Knockdown Center

The first Unsound New York edition in three years brings together artists from nine different countries, moving from ambient to noise and club music.

The first half of the main room’s lineup starts out with experimental sounds, including Portland’s Liz Harris (a.k.a. Grouper) presenting Nivhek, a minimalist project that is harsh and dreamlike, resulting partially from an Unsound residency in Murmansk in the Russian arctic. Italian modular synth musician Caterina Barbieri will take listeners on a mind-altering journey, while Canadian Tim Hecker will blur his trademark sound with traditional Japanese musicians performing gagaku, the country’s oldest classical music.

The second part of the night veers into live club music, including The Bug with his first stateside appearance in four years, joined by Miss Red, an MC whose fiery delivery and charisma always make an impression. Indiana artist Jlin will present a live show combining classics with new work, demonstrating why her forward-thinking polyrhythmic sound is at the forefront of electronic music. Sophie blurs and collides the experimental, pop and club music worlds, in her work as a producer, as well as in her own music. She will perform a special two-hour live set.

A second room at Knockdown is presented with longtime Unsound New York partner The Bunker as well as Quo Vadis. The lineup includes a series of special live collaborations from local artists, moving throughout the evening from noise to techno experiments: Further Reductions (Rose E. Kross & Shawn O’Sullivan), Abby Echiverri & Leisure Muffin, rrao & Clay Wilson, January Hunt & Octonomy, Via App & Bookworms Presents: Asthyna and Shredded Nerve & Jackson-Pratt. Live visuals in this room will be created by New York collective Funnelled Smoke.