Last May, Red Bull Music Academy took over New York City with a month of innovative
workshops, live performances, and lectures that showcased both established and
emerging artists. Almost a year later, RBMA is back with the inaugural Red Bull Music
Academy Festival, another month-long series of 15 events featuring artists like D'Angelo,
Panda Bear, Hudson Mohawke, and David Byrne that will kick off May 1.Set to become
an annual event, the Festival will examine the contemporary sonic landscape while
paying homage to New York City's rich musical heritage. Events include Atomic Bomb!
The Music of William Onyeabor, a two-night series of events celebrating the elusive
Nigerian musician with performances from Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip and Kele Okereke
of Bloc Party, among others; the Brooklyn Flea Record Fair; and the first U.S. performance
of dark, elusive U.K. musician the Haxan Cloak, who will perform backed by a laser light show.
This is the first time that RBMA has curated an events series in New York City for two years
in a row. In the fall, the Academy will take place in Tokyo.
Red Bull Music Academy Festival Schedule
May 1 - Bounce Ballroom @ Brooklyn Bazaar featuring Voguing with MikeQ, Housing
with Todd Terry, Jersey Club with DJ Sliink and Mike Gip, and Bruk Up with Bobby Konders
May 2 & 3 - Atomic Bomb! The Music Of William Onyeabor @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera
House featuring the musical direction of Ahmed Gallab (Sinkane) and Money Mark and artists
David Byrne, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), Luke Jenner (formerly of The
Rapture), Pat Mahoney (ex-LCD Soundsystem), Joshua Redman and the Lijadu Sisters
May 9 - The Four Corners of the Clash @ Baby's All Right featuring Trouble & Bass, Que
Bajo, Max Glazer and Kenny Meez from Federation Sound.
May 10 - Brooklyn Flea Record Fair @ Smorgasburg featuring DJ sets by Autre Ne Veut,
Sandra Electronics (Regis and Silent Servant), Optimo, Jesse Cohen from Tanlines, and more.
May 10 - Robert Henke’s Lumière and the Haxan Cloak @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
May 11 - Larry Levan Street Party @ King Street (between Varick and Hudson) featuring sets
from David Depino, Francois Kevorkian, Joey Llanos and several special guests.
May 14 - A Night Of Improvised Round Robin Duets @ Town Hall
May 16 - Hardcore Activity In Progress @ the Knockdown Center featuring performances by
Tim Hecker, Napalm Death, Gunplay, The Thing, Wolf Eyes, Regis, Bastard Noise, Lubomyr
Melnyk, Skullflower, Joe McPhee/Chris Corsano, Okkyung Lee, Clipping, Yoshiko Ohara,
Reg Bloor and Gnaw.
May 17 - Running Back: Gerd Janson All Night Long @ TBA Brooklyn
May 18 - Panda Bear @ Warsaw
May 21 - A Conversation With D'Angelo @ Brooklyn Museum Cantor Auditorium
May 24 - Mister Saturday Night House Party @ TBD
May 28 - Hudson Mohawke & Friends Live @ Webster Hall
May 30 - Lit City Trax @ The Westway.
May 31 - A Class of Its Own: RBMA Closing Night @ Abrons Arts Center featuring
Nightwave, Anenon, Robot Koch, Yosi Horikawa, DJ NiRE, and 10 more TBD.
Source: RBMA