Friday 10/30: Ghost Ship Halloween 2015: Annihilation

Prime the detonators, and pile up the dynamite because you are about to experience Annihilation at Ghost Ship Halloween 2015. The Bay Area’s most beloved Halloween event is back for its 8th year at the gargantuan Pier 70, in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. For the past seven years Ghost Ship Halloween has dropped jaws and thrilled thousands with unparalleled original art installations schemed and built from scratch from recyclable materials and enjoyed only at Ghost Ship. In 2015, Ghost Ship will again run for two huge nights. With past events boasting a Victorian-era Ghost Ship, a 1930’s cruise ship, an alien space craft hovering over a zombie ghost town, a massive nuclear submarine, and a 40′ tall clipper ship, the “Make Big Art” team’s plans for Ghost Ship 2015 are more daring than ever. Along with their megalomaniacal schemes, Ghost Ship will again feature original installations by the leaders of the Bay Area’s dynamic large-scale production art community, and the world’s most exciting art-cars. The soundscape of Ghost Ship will be electrified by multiple stages hosted by top DJ crews featuring more than 70 of the Bay Area’s finest DJs. Ghost Ship Halloween 2015 will feature sets by GOLDFISH (live) on Friday October 30, and DJs Q-BERT and KRAFTY KUTS on Halloween night. As always, Ghost Ship’s attendees provide the final touch of artwork with original costume culture that annually raises the bar on spectacle.The secret is officially out. An electronic duo from the Southern-most tip of Africa have gone from one of Dance Music’s best kept secrets to an act tipped by industry tastemakers as the band to watch this year.
Their genre-defying mix of live instruments, House beats and searing live performances has seen Goldfish go from impromtu jams at a tiny beach club in Cape Town to headlining Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, cracking a top 10 on the US iTunes Dance chart, a residency at Pacha Ibiza with David Guetta and DJ’s like Fedde le Grand knocking at their door to do remix their tracks.David Harness is one of the most popular DJ/producers in the San Francisco Bay Area club scene. He has been described as ‘a man who lives, breathes and emanates everything that is beautiful about deep house music and classic garage.’ David is considered a ‘rising star’ within the dance community. As a military brat, David Harness traveled the world extensively during his childhood. ‘Regardless of which country I was in, I always heard American music, namely R&B. This little bit of familiarity really helped me feel secure in a lot of different places.’ With influences varying from Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Quincy Jones, the Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Parliament Funkadelic, the Isley Brothers and First Choice, it is easy to see why funk and soul have always been strong elements in his sound. In 1990, David began DJ’ing at the After Dark in his hometown of Monterey, California. As his popularity grew past the boundaries of Monterey, he was invited to establish a residency at Tilt and the Sound Factory in San Francisco. In 1994, David opened and DJ’ed at the hip and popular club Lift at Club Dv8 in San Francisco. His success as a club DJ led to a DJ spot on commercial radio. In 1994, David joined the popular radio show Your Mama’s House on the San Francisco Bay Area’s number one radio station KMEL FM. Your Mama’s House was the only ‘true’ house mix show on any major radio station in Northern California. As part of the Your Mama’s House crew, David played a key role in exposing the masses to House Music in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1995 David kicked off a seven year residency at San Francisco ‘s legendary Club Universe — San Francisco’s hottest Saturday night party. At Club Universe, David had the opportunity to play with many New York’s legendary DJs like Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, Little Louie Vega, Tedd Patterson, Dave Morales, Danny Teneglia, London’s Ricky Morrison, Los Angeles’ Marques Wyatt, San Francisco’s Miguel Migs, Mark Farina and Kaskade — just to name a few. His growing popularity accelerated David’s natural progression into production. In 1996, David was selected to spearhead the studio production for a national marketing campaign for the McDonald’s Deluxe Burger. Also in 1996, David begin his ongoing residency at The End Up Sunday T-Dance — San Francisco’s longest running dance party. In 1998, he released a CD for Universe Sounds and Twisted America, ‘Welcome to the Universe’. This innovative CD, recorded live from Club Universe, reflects San Francisco’s unique ‘sound’ and introduced the world to David Harness. Recognizing his talent, Twisted America quickly signed him to produce his first single, ‘Get It Together’, for a Twisted America compilation entitled ‘A Little Bit of the Old, A Lot of the New’. David also started his ongoing residency at Fag Fridays in San Francisco in 1998 where he is still rockin’ the floor. In 1999, David started Taboo in San Francisco’s Mission District. Taboo started out of David’s love of House music and his desire to provide a showcase for Bay Area talent as well as internationally known DJs. This ongoing party attracts a loyal crowd of househeads from around the San Francisco Bay Area and the globe to the weekly blending of spirit and soul. In September 2000, David launched DHJ Productions and has established himself as a respected producer and remixer. To date, David has worked on projects featuring artists such as Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Simply Red, Alicia Keys, Floetry, Donnie McClurkin, India Arie, *NSYNC and Donnell Jones. A collaborative effort with DJ/producers Chris Lum of Abitare Music, Jay J of Moulton Studios, and Charles Spencer of LoveSlap has resulted in several independent releases. David has appeared in articles and interviews in Billboard Magazine, Paper Magazine, Surface, XLR8R, Streetsounds, Sweater, HX, Next, URB, DJ Mag and the SF Bay Guardian. David Harness’ passion, talent and creativity has definitely created a new page in the history of house music.Made up of Frank Cueto and Rusty Belicek, the All Good Funk Alliance has opened up for James Brown, DJ’d all around the world, written songs for commercials, T.V. and movies, and have constantly appeared on the Breakspoll Top 50 list. In other words, these guys are no strangers to the funk. And while their musical tastes range the gamut, when Frank and Rusty join forces the end result is always the same: they deliver a sound that is funky, fun and fresh.
Since 1999, All Good Funk Alliance has released music on a host of labels, including its own heavyweights: Funk Weapons, Super Hi-Fi Recordings and Baffin Island Beat Brigade. Frank and Rusty have played at clubs and festivals around the globe—from Canada to Australia—

