This Labor Day weekend, A Murder of Crows NYC, a two-day alternative music festival, united post-punk DJs, performers, and New York City’s goth subculture in Ridgewood, Queens, and Bushwick, Brooklyn.
A Murder of Crows NYC is dedicated to showcasing both established and emerging talents in the post-punk music scene each year. Since its debut in 2015, the festival now proudly welcomes underground aficionados from around the world.
The festival kicked off on Thursday, Aug. 29th, at TV Eye, a Ridgewood-based venue that offered much-needed air conditioning to combat the summer humidity. Encouraged to dress up for the festival, attendees rocked their best Goth outfits, corsets, makeup, and hairstyles.
Sean Templar, the main DJ from the popular monthly goth event “The Red Party,” set the mood that night with a mix of deathrock classics, followed by a special rare set by The Hunt.
Friday, Aug. 30th marked night one of the performances at the Bushwick-based venue Brooklyn Made. The Neuro Farm from Washington, D.C. was the first of the lineup, followed by Los Angeles’s Christ vs. Warhol. Brooklyn-native Bootblacks dominated the venue with their blend of post-punk synth, and Frank the Baptist, another renowned act, carried the momentum. However, the Swedish duo Kite ruled the night with their intense dark synth pop sound. Kite blends ‘80s new wave pop influences with modern, experimental sounds, resulting in an absolutely brilliant set.
The second night of dark revelry featured a lineup of artists who captivated the audience, starting with Lathe of Heaven, who opened the night, followed by Texas’s Rosegarden Funeral Party. The latter first gained popularity in 2018 for their unique twist on modern post-punk.
However, it was the electrifying performance by 1919 that was a standout of the festival. 1919 is a UK-based band that is regarded as pioneers in post-punk, with a style reminiscent of early Killing Joke.
Following 1919, the Chicago-based unit The Bellwether Syndicate captivated the audience. Throughout the evening, attendees got to check out various band merchandise while they danced to well-known DJs such as DJ Patrick, Martin OldGoth, Mortasha Kinski, Mistress McCutchan, Dave Bats, Matt V -Christ, and many others.
The last set of the night was the headliner, The March Violets, a legendary goth band from the UK that was formed in 1981. Lead vocalist Rosie Garland glowed with her graceful stage presence and commanding voice, and commented on how pleased she was to perform at A Murder of Crows NYC.
The band stunned with performances of their signature songs such as “Snake Dance” and “Walk Into the Sun.” After their set ended, the band posed for a selfie together while the crowd cheered.
All in all, this Labor Day weekend was victorious for A Murder of Crows NYC, making it a must-see music festival for anyone in the post-punk genre. For updates on the festival next year, follow A Murder of Crows NYC and The Red Party on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch.
A Murder of Crows Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crownyc
A Murder of Crows Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowsnyc
The Red Party website: https://www.redpartynyc.com/
RedPartyNYC Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/redpartynyc
