On Saturday, Dec. 15, Red Bull Music partners with Austin-based collectives Unbounded and Thank You For Sweating to transform a downtown Austin venue into an all-night party. Red Bull Music Presents: Equal Axis is a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory experience highlighting local underground collectives, artists and creatives representing Austin's vibrant queer and arts communities. Three-dimensional art installations and striking projections provide the backdrop for a robust line-up of DJs and performances by Austin-area dancers, drag queens and aerialists.
A high-energy dance party with underground sounds and a hush-hush aesthetic, Equal Axis includes artistic contributions from multicultural, queer, gender non-conforming and non-binary creatives and their allies, encouraging visibility and expression through performance, activations and installations.
"With Equal Axis, we've curated a safe space for expression - a place where all people can stay true to themselves and be comfortable doing so," said Anita Obasi, founder of Unbounded. "Partnering with Red Bull, we're able to shine a greater spotlight on the beauty of the DIY scene in Austin and really make a statement about the power of visibility."
Added Charles Moon, founder of Thank You For Sweating, "We wanted to create a space where anyone and everyone can come and enjoy themselves. That's what the concept of Equal Axis is all about: it doesn't matter how cool you are, just have a good time and dance until you're sweating. We're excited to bring this creative vision to life and partner with an amazing group of DJs, artists and collectives."
Connecting the crowd through sound are musical performances by Austin-based DJs and producers JEVA, Thank You For Sweating, and Wet Male, as well as a 45-minute closing set from House of Kenzo, the San Antonio-based multidisciplinary art collective known for hosting workshops and conceptual dance parties. Acclaimed 29-year-old British-Japanese DJ/producer Maya Jane Coles will make her Texas debut, fresh off the release of her 2017 sophomore album Take Flight.
Austin-based performance artists include aerialists and contortionists Caty Mae and Sarah Sparkles; dancers and genderqueer personalities Josue Allen Hart and Purple Matter; and drag queens Belladonna, Leia Sakura, Ruby Knight and Tatiana Cholula.
Local artists and collectives Daigon Digital, which specializes in customized LED lighting and projection mapping; the Hyperreal Film Club, a group of interdisciplinary artists; Perpetual Design, whose large-scale art installations have been featured at a number of festivals across the US; and Suzanne Wyss, who creates fantasy environments through sculpture and installation, transform the venue into an immersive environment.
Admission to Red Bull Music Presents: Equal Axis is $10 in advance and $15 day of show and at the door. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, November 8. Event is open to ages 18+. Visit https://win.gs/EqualAxisTickets for more information.
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