WIRE FESTIVAL Returns to Knockdown Center, May 16-19: Lineup Includes Techno's Most Essential Artists, Talks & More

WIRE FESTIVAL returns to Knockdown Center for its third edition, May 16-19. Expanding its scope, the festival runs over the course of three days, from Friday the 17th through Sunday the 19th, with Thursday the 16th devoted to evening talks in collaboration with Resident Advisor. WIRE continues its run of inviting some of techno’s most essential and groundbreaking artists alongside cutting edge crews. Stage 1, located in the Main Hall, serves as a centerpiece for the festival's programming. Stage 2 has always been notorious for these takeovers. This year, WIRE invites two European collectives who are defining techno in 2024: Berlin's queer renegades Mala Junta and Amsterdam's long-running Vault Sessions. A major addition this year is an outdoor house stage that runs all day Sunday, bringing a new dimension to the weekend. The Ambient Stage will return as well with bespoke programming from some of NY's most versatile and exciting DJs. French lighting collective Collectif Scale flies over from Paris to install a custom fixture near Stage 2, and Studio GumGum presents a new work in the structure above the Ambient Stage.

Since its first edition, WIRE has curated a lineup that reflects the most urgent and exciting techno of the moment while also inviting some of the most enduring and important artists the genre has ever seen, including Jeff Mills, DVS1 and Luke Slater. This year will be no exception. Surgeon joins the lineup for a live set, following a rare US appearance at BASEMENT last May. The Birmingham artist has, over 30+ years, shown how vital, adventurous and personal techno can be, elevating the artform without diluting its impact. He’s joined by fellow stalwarts Rødhåd, Boris, and Oscar Mulero, returning champions including Dax J, Schacke, SPFDJ, D.Dan, Juliana Huxtable and BASEMENT resident Lydo as well as first time WIRE performers Anetha, Stef Mendesidis, Clarisa Kimskii, MARRØN, Roi Perez, Massimiliano Pagliara, DJ Tool and many, many more.

Since its inception in 2022, Stage 2 has become notorious for its crew takeovers. This year, WIRE invites two European collectives who are defining the bleeding edge of techno in 2024: Mala Junta and Vault Sessions. The former returns to the building from Berlin to lay it down. Truly one of Berlin’s most incendiary parties, Mala Junta has become the focal point for careening, high speed, queer’ed techno. Meanwhile, Vault Sessions has been raising the stakes in Amsterdam, bringing some of the most exciting DJs and producers to underground clubs and spaces across the city. Active since 2015, Vault Sessions’ slow burn reign has been defined by a clear-eyed, unwavering musical vision. 

Across two nights, the Ambient Stage picks up where last year’s edition left off, with specially-requested sets from artists known for their more heaving approach. For each of the artists booked for this stage, the programming offers an opportunity to explore the more spacious and strange nooks of their collections, while leaving the core power of and energy of their sound undiluted. 

Sunday morning, things move outdoors to The Ruins for a closing open-air session. More house-oriented DJs take the reins, starting in the morning hours as the indoor stages wind down. These artists are all beloved for their sumptuous approaches, each bringing a unique signature that offers a welcome contrast to the uncompromising techno that defines WIRE. All these activities are preceded by the artist talks and discussions, which kick off in the evening on Thursday May 16th.

Weekend passes are sold out. Individual day passes go on sale Tuesday, March 5th at the link here: https://ra.co/events/1827105

WIRE Festival is organized by Téa Abashidze, GeGa Japaridze and Tyler Myers. They are the team behind BASEMENT, the techno club housed below Knockdown Center as well as the RUSH series.

THURSDAY, May 16

Panel / Talks in collaboration with Resident Advisor

FRIDAY, May 17

Anetha

Boris

Clarisa Kimskii

Concrete Husband

Dax J

Devoye

Ian Crane

Juana

Juliana Huxtable

MARRØN

SPFDJ

Stef Mendesidis live

Volvox

x3butterfly

SATURDAY, May 18

ÆON

Auspex

Como Se DJ

D.Dan

DJ Tool

Galcher Luswterk

Hyperaktivist

Juliana Huxtable

Lydo

Matas

Meilgaarden

Oscar Mullero

Rødhåd

Surgeon live

Why Be

Yazzus

SUNDAY, May 19

Massimiliano Pagliara

Pablo Bozzi

Roi Perez

Schacke

Sekucci

Sterling Juan Diaz

The Carry Nation