateside. Originally hailing from South Africa, the multi-instrumentalists/deep house producers have a knack for keeping their performances fresh. Expect to her some sax and stand-up bass solos, plus a whole lot of dancefloor bangers that will have you drowning in delight. Better start swimming!
4.) Desert Dwellers – Hardcore psy bass fans have been following this intriguing duo for some time, but seeing them usually requires a trip to the playa or an alternative music festival (enter Elements!). Amani Friend and Trevor Moontribe (so dope, right) are currently on tour in support of their 2018 album, Breathe. Known for their trippy, atmospheric productions, Desert Dwellers will be the perfect addition to your personal yoga playlist, and a great reason to get introspective this Saturday.
5.) Subtronics – The Philly-based dubstep artist is taking a break from his tour with Black Tiger Sex Machine, to make a solo stop appearance at the Earth Stage this Saturday. His ground shaking productions (drawing influence from artists like Downlink and Requake) will be a welcome appetizer as we warm up for the headlining performance from Bassnectar.
And of course, don’t forget to catch BangOn!NYC’s trusty residents, The Golden Pony and Dirty Looks. They deliver straight fire every time! You can check out all the set times below. Tickets are still on sale, so grab one here. We’ll see you at the fest!
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