Presented by 6AM Group, Synthetik Minds and Dirty Epic, RE/FORM is a day-into-night event concept that aims to showcase and elevate the presence of cutting-edge electronic music in Los Angeles, with a focus on quality Techno, Experimental and House.
Ready to present its fifth edition this coming April 1+2 weekend, RE/FORM has now become a bi-annual appointment for all techno and house aficionados in Southern California and beyond, taking place on the first weekends of April (Spring) and September (end of Summer) each year.
Optimist Studios is the ideal blank canvas for RE/FORM to flex its muscles as a brand that focuses on providing elevated music experiences while maintaining the raw, underground ethos that its presenting brands are known for world-over. The weekend will feature The Warehouse stage, a fully indoor, air-conditioned and heated warehouse-like space ideal for techno, as well as an Open-Air stage, that will host the House and Melodic programming of the weekend.
On April 1st, attendees with a discerning taste for techno in a Warehouse Stage setting will experience headlining performances from Dutch techno legend Speedy J, as well as the North American debut set from Roog Unit, which sees British techno mainstays Luke Slater and Ø [Phase] perform back-to-back. The stage is completed by the uber-talented Jamaica Suk, and opening from Los Angeles’ Pre Op Trans.
Meantime, the Open-Air Stage will be hosted by local Bears In Space collective and duo, who have personally invited some of the world’s best in House and Disco for a proper groove sesh under the Los Angeles sky: French-born, New York-based DJ François K, who started remixing disco records in the mid-’70s when he was just a teenager, and became a pioneer of the form; Scottish House duo Optimo (Espacio), one of LA’s best track selectors in François K; and of course Bears In Space duo themselves, comprised of Chris Bowen & Victor Rodriguez.
On Day 2 RE/FORM shows no signs of stopping, and why should they? Those who like their techno harder and faster can feast on a world-class lineup headlined by British born-and-bred Rebekah, whose uncompromising sound has seen her become one of the most sought-after techno acts globally. She is joined by Involve Records boss Regal, whose acid-tinged fast techno soundscapes have made him one of the most in demand artist of his generation, as well as one of the hottest exports from Ukraine’s quality techno scene in v, who has been taking the European techno scene by storm.
Outside, revelers will enjoy a progression of techno that begins right here at home in Los Angeles with Materielle b2b Marie Nyx, and then travels to Detroit for one of the legends to come from the birthplace of techno, Stacey Pullen. As the sun sets on Optimist Studios, it will be the turn of Recondite, who hasn’t performed in LA since 2018, to take the stage for one of his now-iconic Live sets, followed by fellow German Konstatin Sibold who will be entrusted to close out the stage with one of his trademark energetic and melodic techno deliveries.
Keeping up with what is now tradition, RE/FORM is running a DJ Discovery contest, allowing DJs to submit mixes for a chance to play at the festival. Previous editions of this initiative uncovered new artists that are now regularly performing in Los Angeles’ thriving techno scene.
Further, Spring 2023 will also be the second time that RE/FORM hosts a Community Workshop aimed for artists, DJs, music producers, industry professionals and community members looking to learn, connect and help grow the already-flourishing Los Angeles underground techno and house community. Hosted in collaboration with Resident Advisor, IO Music Academy, SoCal Synth Society and David Castellani, the workshop will take place on the eve of the festival, March 31st, and will be announced in due course.
RE/FORM finds its roots deep in the underground and continues its mission of keeping the underground ethos and values alive with dedicated Afterparty programming during RE/FORM weekend. While its established home at Optimist Studios enables RE/FORM to bring the warehouse experience to the festival, afterparty programming will be announced the week-of the festival, with exclusive first-access to festival attendees.
REFORM launched in 2019 with performances by Robert Hood, Insolate, DJ Hyperactive and Annika Wolfe playing REFORM by Day, while Perc, Adam X, Dimi Angelis and EAS brought harder techno sounds to the REFORM by Night programming.
Forced to skip 2020 due to COVID, RE/FORM made its comeback on Labor Day Weekend 2021 with a lineup featuring a diverse array of Techno and House acts from North America.
RE/FORM’s 2021 edition featured performances by DVS1, Danny Tenaglia, Headless Horseman, Josh Wink, Rrose, Truncate b2b DJ Hyperactive, Lauren Flax and an entire room of experimental music curated by BLK_NOISE, the label founded by Drumcell and Surachai.
In 2022 RE/FORM switched to a bi-annual calendar, starting with a Spring 2022 edition which hosted sets from Dax J, SNTS, Sara Landry, Lindsey Herbert, Kyle Hall, Belief Defect, Brennen Grey, and the return of a BLK_NOISE curated stage.
The festival moved to its new home at Optimist Studios for its Summer 2022 edition, welcoming Paula Temple, 999999999, Pan-Pot, Ken Ishii, Pleasurekraft, Octave One (Live), Efdemin, Juana, Randomer, Jeson Kendig and many more for an incredible weekend of techno at a brand-new location.
Tickets for REFORM Spring ‘22 are available at www.reformfestival.com
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