Red Bull Music Academy Festival 2014 Preview

By Briana Cheng

It all began 15 years ago in a backyard of a Berlin warehouse, and now in 2014, Red Bull Music Academy is returning to New York with a month-long festival in May. RBMA was in New York City just last year, with its prestigious production academy, hosting workshops for a select group of innovative musicians. The event was documented in a feature-length film titled “What Difference Does It Make?” featuring appearances from Q-Tip, Philip Glass, Thundercat!, Giorgio Moroder, James Murphy, and many more. While the academy series will be held in Tokyo this year, RBMA has 15 public events as part of the New York festival to fill that spring void.

On May 1st, RMBA will set off their festival with Bounce Ballroom– a party at Brooklyn Bazaar with four dance crews performing to their respective music styles, including Jersey Club with DJ Sliink and Voguing with MikeQ. There will be events almost every day during the month of May; here is a list of shows we highly recommend:

May 10- Robert Henke’s Lumière and The Haxan Cloak

German electronic composer and co-founder of Ableton Live will be performing a light, music, and art show with The Haxan Cloak on his debut U.S. tour at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple.

May 16 – Hardcore Activity In Progress

An evening of every heavy noise from various metal,jazz and hip hop at the Knockdown Center in Queens, artists like Tim Hecker, Gunplay, Clipping, and Wolf Eyes are scheduled to perform.

May 21 – A Conversation With D’Angelo

This is sold out already but if you find a way to go, do it. This is a public lecture with the one and only D’Angelo as he talks about his career at the Brooklyn Museum Cantor Auditorium.

May 30 – Lit City Trax

As one of Brooklyn’s most underground and upcoming dance labels, Lit City Trax will be delivering a steamy night of grime and filth at The Westway with producers within the family.

May 31 – A Class of Its Own: RBMA Closing Night

Fifteen artists and three different stages, RBMA will be closing the festival at Abrons Arts Center with Nightwave. Robot Koch, Dj NiRe and many more artist to be announced!

You can visit the Red Bull Music Academy’s website for more details and the full calendar. Look forward to seeing all of you out there!

(Check out the installation of the RBMA calendar mural in Greenpoint, by Sky High Murals)