tue 03/12/2024

theartsdesk in Brooklyn: The CMJ Festival | reviews, news & interviews

theartsdesk in Brooklyn: The CMJ Festival

theartsdesk in Brooklyn: The CMJ Festival

Shoegaze, chillwave and all sounds new take over New York's secret corners

One of many CMJ posters splattering the city: 'For music industry professionals, bloggers and downtown hipsters’ appreciation alike.'

Nobody really knows what CMJ stands for, but then few of New York’s residents know of the five-day music festival’s existence either. Involving more than 1200 bands and 75 cross-borough venues, CMJ is for the real music fans - dare I say, geeks even - as the smallest, newest and most unlikely of musical acts enjoy the opportunity of a truly open platform for industry professionals, bloggers and downtown hipsters’ appreciation alike. Closest comparisons include the Edinburgh Fringe and Austin’s South By South West which happens in Texas every spring. But this is, after all, unique New York and CMJ is a truly NY event: non-stop and all night, featuring yellow cabs and mean door staff.

Nobody really knows what CMJ stands for, but then few of New York’s residents know of the five-day music festival’s existence either. Involving more than 1200 bands and 75 cross-borough venues, CMJ is for the real music fans - dare I say, geeks even - as the smallest, newest and most unlikely of musical acts enjoy the opportunity of a truly open platform for industry professionals, bloggers and downtown hipsters’ appreciation alike. Closest comparisons include the Edinburgh Fringe and Austin’s South By South West which happens in Texas every spring. But this is, after all, unique New York and CMJ is a truly NY event: non-stop and all night, featuring yellow cabs and mean door staff.

London electronic act Gold Panda took up the space on the Brooklyn Bowl stage with nothing but a MacBook Pro, a hoodie and the introverted attitude that only British dance acts appear to bring

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Comments

Great review! It's always disappointing at festivals like this that you can't get to everything but at least I have a better idea of what I missed.

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