The Curator’s Crates: The Spaces Between
A spotlight on Swallowed Open Decks, three genre-blurring club cuts, and why Book Club Radio's Outer Rim might be this year's can't-miss event.
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Parties and Collectives that Platform Underrepresented Groups
This recurring segment started as an informal list of NYC-based parties and collectives that I check in on when making the "After Dark Alerts" section of this newsletter. The names mentioned build high-quality events that also uplift members of their community.
I will occasionally add larger round ups to the Backroom section of this publication to help the information land in a dedicated space, but this isn't intended to be an exhaustive list at any point. New people enter the scene and it's important to encourage and highlight new voices, especially those that uplift others.
You've seen this name in prior editions of The Curator's Crates. That is because a major reason I started .WAV Gallery was to shed some light and love on the best parts of the music scene.
The guiding principle of this list is that each party or collective must consistently and intentionally create opportunities for marginalized communities. This can include but is not limited to:
- Diverse lineups
- Mutual aid and/or fundraising for ethical causes
- A general mission statement and/or dance floor rules that encourage safe spaces and specifically prohibit discrimination
- Specific statements on their left-leaning political stances
This edition focuses on Swallowed Open Decks, an event that highlights an often overlooked but essential part of dance music culture: creating low-barrier entry points for new DJs. Founded by DJ girlcrush and hosted on the first Tuesday of each month at a rotating selection of local venues, the whale-themed night serves as both a learning environment and a community hub. Each edition features a rotating co-host, welcomes both vinyl and digital DJs, and remains open across genres.
Swallowed prioritizes participation from FLINTA DJs (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Nonbinary, Trans, Agender, and other gender nonconforming people), helping expand access for people who often face barriers to entry. Beyond the decks, each event creates space for community building through tabling and partnerships with organizations such as like Queer Nightlife Community Center and the Cultural Solidarity Project.
The events encourage connection, mentorship, and visibility, giving both experienced and emerging artists a chance to play in front of an audience while meeting peers, organizers, and community members. Rather than treating open decks as a competition or audition, Swallowed fosters an atmosphere of support and discovery.
I attended the August edition at Honey's and had a really special time. It was the middle of the week, I was exhausted from work, and I almost stayed home. I convinced myself to just go for 2 hours. I didn't DJ. Instead, I had a pleasant time meeting people and hearing music I might not have encountered otherwise. I stayed far later than intended. I left tired, but it was a different kind of tired, the kind that comes from dancing on a weeknight.
Make sure to attend the next Swallowed Open Decks on Tuesday, October 6th from 6 PM to 12 AM at Selva.
On Loop
Recommended Listening"Tuff Stuff" finds Brink and Lutsu operating in the space between electro, acid, and breaks, pairing punchy drum programming with a restless sense of movement. Through the playful vocal hook the track balances club functionality with just enough weirdness to keep dancers on their toes.
Clocked It Got Long - Bailey Ibbs
"Clocked It Got Long" balances UK breaks with a dance floor groove. Clocking in at over five minutes, the track never overstays its welcome, with Bailey Ibbs introducing just enough variation to keep the energy rising.
Another genre fusion, "YEAH" is my favorite recent find. There's a wide range of music that fits under the deconstructed club umbrella, and Miss Jay pulls from many of its best qualities. The track shifts between high-energy moments and more restrained passages. Those valleys give listeners something to hold onto, making its more experimental ideas feel approachable to those who might not gravitate towards maximalist electronic sounds.
After Dark Alerts
Music foreword | Free and low-cost events
To have your event featured, send an email or calendar invite to ogd@wavgallery.com including the flyer, description, and ticket link
Please Note: Descriptions are pulled from event promotional materials.
Life After Trance
Tuesday, September 29th from 10 PM - 4 AM @ Bossa Nova
A night dedicated to trance in all its forms, moving through different eras, styles, and sounds.
Book Club Radio Festival
Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd @ SILO This isn’t just a bigger party. It’s not just a festival. Welcome to our world, pushed past the boundaries and into the Outer Rim.
Two days, two dance floors, 20+ artists
Hosted at @brooklynrootscollective & @silobrooklyn
I wasn't planning to write individual event descriptions, but I need to reiterate just how special this festival is. Book Club Radio Festival #2: The Outer Rim marks a rare opportunity to experience something that is typically invite-only. For its second annual festival, Book Club Radio is opening its doors wider while staying true to the values that made the party series so beloved: community and a willingness to embrace unfamiliar sounds.
Beyond the music, the organizers have crafted an immersive sci-fi world populated by cantina drifters, intergalactic smugglers, bounty hunters, and rogue traders. Across two dance floors, attendees will encounter a lineup that spans a wide range of dance music, from Varist, a beloved fixture in the Book Club Radio universe, to genre-defying artists like Machinedrum. If the best parties offer a temporary escape from everyday life, The Outer Rim seems determined to build an entirely new planet.
Heavenly Delusion
October 9 from 6 PM - 2 AM @ Honey's
A two-room production at @honeysbrooklyn formulated around the concept of hypnotic escapism. Whether it be on the Roof with the groovy syncopation of extended sets from some of NYC's fastest rising selectors or in The Winery with guttural tones and trance-inducing rhythms, this event will be it's own little slice of heaven.
Flyer by the extremely talented @y2aura.
Tasting Notes
Saturday, October 10 from 7 PM to 11 PM @ St Lydias
A sensorial event connecting chefs with DJs, curated menus meet curated sets. Each course inspires and is reflected sonically through more ambient and experimental sets.
Come with empty bellies and curious ears and leave with both appetites satisfied.
Tasting menu curated by:
@inthered.wav @ianpfister @fortunecacao
Adding an additional note in my capacity as DJ: Events that create a mutli-sensory experience are my favorite to play. This will be a wholesome and delicious dinner with an ambient soundtrack. I've been digging for tracks that are smoky, earthy, deep, savory, bold, nocturnal, moody, and hypnotic at the direction of the chefs. Can you guess what dish I am curating for?
Exclusive Preview: Keep an eye out for a special edition of Club Massive's Happy Hour Breaks coming to Happyfun Hideaway on October 3oth. It's the perfect way to kick off your Halloween celebration.