The Great Recession, and then the pandemic, did in some of the last holdouts. But not Berkeley's Back Room, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month. The Back Room's survival is due to the passion of its founder, Sam Rudin, the musicians who love it and come back time after time to play there, and the commitment of audience members who know the experiences they have there are truly memorable.
In 2019, the Original Cannabis Cafe, formerly Lowell Cafe, burst onto the scene. It was the nation's first legally permitted cannabis restaurant, with long lines snaking out of the venue and down La Brea Avenue.
Odeal's music sits loosely within R&B, also drawing on Afrobeats, neo-soul and contemporary pop. Across his catalogue, love is rarely conclusive. Instead, songs live in emotional grey areas.
19:26 is an Italian electronic music project blending cinematic emotion, neoclassical undertones, and forward-thinking electronic sound design, recognized as one of the most forward-thinking artists of his generation.
The collaboration marries Yener's distinctive vocals with the punchy sound of Madrigal, resulting in a contemporary track that resonates with emotional complexity.
Temple Bar is going full throwback this April with a two-night '90s takeover that leans all the way into downtown nostalgia, transforming into a 'living time capsule' with low lighting and oversized martini glasses.
At its peak, XOYO in Shoreditch was one of the best nightclubs in London, playing host to residencies from the likes of Benji B, Andy C, Artwork, Bradley Zero, Skream, Bicep and The Blessed Madonna. However the club struggled to maintain that level of cultural relevance post-pandemic and declined in popularity as it became a more commercial venue. At the end of last year, XOYO (along with other London venue The Camden Assembly) was acquired by the newly formed Propaganda Independent Venues group,
Set inside a standalone 19th-century industrial complex between East Williamsburg and Bushwick, the 3,200 square-foot, 500-capacity club is built around a meticulously crafted high-definition soundsystem that serves as Refuge's literal and figurative beating heart. The system was designed by Bernabeu, who's been building such soundsystems for more than 20 years, most notably at New York clubs including Nowadays and Analog BKNY and the legendary Stereo Montreal. Dimatteo, meanwhile, is a longtime New York promoter and event producer.
At the end of last year, XOYO (along with other London venue The Camden Assembly) was acquired by the newly formed Propaganda Independent Venues group, run by Propaganda founder Dan Ickowitz-Seidler and TEG founder Richard Buck. By acquiring the Shoreditch club, the group wanted to help it "thrive under independent ownership and become a cultural hub for the area, offering opportunities and support to local artists and businesses".