Brooklyn will become a veritable playground for nightlife enthusiasts when the borough’s infamous BEMF celebrates its 10th Anniversary later this week. Starting Thursday, a slew of local and international talent, industry panels, curated stages and a “record fair” will make Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick and Gowanus a whole lot groovier. As always, the lineup touts an impressive roster of both underground and top tier names, who will light up the neighborhood’s most popular nightclubs and alternative venues for three glorious, beat-fueled days.
If you didn’t have a chance to snag a festival pass before they sold out, don’t fret! We’re giving away a pair of All-Access Badges HERE. Individual tickets are still on sale, so we’re giving you the head ups on some artists you won’t want to miss as the dance-worthy weekend approaches.
1.) TOKiMONSTA @ House of Yes (Bushwick / Thursday, October 12th) – On first listen, TOKiMONSTA’s newest release Lune Rouge reveals a softer, sadder side of Jennifer Lee’s production. But when you realize that the album was composed entirely while Lee was recovering from back to back brain surgeries in early 2016, the tracks begin to take on new meanings of loss, transformation, rehabilitation and hope. “The part of my brain that knew how to put sounds together was just broken . . . I’m sitting there in front of my computer going, ‘I don’t understand if this is a good sound or a bad sound. I don’t know if I’m playing a melody.’ I didn’t want to pity myself, but it was a heart wrenching pain,” Lee told Pitchfork in September. Much like walking and speaking, TOKiMONSTA had to relearn the skills associated with producing music. Prepare to be inspired when she busts out the new digs at House of Yes this Thursday. Get tickets HERE.
2.) Pete Tong @ Analog BK (Gowanus / Friday, October 13th) – BBC Radio 1 Essential Host, Pete Tong will bring his unBEATable acid house stylings to Gowanus’s 5,000-square foot club this Friday. The prolific producer and renowned taste maker has solidified his position as an industry MVP, thanks to his countless contributions to the craft spanning more than two decades. In addition to working with just about everyone under the sun, he’s kickstarted the success of many scene fledglings thanks to his astounding international reach (we talked to Chris Malinchak about it at BEMF 2014). He’s taking a break from the studio, where he’s been collaborating with The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley on the newest Ibiza Classics 2 album, to delight BEMF audiences with a high energy party that only Pete Tong can throw. Get tickets HERE.
3.) Justin Martin @ Analog BK (Gowanus / Saturday, October 14th) – New York City has become a regular stop on the Dirtybird Records co-founder’s musical journey. We’ve been fans for a while, but since attending his Hello Clouds album release party off the Jefferson stop last June, we’ve been permanently hooked. Since then, we’ve caught the house innovator at local spots like the former Webster Hall, Governors Island Beach Club and BangOn!NYC’s Elements Festival. He just wrapped up performances at the second annual Dirtybird Campout in his home state of California, so expect Justin Martin to come out swinging when he slays Analog with new grooves and lots of label-powered pride. Get tickets HERE.
4.) JDH & Dave P. @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Williamsburg / Friday, October 13th) – You can’t have BEMF without JDH & Dave P. These festival veterans are best known for their FIXED parties, which have become synonymous with Brooklyn’s underground electronic scene. For the past 13 years, the duo has powered these alternative events with their remarkable dedication to growing loyal followers and producing unique house music. Don’t miss them this Saturday when they open for BICEP (live) at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Get tickets HERE.
5.) Riva Starr @ Secret Two-Room Warehouse (Bushwick / Saturday, October 14th) – Even in our tune saturated communities today, few producers have ever reached Riva Starr’s range of beats and melodies. He has run the gamut over two decades, and never pushed his name for notoriety over the quality of his music. Starr’s anonymous submissions have earned him a special level of respect among lauded label owners like Claude VonStroke and Fatboy Slim. All productions aside, Riva never fears to break outside the boundaries of house music always aiming to expose experienced ears to new grooves on the dance floor. Catch Starr when he provides support on Green Velvet‘s curated Relief stage at a secret warehouse venue this Saturday. Get tickets HERE.
6.) Gorgon City @ Secret Two-Room Warehouse (Bushwick / Saturday, October 14th) – Unless you’ve been living in a sound proof panic room, your ears have been graced by the enticing sounds of this North London electronic duo. Perhaps the most anticipated name on this year’s BEMF lineup, Gorgon City has become a driving force in popular dance music thanks to mega club hits like Real, Ready for Your Love, Imagination and Go All Night (featuring Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson). We were first introduced to Gorgon City when they brought their jaw-dropping live show to Governors Ball in 2015. Since then, the UK-garage/House duo has wowed audiences the world over with their sensational festival sets and seemingly endless onslaught of chart topping releases. They’ll be headlining their very own curated Kingdom stage at an undisclosed Brooklyn warehouse this Saturday. Get tickets HERE.