New York, NY (Top40 Charts) WIRE FESTIVAL returns to Knockdown Center for its second edition, May 19-20, 2023. 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. This year's edition invites some of the most respected names in techno from across the globe, including pioneering DJ and producer Jeff Mills, who returns to the city for his first club set in almost a decade. He's joined by some of his esteemed peers as well as exemplary members of the younger generations. UK veteran Luke Slater, US stalwart DVS1 (who was unable to perform last year due to a flight cancellation) and Berlin's Marcel Dettmann all represent the highest echelons of techno, while European acts 999999999, CEM, MCMLXXXV,
Salome and BASEMENT resident Newa are renowned for their bold approaches to the genre, bringing a fresh and fiery vision. New York is also heavily represented: Akua, WTCHCRFT, KYRUH, Matas, Jek, Rose Kourtsand BASEMENT resident Lydo are definitive voices in the city's recent electronic revitalization. Finally, the more brazen D.Dan, DJ Saliva, SPFDJ, Schacke and Sugarcomplete the lineup. These DJs have all found an international following as wildcards, each of them ruthlessly upending expectations as they continue WIRE FESTIVAL's goal to connect and uplift the international underground, forging new bonds and providing the opportunity for mutual education alongside world-class raving.
Stage 1 will be in Knockdown Center's atrium, a sprawling and magnificent hall. Offering a massive sense of scale, it's here that the core of WIRE FESTIVAL's programming takes place, while Stage 2 offers greater intimacy and incredible energy. 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. In the hours before the party, WIRE FESTIVAL will host a series of panel discussions focusing on the craft of electronic music as well as pressing issues facing artists and organizers today.
After welcoming legends and trailblazers like Richie Hawtin and DJ Stingray in 2022, as well as FJAAK, Héctor Oaks, Juliana Huxtable, NDRX, Daria Kolosova, LSDXOXO and other vibrant voices defining the genre's modern sound, WIRE FESTIVAL is further expanding the curatorial vision of Téa Abashidze, GeGa Japaridze and Tyler Myers in 2023. Together they are the forces behind BASEMENT - the city's premier, cutting-edge techno club housed below Knockdown Center - and as with all their endeavors, WIRE FESTIVAL stands for integrity above all else. Bringing together a vital cross-section of electronic music's most revered leaders and essential, emergent young talent, it is more than a festival; it is a statement.
WIRE FESTIVAL - 2023 Lineup:
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Akua
CEM
D.Dan
DJ Saliva
DVS1
Jeff Mills
Jek
KYRUH
Luke Slater
Lydo
Marcel Dettmann
Matas
MCMLXXXV
Newa
Rose Kourts
Salome
Schacke
SPFDJ
Sugar
WTCHCRFT
Featuring programming of diverse formats and media, Knockdown Center aims to create a radically cross-disciplinary environment. The particularity of our architectural environment and history leads us to gravitate toward projects that demonstrate a sensitive reactivity to site and environment. This 50,000 square-foot building has seen continuous use for more than 100 years: first as the Gleason-Tiebout glass factory, then as Manhattan Door factory. It is named for the Knock-Down door frame that was invented here in 1956 by Samuel Sklar and remains an industry standard to this day. The frame could be shipped in pieces — or "knocked down" — and installed into existing walls, revolutionizing the speed and efficiency of building construction. The factory has since remained in the Sklar family and is again a site for innovation. Having undergone a renovation that is equal parts preservationist and state of the art, Knockdown Center now produces and hosts cultural events and exhibitions that respond to its unique architecture and dimensions.
