Happy New Year from the team at DC House Grooves! While our last update covered the first week of 2015, this is our first official post in the New Year. We hope you’ve all recovered from the New Year’s shenanigans. So many good parties we wouldn’t know where to start covering them, but let’s just say we had an amazing time down the Rave Basement celebrating the New Year with a great crew, and Body Werk in the Flash Bar on Jan 2 with Andy Grant and Mazi R was an amazing way to really kick things off for 2015, closely followed by a quality evening at DC9 Nightclub with Team Zapata and Trev-ski. We recorded them all, so if you missed either episode of Body Werk, or just want to re-live them, watch this space! We never made it to Flash for their epic 16 hour NYE celebration, but we heard it was a pretty tasty affair, and we were pleased to hear a solid contingent of hardcore revelers stuck it out for the full 16. Good work, DC!
So without further ado, let’s get on with the picks for this week, followed by the full listings. Don’t be sad that you’re not at the BPM Festival. There’s plenty to do right here in DC, even if the weather isn’t all that. If you plan on going to an event, please head over to the Facebook event page and click Join to let the promoters and your friends know you’re going.
Thursday Picks
Superlost feat. Special Case (St. Petersburg) & Hakob Avjyan at Lost Society
Top pick for all you house heads on Thursday night is Superlost at Lost Society featuring Special Case, all the way from St. Petersburg, with local support from Hakob Avjyan (Nomad). Always a great vibe on the Lost Society rooftop on Thursday nights, and with no cover and lots of drinks specials, you can’t go wrong! 21+.
https://www.facebook.com/events/898814030149782
Fort Knox & Quid Promo present Thriftworks, Flamingosis, Fort Knox Five, All Good Funk Alliance, Qdup at Flash
For some alternative beats on Thursday, over at Flash, Fort Knox & Quid Promo present Thirftworks & Flamingosis with local support from Fort Knox Five. Expect a night of future downtempo: house, bass, hip hop, glitch and beat oriented music, which will no doubt sound amazing on Flash’s Funktion One system. Down in the Flash Bar, All Good Funk Alliance and Qdup will be holding things down open to close. These guys really know how to rock a party, so if you need a break from the main floor, make sure you make some time to get down in the bar. Advanced tickets are $10 from Ticketfly, more on the door. 21+.
https://www.facebook.com/events/697870116986958
Gryphon After Dark Live Music, No Cover: Neo Soul, Trip Hop, Soul & Jazz at The Gryphon
Our final pick is the one for you if you’re entertaining that special date, or looking for a break from the usual electronic beats. Imagine jazz singer, meets piano bar, meets cabaret, meets DC 2014. That’s what Gryphon After Dark promises, and it sounds like the recipe for a great night out. There’s no cover or dress code, so come as you are and enjoy the atmosphere.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1554557344785844/
Friday Picks
Petworth Funk With Special Guests Meistro, Alex Gardel, Dj Nav, and Andy Grant at The Looking Glass Lounge, Petworth
Our top pick for Friday night is Trev-ski‘s regular Petworth Funk night at The Looking Glass Lounge in Petworth. Trevor always assembles amazing lineups of true heads for this monthly vinyl only night, and this month is no exception, with special guests Meistro from the Sol Power All Stars, Baltimore’s Alex Gardel, DJ Nav and our very own Andy Grant. This really is one for the heads, as these guys will be mining their collections and serving up the finest vinyl treasures for your entertainment and pleasure. There’s no cover, so just show up and enjoy the finest selections from a solid local lineup in a comfortable neighborhood setting.
