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Dada Strain · Jul 9, 2026

Bklyn Sounds 7/9/2026—7/14/2026

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Piotr Orlov · Dada Strain

Clockwise from upper left: Carlos Giffoni, Play Time, Melissa Almaguer, Liv.e + Karriem Riggins

Lots of stuff this week. Thursday the 9th and Tuesday the 14th are absolutely overstocked with great local shows.

Thank you for reading, listening, following, and supporting the work; and thank you for living through this with me, and with each other.

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Play Time is a relatively new project from three Upstate-based musicians with longtime bonafides in a variety of electronic, improvised, post-jazz spaces. Drummer Booker Stardrum may be speaking via his current involvement with SML, but he’s been collaborating with the likes of Adam Schatz, jaimie branch, Kid Millions and Wendy Eisenberg, among many others, for over a decade. I first heard saxophonist Will Epstein in Nicolas Jaar’s band during the first Obama administration, and as he’s continued playing with folks like Dave Harrington and Photay, he’s also been releasing intricate singer-songwriter records under his own name. Multi-instrumentalist Ben Vida’s post-rock-channeling goes back to ‘90s Chicago, where he made music with Joshua Abrams in Town & Country, and his own fourth world experiments as Bird Show, before more recently settling into an art-minded creative-music practice alongside Lea Bertucci, Yarn/Wire and too many others to mention. Play TIme’s group debut, Magic Object, applies all the members’ experiences intently, embracing Kraut-groove and ambient abstraction, splitting the difference between soft radicalism and spiky jazz-dance. It’s among my favorite albums of 2026, and I can’t wait to hear them version it live. Opening is guitarist/psychoanalyst Ezra Feinberg. (Thurs 7/9, 7p @ Public Records, Gowanus - $25)

From 2004 through 2009, the annual No Fun Fest, founded by Venezuelan-in-NYC electronic improviser Carlos Giffoni, channeled waves of Bklyn’s noise-experimental-free-DIY (puddles of which can be found in the cracks of Cisco Bradley’s The Williamsburg Avant-Garde, and Ronen Givony’s Us V. Them), presenting the indie- and jazz-adjacent cacophony of the era. Often in three-night installments that featured unlikely collaborations. Somewhat inexplicably, No Fun Fest returns with the same set-up and a subtitle: New Perspectives. The line-ups for these three nights at Roulette are a veritable who’s who, mixing legends of then, former outsiders who’ve endured the battles of sonic extremes, as well as a new generation of button- and envelope-pushers. Not for the faint of heart, or the earplug-addicted; but if you dug the Branca thing a few weeks back and needed more of the same, this is most definitely for you. (Thurs 7/9 - Sat 7/11, 8p @ Roulette, Downtown Bklyn - $25adv/$30)

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Tap-dancer/percussionist Melissa Almaguer continues to evolve her unique creative-music practice with a new multimedia program, ¡alebrijes!. “Inspired by the Mexican folk art sculptures depicting fantastical, often hybrid creatures first imagined in the 1930s by artist Pedro Linares,” Almaguer’s performances will include live animations (by Jan Suphitcha), and an all-star band (DoYeon Kim on gayageum, Samantha Kochis on flute, David Virelles on piano, and Henry Fraser on bass). Melissa’s expansive genius lies not only in how she brings tap-dancing into the space of original music making and improvising, but how she increasingly creates new narratives from old tales. (Fri 7/10, 7p & 9p @ Jazz Gallery, Manhattan - $27.50-$38.50)

