SNAP! Y2K- ’90s vs ’00s Dance party! – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination (or negative rapid COVID test), to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine Join the longest running ’90s night in the NW for our 90s vs 00s party, SNAP! Y2K this month at HOLOCENE on FRIDAY, MAY, 27TH. EXPECT TO HEAR Hip Hop, Rock, West Coast Rap, R&B, Rave, Pop and everything in between from the early 90s to the early 00s. Join the SNAP! Y2K crew every LAST FRIDAY at Holocene for a nostalgic trip back to all your favorite music from the early 90s to the early 00s. Spanning genres from Hip Hop to House to Alt Rock to Modern re-edits you will feel like you are back in Middle school. Resident DJ’sColin JonesIntrocut “Like” and Follow us!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SNAP90s/Instagram: SNAP90sparty
DOSS w/ Sammy & Harry, PLUS – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination (or a negative COVID test), to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine DOSS has never sacrificed emotion for fun. Her style of dance music strikes a remarkably comfortable balance between blissed-out bubblegum house and muttering bedroom pop. While there is a sense of vulnerability in the duality of Doss’ soft sloganeering and wobbling basslines, there is also an assured energy of carelessness. Her electrifying 2021 record “4 New Hit Songs” has appeared on dozens of year end “Best Of” lists, as well as working extensively with late hyperpop legend Sophie, and continuing to blow minds with PC Music pioneer AG Cook. From producing one of the standout remixes on Lady Gaga’s “Dawn of Chromatica” album, to releasing her newly minted single “Jumpin’”, Doss is guaranteed to make you bounce through the enigma of her hypnotic and heavy sound. Earlier in the night we have two amazing acts: ⁃SAMMY & HARRY will be performing a wild combined set of unhinged happy hardcore chaos, veering between the sounds of early 2000s hit rave/dance tracks and the distorted bass of modern digicore and hyperpop. ⁃PLUS is going to kick the night off with the familiar and ice-cold grooves of techno and house. As CEO of the already buzzing warehouse-bash throwing WERM.HOLE, Plus is not an act you’ll want to miss.
CANCELED: Starbenders, Magic Whatever – Early show! – 21+
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED BY THE ARTIST DUE TO ILLNESS. REFUNDS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SENT TO ALL BUYERS. PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination (or negative rapid COVID test), to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccineAn early show with Starbenders and Magic Whatever!Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Starbenders are the half way home for misunderstood misfits, fringers and glam punks. Front-woman, Kimi Shelter and her gang have concocted a perfect alchemic blend of androgynous rock and roll power with “stuck in your brain” pop melodies. Imagine David Bowie playing 7 minutes in heaven with Debbie Harry. Shelter began working with producer Nico Constantine (Lady Gaga , Program The Dead) in 2014 who encouraged her to start a band. Aaron Lecesne was the first call Shelter made. The duo were best of friends and had intense music crushes on each other. The genesis of Starbenders took form. Guitarist, Kriss Tokaji, entered the scene in early 2015 after the band witnessed him laying waste to a guitar at a shitty house party in the middle of nowhere. “We couldn’t believe our ears and eyes! Our prayers had been answered!”, beams Shelter. The dream lineup crystallized in 2017 with the entrance of drummer Emily Moon. “It was the final piece to the puzzle. The band was in the middle of a transition and I thought to check Craigslist of all places when I came across Emily’s ad.” shared Lecesne. After responding to the band’s cryptic email, Moon met up with them that same night. It was love at first sight.