https://www.facebook.com/events/594178967382939/
Focus: Cell Injection (Drumcell vs. Audio Injection/Truncate) & Ron Jackson at Flash, with Caleb L’Etoile & Philco in the Flash Bar
For your techno fix this Friday, head over to Flash for Focus with techno heavyweights Cell Injection (Drumcell vs. Audio Injection/Truncate), supported by local favorite Ron Jackson. If you need a break from the pounding beats on the main floor, they’ve got you covered with Caleb L’Etoile & Philco serving up the finest house and nu disco in the Flash Bar. Advanced tickets are $8 from Ticketfly, $15 on the door. 21+.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1035736029785701
Foot Therapy II at Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar
Our final pick for Friday is another one for the heads. Over at Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar in Adams Morgan, its Foot Therapy II, featuring DJ Zach, Ben Mason, Poor Blood and Ben Jenkins. Judging by the event page, these guys will be serving cuts straight from the vinyl, and based on the tracks they’ve been posting, we can tell they know what’s up. We’re quietly hoping that with the name they’ve chosen for their night, at least one of them will be packing Prescription‘s classic Foot Therapy EP, which is a contender for our favorite house record of all time. We can always hope! There’s no cover, so head over to Dr. Clock‘s on Friday for some proper underground vibes served up by heads for heads.
https://www.facebook.com/events/824661034247010/
Saturday Picks
Deep Sugar The Official 2015 New Year Kickoff With Louie Vega, Ultra Naté & Lisa Moody At The Paradox, Baltimore
And so on to Saturday, where our top pick is the first edition of Deep Sugar for 2015, with special guest Louie Vega returning to the main room at The Paradox, along with the Girl Squad, Ultra Naté and Lisa Moody. In the Chamber, regulars Danny & Katie Elder and “Mookie” Brock will be joined by special guest Bart, celebrating Bart and Danny’s birthdays. The party kicks off at 9pm with a listening party for Louie Vega‘s new album, to be released in March 2015, and runs until 6am. If you haven’t checked out Deep Sugar yet, it’s the best party on the East Coast, and you really have to experience it for yourself! . $20 general admission.
https://www.facebook.com/events/770855419654758/
Solomun with Juan Zapata, Philip Goyette at U Street Music Hall
Our next pick for Saturday night would be our top pick if it wasn’t for Deep Sugar. In a great booking coup, U Street Music Hall have secured Solomun to headline on Saturday, with support from local favorites Juan Zapata and Philip Goyette. This is a huge booking for U Hall, and we can tell you right now it’s going to be a packed house. Indeed, this will likely sell out, so make sure you pick up your advanced tickets, which are $20 from Ticketfly. There’s none of your “free before 12am” this time around. If there are any tickets left on the door, it will be $20 all night. 18+, but 18-20 admitted with advanced tickets only. Definitely one worth checking out, and if you want to make a night of it, hit the road to Baltimore when you leave U Hall and catch the last couple of hours of Deep Sugar.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1476134019336130/
Loop & Flash present Daniel Bortz, Raffi, Edo, Basscamp, Philco at Flash
Our final pick for Saturday is Loop & Flash present Daniel Bortz, Raffi & Edo at Flash, with Basscamp & Philco in the Flash Bar. Any party involving the Loop crew is worth checking out, and this looks to be no exception, and Daniel Bortz never disappoints. We recommend you get there early to catch Edo and Raffi before the dance floor gets too crowded. As a further incentive to get there early, admission is FREE before 11pm. Advanced tickets are $9 from Ticketfly, more on the door after 11pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1615573842004416/
Sunday Picks
Church Presents Monix at Public Bar
As so we make it to Sunday. If you’re still standing and you’re still in the mood to throw a few shapes on the dance floor, then our top pick is Church at Public Bar. This time around, they’ve got special guest Monix with local support from Tzeech (Composite). It’s sure to be a great night of house and techno on the Public Bar rooftop. The party kicks off at 8pm and runs to 2am, and its free before 10pm, $10 after. This is the one Sunday service you need to attend!
https://www.facebook.com/events/816326091760344/
The NeedlExchange at The Velvet Lounge
Our other pick for Sunday is The NeedlExchange at The Velvet Lounge, with regulars Baronhawk, Bil Todd and Tommy Cornelis behind the decks. Expect an eclectic mix of quality house, disco and everything in between from DC’s finest purveyors of queer dance floor culture. No cover, 21+.
https://www.facebook.com/events/575083252594993
So that’s our picks for this week. Plenty to choose from, but don’t trust us; check the full listings. Below is our list of all the best underground deep house and electronic music events in Washington DC from Wednesday to Sunday. Remember to click through to the Facebook event pages for more details, and don’t forget to click Join and invite your friends if you plan on attending.