This weekend, Boiler Room arrives for its now-annual summer visit to NYC, throwing a big multi-day electronic-dance-music spectacle at Under the K. Long before BR’s Winter 2025 purchase by Superstruct Entertainment, a big festival multi-national, my opinion of the videotape-the-DJ brand was already low: whatever positives they’d once brought to “the scene” by producing events around the world and giving platforms to out-of-the-way talent, was undercut by not paying that talent, while developing its brand by amplifying noxious elements in the social dancing world—the camera, the celebrity, the bonus DJ worship, the self-consciousness and disconnect from the group-mind. But Superstruct, which also owns Barcelona’s Sonar and London’s Field Day among other fest properties, added something even more immediately horrid: its connection to the private equity firm KKR, whose holdings and investments include companies developing technology for the Israeli military and West Bank settler real estate properties. All of which directly opposes trying to do our part against the genocide in Palestine by saying no to its funders, but also the shared humanist, anti-extractive aspects of of social-dance ceremonies. Which is why I deeply support the actions and events of the “Boycott Room Rave” group. On Boiler Room’s opening night, there will be a protest at Under the K. And then, on Saturday, there will be a two-room counter-programming extravaganza in Ridgewood, starring, among others, Archangel, DJ Haram, Beewack, Sister Zo, Ella Hussle, Yaz Lancaster, and numerous others. This is a Mutual Aid rave. Support your peoples. (Sat 7/11, 7p @ Trans-Pecos, Ridgewood - $20-$$$)

For the last couple of years, Brothers Wash N Dry has been an intimate DIY performance and community space masquerading as a neighborhood corner-business, a few blocks away from Knockdown Center. On Saturday, it’s getting a visit from some folks long in the practice of supporting the city’s creative-music DIY spaces: the mighty bassist and bandleader William Parker brings his Intergenerational Ensemble (a couple of whose members are, I believe, involved in running Brothers), and the vocalist/electronicist Shara Lunon and percussionist Trae Crudup reaffirm their partnership in the space. Great set and setting! (Sat 7/11, 7p @ Brothers Wash N Dry, Maspeth - $15-$20suggested)

Holy crap does this month’s Paragon Paradiso party feature an outrageous wall-to-wall, two-room DJ bill. Chicago legend Marshall Jefferson joins a super-crew of amazing locals: vocalist/producer Galcher Lustwerk, the mighty archivist Cosmo, the Florida-to-Bklyn transplant DAY/DEM, and the Signal-Route jackmaster Sweater On Polo all bring their distinct techno-hip-house-acid personalities into the mix. A great evening to experience Black dance-music diversity in Bklyn action. (Sat 7/11, 9:30p @ Paragon, Broadway/Myrtle - $10before11p-$25)

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Produced and curated by the Siren Xypher Collective, and now in its third year, the Brooklyn Free Spirit Festival is an exquisite two-day gathering of local improvisers and teachers in the intimate confines of the Gowanus room with the grand piano. Saturday’s program opens with a workshop by vocalist Kyoko Kitamura and choreographer Rachel Bernsen, followed by performances from the trio of vibraphonist Selendis S.A. Johnson pianist Hans Young-Binter and drummer Josh Matthews, as well as pianist-poet-composer Janice Lowe’s Museoetry project. Sunday, there’s a workshop by Zeena Parkins, an interview with Cooper-Moore, and then two potentially majikal performances, one by the trio of harpist Zeena Parkins, trumpeter Nate Wooley and drummer Ryan Sawyer, the other by the Interstellar Duo, Konjur Collective multi-instrumentalist Jamal R. Moore, and Blacks’ Myths drummer Trae Crudup. (Sat 7/11, 5p & Sun 7/12, 3p @ Ibeam, Gowanus - $20 each day)

The third of three Summerstage nights at Herbert Von King—prefaced by the return of Mike’s Young World festival and its hyper-specific take on current hip-hop, plus a Colors x Studio-curated line-up headlined by singer-songwriter-rapper Mereba—is the one that stands out. Yes, there is the forever fascination of what Bilal could do; and yes, it’s great to witness DJ Tara play records for masses. But for me, the main draw is GENA, the new duo of legendary Detroit drummer/producer Karriem Riggins and Dallas singer-producer Liv.e. Their collaboration LP, The Pleasure Is Yours, released a few months back, fiercely channels classic Soulquarian vibes, which, with Riggins’ resume, may seem obvious. But it also contains a thoroughly contemporary club texture, a muddy mysteriousness, that’s unlike anything I’ve experienced in R&B-adjacent sounds. (Sun 7/12, 5p @ Herbert Von King Park, Bed-Stuy - FREE)

