Going on its seventh year now, the annual Decibel Festival has grown into one of the biggest and most important electronic music festivals in North America. It runs from Wednesday through Sunday night (going early into the next morning each night). The lineup is remarkable and reads like a who’s-who of some of the biggest names and boldest visionaries in electronic music, including Detroit techno heroes Carl Craig and Kevin Saunderson, Flying Lotus, Pantha du Prince, Modeselektor, Mary Anne Hobbs, Gold Panda, plus it also reveals a thorough and booming local scene, showcasing such diverse artists like Lusine, Lawnchair Generals, Truckasaurus and dozens more. The final schedule was revealed last week, which you can find here, but below (and after the jump) are some of the showcases on my agenda:
Wednesday, September 22: Ghostly International Showcase at Neumos.
For more than a decade, Ghostly International has been on the cutting edge of electronic music and is one of the most visible labels for diverse and challenging music. Their roster currently includes the local ambient producer Lusine (who is part of this showcase), remix specialist Gold Panda (also part of the showcase) and the excellent indie band School of Seven Bells (who will miss the festival by a week and play at Neumos on Monday, September 27). I’m not sure what headliner Pantha du Prince’s connection is to Ghostly, beyond ideology, but he’ll surely be an excellent cap to one of the most top-heavy with talent showcases in the festival.
Thursday, September 23: Flylo and Friends at Neumos
Flying Lotus has become one of the biggest names in electronic music over the past five years, constructing some of the most intricate – but danceable! – beats to the point where it looks like a science. This showcase also features hometown heroes Truckasaurus as well as producers Eskmo and Lorn, which proves that if they’re Flying Lotus’ friends, he keeps good company.
Friday, September 24: RBMA on the Floor at Neumos
RBMA stands for Red Bull Music Academy and this showcase is headlined by German production duo Modeselektor, another forward-thinking giant in electronic music. I’m anxious to see what his set entails.
Friday, September 24: Mi Casa Es Su Casa at Motor
I’m likely forgoing sleep to catch this early, early morning showcase at Motor in South Seattle, which runs from 2-6 am. I’m especially curious to check out LawnChair Generals, a local production team that is debuting their live set this morning. Chilean DJ Dinky also makes her west coast debut here.
Saturday, September 25: FWD Thinking Organisms at Sole Repair
My plan is to catch PDX-based DJs Sappho and The Perfect Cyn before running across the street to Neumos for the D25 showcase. Sappho has been a regular DJ at the dance party Lick! at Chop Suey and The Perfect Cyn just released an excellent hour-long mix called “Fanning the Flames” that you can download (right click) here.
Saturday, September 25: D25 showcase at Neumos
D25 marks twenty five years of Detroit Techno, arguably the first and most influential underground scene of electronic music in the US. Kevin Saunderson was one of the first DJs to break from that scene, which at that time also included Derrick May and Juan Atkins (they were dubbed the “Belleville Three”). Carl Craig’s career has spanned twenty years, from being a protege of May, and he’s the most prominent artist in the second wave of Detroit Techno. This showcase will be a great opportunity to see two legends of the scene at work.
Sunday, September 26: dB in the Park
This showcase will be outdoors and in the afternoon, a nice break from dark clubs, and will take place on the Broad Street stage at Seattle Center. Seeing Mary Anne Hobbs, the incredibly influential former BBC Radio 1 DJ is one my must-see acts for the weekend. She has been crediting for introducing dubstep to most of the world. She just recently wrapped up fourteen years at BBC Radio 1 with an amazing program that spanned the last decade in electronic music. I can’t wait to see what she plays Sunday afternoon at 3.
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