Thursday January 8
Superlost feat. Special Case (St. Petersburg) & Hakob Avjyan at Lost Society
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/898814030149782
Fort Knox & Quid Promo present Thriftworks, Flamingosis, Fort Knox Five, All Good Funk Alliance, Qdup at Flash
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/697870116986958
The Business End with Caleb L’Etoile & Philco at The Velvet Lounge
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1397759493856210/
Alex Metric at U Street Music Hall
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/731968253551144/
Gryphon After Dark Live Music, No Cover: Neo Soul, Trip Hop, Soul & Jazz at The Gryphon
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1554557344785844/
Friday January 9
Petworth Funk With Special Guests Meistro, Dj Nav, And Andy Grant at The Looking Glass Lounge, Petworth
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/594178967382939/
Focus: Cell Injection (Drumcell vs. Audio Injection/Truncate) & Ron Jackson at Flash, with Caleb L’Etoile & Philco in the Flash Bar
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1035736029785701
Foot Therapy II at Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/824661034247010/
ESL Fridays at Eighteenth Street Lounge
More details: https://www.facebook.com/18thStLounge
Vick Lavender in WDC at Da Luft Lounge
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/314696262056956/
Eden Underground with Seba Yuri, Teszero & DeepCutta at Eden
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/486916908115629/
Underground with DJ Bella and DJ Mcflann at Tattoo Bar
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1612450812316556/
The Knocks (DJ Set) with Caleb L’Etoile, Baronhawk at U Street Music Hall
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/742120889209527
Ozker (Blisspop) & Deejay Life At The Lodge At Redrocks
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/870802629649473
mGrooves Music 3rd Anniversary + Capricorn Throwdown at Bambou, Baltimore
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1038634829495438/
Cevin Fisher with guests Tony Smooth and Marat Leon at The Red Maple, Baltimore
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1532807126982215
Saturday January 10
Deep Sugar The Official 2015 New Year Kickoff With Louie Vega, Ultra Naté & Lisa Moody At The Paradox, Baltimore
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/770855419654758/
Solomun with Juan Zapata, Philip Goyette at U Street Music Hall
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1476134019336130/
Loop & Flash present Daniel Bortz, Raffi, Edo, Basscamp, Philco at Flash
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1615573842004416/
ESL Saturdays at Eighteenth Street Lounge
More details: https://www.facebook.com/18thStLounge
Mischief presents Cross-Pollination: Holiday Hangover edition at Zeba Bar
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/760649270683046/
Sao Funky Saturday – Will Eastman & Fort Knox Five at Tropicalia
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/331766517028279
Tribe Tronix Presents: Fresh Start! W/ Robert Fairbairn, Tony Smooth, Osman, and Danny House at Jimmy Valentines Lonely Hearts Club
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/879854498726493
Dubathonic Live at Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1533685200240739
Winter Wonderland at Empire, Springfield, VA
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/740014282756925/
Rise W/ M-Dot (& live percussionist) at Impala
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1538701199711624
Body Music: Resurrection at The Depot, Baltimore
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/588801651263786
Sunday January 11
Church Presents Monix at Public Bar
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/816326091760344/
The NeedlExchange at The Velvet Lounge
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/575083252594993
ESL Sundays with Sam Burns’ Underground Soul Solution at Eighteenth Street Lounge
More details: https://www.facebook.com/18thStLounge
That’s it for our first edition of the DC House Grooves Weekend Round Up in 2015. If you want your event considered for inclusion in the weekend round up, please message us through the DC House Grooves Facebook page. Only underground house or electronic music events will be considered. Also, we’d welcome your constructive feedback on the DC House Grooves round up. If you’ve got an comments or suggestions, please send us a message through the DC House Grooves Facebook Page.
See you on the dance floor!
Author: Andy Grant