LAFFY TAFFY Twerk / Trap / Dancehall / Reggaeton party w/ DJ Bnick, Heftober and K. Marie – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination to enter the venue (or negative rapid COVID test) until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine Alpha Pack Presents: Laffy Taffy – Twerk In all Ass-sorted Flavors Twerk | Trap | R&B | Dancehall | Reggaeton Nonstop sounds that are guaranteed to keep you sweating on the dancefloor. Laffy Taffy features resident DJs BNick and Heftober (Blow the Whistle/Solid Gold/The Get Down/AirPlane Mode); featuring monthly rotating guests. Music will have NO boundaries, but it will be ALL fuego!!!! Heavy hitting Twerk 808s, ratchet Trap anthems, pulsating Dancehall favs, and GROUNDBREAKING Reggaeton bangers!!! This party will not disappoint. Advance tickets and Before 11pm at the door: $10 After 11pm at the door: $15 Resident DJs: BNick and HeftoberGuest DJ: K. Marie
This Party Is Killing You: The Robyn Party – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination, or a negative COVID test within 24 hours of show, to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine This Party Is Killing You!: The Robyn Party is the original, greatest, and longest-running pop music tribute dance party celebrating the Swedish goddess of pop, Robyn, in all her many flavors. The now-legendary party was featured by none other than Robyn herself in her short film Missing U, where she drops in on the party at its home in Brooklyn for a surprise DJ set.The Robyn Party is turning 10 this year, and founders/DJs Russ Marshalek, Marley Magaziner and Chris Choyce are taking the party bi-coastal and international to celebrate. At This Party is Killing You! you’ll hear all of Robyn’s hits, b-sides, lost tracks, remixes, aaaannnd just maybe some tunes you won’t hear elsewhere ;), along with your other pop faves like Gaga, Carly, Mariah, and more. It’s a euphoric, up-lifting, cry-dancing, life-changing night. Oh, yes, there are a bunch of surprises in store for the 10 year blow-out, and sweat WILL be dripping from your brow…so hold tight.
Opal Underground presents: A tale of two cities – Seattle x PDX DJs – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination to enter the venue (or negative rapid COVID test) until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine Opal Underground presents 🌆 A Tale of Two Cities 🌆 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 DJs 🎧: DJ Having Sex – SEA, Emoji Heap – PDX, JENNGREEN – SEA, Sappho – PDX 💃🏾 Hosts: Atlas, Evvie The Human, T’Kara Campbell Starr 📸 Photographer: MyklFstr 🔮Tarot: Cairo A Tale of Two Cities: This month we’re making the I-5 corridor connection. Let’s come together for this Portland & Seattle link up of nightlife artistry. This party with feature some of the best and brightest djs and hosts/performers from these two cities. 💋 THE VIBE: It’s definitely an Oregon & Washington state of mind. Pacific Northwest MODA. Lumbertwonk, Spunky Sasquatch, Forrest Faerie, Willamette River Dyad, Puget Sound Water 💦 Nymph be our inspiration. Remember, it rains a lot so a wet look is always a winner! Photographer Mykl Fstr will be documenting your PNW finery! 🚨 THE SOUND: Queer House & Techno beats with local love! 👸🏽 HOSTS: Atlas, Evvie The Human, and T’Kara Campbell Starr will bring their fabulous beauty to the club to pump the party and dazzle us with drag numbers throughout the evening—bring cash for tipping! 🌈 THE CROWD: This is a queer-run event that centers the safety and needs of Portland’s LGBTQ+ communities. Supportive and respectful allies are welcome. ❤️ SAFETY: Consent: Anything other than yes means no. Consent is never coerced or forced. Incoherent people can not give consent. Consent is negotiated through each interaction. If you experience any hate or harassment, please report it immediately to Holocene’s security staff. 🏢 Holocene 5/14 10:00PM – 2:00AM Info: www.OpalUnderground.gay For LGBTQ+ community members experiencing economic hardship, a dedicated tier of discounted tickets is available. Please send an email to info@opalunderground.gay for more information.
Holocene and Soul’d Out Present…Rochelle Jordan, Blossom – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination (or negative rapid COVID test), to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine Without experimentation, innovation is impossible. For Rochelle Jordan, this desire for sonic expansion has been long embedded into her fusion of futuristic and ancestrally soulful R&B. To listen to a ROJO song is to absorb a phosphorescent but subtle blend of sampledelic 90s pop, vintage UK house and garage, 31st century electronic bangers, airy late night ballads, and progressive hip-hop. On Play With the Changes, her new album on TOKiMONSTA’s Young Art imprint, the Toronto-raised, Los Angeles-based Jordan showcases not just her own personal evolution, but a path to pushing sound forward. It presents her as a modern heir in a lineage of powerhouse vocalists with style and imagination: everyone from Whitney Houston to Celine Dion, Aaliyah to Amerie, Kelis to Mariah Carey. Produced by KLSH, Machinedrum, and Jimmy Edgar, Jordan defies categorization to create a project full of slinky, dancefloor-packing burners. Ultimately, this album reflects the truth of Jordan as an artist: relentlessly innovative, suffused with transcendent soul, replete with imagination and wild style. The type of artist who inspires others towards originality in a world where everything feels photoshopped. Someone not afraid to search, to go deeper, to discover new directions, to create change in any and all forms.