Recognized as influential pioneers of the Nu-Funk and mid-tempo breaks sounds, AGFA’s innovation and originality has earned them universal respect across the breaks industry. Having just dropped a fresh new album of remixes brimming with hype music that encompasses multiple genres, the All Good Funk Alliance are keeping it fresh while keeping true to their roots musically.Both of these ladies were born in Atlantic City, NJ which obviously explains a lot. Their father is a musician and was the Director of Entertainment at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. They grew up around serious talent, even kicking it with the Rat Pack at early ages.

They moved to California before they were in New Jersey long enough to develop accents and became best friends early on. As kids, they made up many dance routines to Ace of Base’s ‘The Sign’ album and religiously listened to TLC’s ‘Crazy Sexy Cool’, even dressing like the group one year for Halloween. Between their mother and father, sharing a nearly 20-year age difference, they were exposed to a broad range of musical tastes.

In their adulthood, Laura moved to San Francisco and Ava to Orange County, and the sisters realized they weren’t capable of being away from another. After Ava finished college, she promptly moved up the city so she and her sister could once again kill it on the regular. Thank God.Birdee may be a relatively new name in the world of dance music, but he is making serious waves very quickly.

Based in London but originally hailing from sunny Italia, he calls his blend of housey beats, obscure 70s samples and wobbly b-lines Ghetto Disco.

His latest release Shake It has been played by a veritable who’s who of dance music: Laidback Luke, Crookers, Tom Staar, Jaymo and Andy George, Boris Dlugosch, Reset!, Malente and many more have all given huge support to the track, which has also been played 3 times on BBC Radio 1.

Birdee has also recently done a guest mix for the Loose Cannons – well known for spotting hot new talent – which has been aired on their established radio show on Kiss 100.

In the meantime his new single Freak, to be released on Jaimie Fanatic’s LKC imprint on April 1, is already being supported by Kissy Sell Out on his Radio 1 Show.

It’s easy to see why there is so much buzz surrounding Birdee at the moment, and with more releases and remixes due soon, this is only the beginning!