Excellently thoughtful triple-bill of deep-woods, Kosmiche Americana: Bklyn’s Animal Surrender (Peter Kerlin and Rob Smith, ostensibly on bass and drums) spin-out folk songs into something approaching early Tortoise. Tacoma Park is the North Carolina duo of John Harrison and Ben Felton, mixing machines and ancient melodies into their own minimalist attack. (Came upon their newest album, Baltimore, while writing this week’s newsletter, and it is divine.) And Seawind of Battery is local guitarist/soundscapist Mike Horn, whose sonic architectural and politically-minded musicking work are a community pleasure. (Tues 7/14, 7p @ Mama Tried, Sunset Park - $uggested)

Tonight’s great bill at the Record Shop is due to the visit to fair Gotham by the improvising reeds’n’electronics player Karen Ng from Toronto; and she’s gathered a mighty ensemble of players to assist her—bassist Kenneth Jimenez, drummer Kevin Murray, flutist Samantha Kochis, and keys/vocalist Amirtha Kidambi. They’ll be joined by amplified cellist rocío sánchez “& friends.” Also Max Hoffman, whose work is new to me. (Tues 7/14, 7:30p @ 360 Record Shop, Red Hook - $15-$20suggested)

As if you needed one more option of great instrumental music on a Tuesday night…The poster has the Philadelphia pedal-steel player Sam Wenc as the “headliner,” and the wonderfully noisy minimalist large-band recording he released on Lobby Art Editions earlier this year has been in regular Dada rotation since January. But if I’m honest, I am pulled to Nightclub 101 by the opportunity to hear the inter-generational musical conversation between more eaze and Alan Licht, especially after hearing Mari mention that it was the chance opportunity of hearing Alan play when she was a teenager in San Antonio, that pushed her towards experimental music. Whatever gets you there, it’s gonna be another great evening of sound. (Tues 7/14, 9:30p @ Nightclub 101, Manhattan - $15-$20)

  • Goodhaven, Queens Percussion Concert 2026 (Sat 7/18, 3p @ Seuffert Bandshell, Forest Park, Queens - FREE) - John Colpitts (a.k.a. Oneida drummer Kid Millions) has been producing annual free shows at the Bandshell for a few years now. In 2026, he’s foregrounding three globally diverse rhythm ensembles: Gamelan Yowana Sari, Ryan Sawyer Shaker Ensemble, and Mali’s dance and drum troupe, Farafina.

  • Makaya McCraven (Tues 7/28 - Sun 8/2, 8p & 10p @ Village Vanguard, Manhattan - $40) - Alongside Shabaka, Jeff Parker and the late jaimie branch, the Chicago-based drummer has, for me, embodied the decade-long turn that the improvised music sometimes called “jazz” has made towards popular embrace. Makaya front-and-center’d the music’s groove. Now he’s making his leader debut at one of New York’s remaining jazz temples. The band will swing and stomp accordingly.

  • Luke Stewart residency (Wed 7/29 - Sat 8/1, 8:30p @ The Stone, New School, Manhattan - $20) - I have known Brother Luke well for about seven or eight years now, and I believe this is his first full-week residency at The Stone. Expect Blacks’ Myths and Silt Trio, plus the unexpected.

  • Bex Burch: as yet untitled + Tomin (Fri 7/31, 8p @ Judson Church, Manhattan - FREE w/RSVP) - The good folks at FourOneOne present two of my favorite musical humans as a double-bill. Burch brings her conceptual work-in-progress, “as yet untitled,” back to NYC (it debuted at Dada Strain’s Winter Jazzfest showcase) with an exquisite ensemble that includes Peter Zummo, Mikel Patrick Avery, Lia Kohl, Gabriel Birnbaum, Evan Ziporyn and Carmen Quill. Opening the evening is my woodwind brother, Tomin.

  • Dada Strain @ L&SD (Sat 8/22, 7p @ Light & Sound Design Studios, Greenpoint) - SAVE The DATE! I have another great #rhythm #improvisation #community line-up for you.

  • Haruomi Hosono (Wed 9/16, 8p @ Radio City Music Hall, Midtown - $$$) - The 78 year-old co-founder of Yellow Magic Orchestra, and one of the great figures in 20th century Japanese popular, electronic and experimental music, is returning to the U.S. to support a new album also dropping in September.

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