Vegyn, Sqip, Carly Barton – presented by Holocene and Spend the Night – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination to enter the venue (or negative rapid COVID test) until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine Vegyn is an artist who challenges categorisation. His genre-hopping compositions and his long list of collaborators make it impossible to put him neatly in a box. Arguably nowhere was that more clear than on his 2019 mixtape, Text While Driving If You Want to Meet God: a 71-track opus encompassing sketches and offcuts from his music-making process, clocking in at over an hour and a half of listening time. As he looks ahead to 2022, Joe Thornalley jokes, “My therapist says I overshare. Maybe this is me continuing my bad habit.” His new mixtape, Don’t Follow Me Because I’m Lost Too!! Does just this, clocking in at over an hour longer with a defiant 75 tracks. For Thornalley, releasing these long mixtapes is like shedding a skin. He has hundreds of unreleased projects sitting in various folders, and sharing them with fans is his way of continuing to always move forward in his creative process. “I find the experience of releasing things like this cathartic,” he explains. “Sometimes tracks get stuck in this state of, ‘Is it finished? It’s just nice to accept things as they are and let them go” This release comes off the back of an acclaimed debut album, Only Diamonds Cut Diamonds (2019) and EP, Like a Good Old Friend (2021). The latter, containing razor-sharp, mind-bending collaborations with London rapper Jeshi and elusive artist John Glacier, was some of Vegyn’s most joyfully weird work yet. Since the EP’s release, Thornalley has relocated back to London from LA, where he lived for around a year. Back in London, he’s thrown himself into longform collaborations with some of the city’s most engaging underground voices, including Dean Blunt, George Riley and John Glacier, whilst also nurturing his label PLZ Make It Ruins. The bare bones of his introspective, intensive process can be heard in the shapeshifting tracks that make up Don’t Follow Me Because I’m Lost Too!! While Text While Driving… was a time capsule of his work in and around 2018, Don’t Follow Me… is a compilation of music Thornalley worked on between 2015 and 2021. It comprises everything from solo piano-based experiments to haywire beats that were abandoned after being produced for rappers. The result is a dazzling snapshot of the polymorphous mind of one of the best producers working today. These 75 tracks show how Vegyn has moved away from the glow of the computer screen, and towards working more with keys, as he builds a collection of hardware synths ranging from 1977 to 2019. The result is a richer, deeper, more enveloping sound. “Music is a craft as well as a creative process. It’s something I’m always striving to be better at,” says Thornalley. “The mixtape series is like a sketchbook, where I’m showing my work.”
Global Based presents: NOCHE DE PERREO ft. ROSA PISTOLA (Mexico) + Casual Aztec, DJ Aloso, Mijo – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination (or a negative COVID test), to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine A special edition of Noche de Perreo: We welcome la reina del Perreo Pesado Crew, desde Mexico, Rosa Pistola! The only Perreo + Rave experience in the NW Reggaeton, Dembow, Moombahton y mas Sounds by: ROSA PISTOLA (Mexico) Support: Casual Aztec DJ Aloso MIJO $15 ADV – $25 DOOR Voted best Latin night via Willamette Week
Bug Seance (EP Release Show!) w/ Floral Tattoo, Childspeak – 21+
PLEASE NOTE: For the safety of our customers, we will be requiring proof of full COVID vaccination (or negative rapid COVID test), to enter the venue until further notice. More details at holocene.org/vaccine Bug Seance was formed in the Fall of 2018 with an intent to write music inspired by 90’s alternative rock while keeping in the foreground the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest. After embarking on two west coast tours while navigating the stress and uncertainty of an ongoing pandemic in support of their ep “Erasing”, Bug Seance regrouped to self-produce their latest effort titled “Retracing”, a 3 song EP that finds them revisiting some of the first songs they wrote through a lens of emotive vulnerability, unflinching determination and a newfound sense of identity as an artistic collective.