Knitting Factory Brooklyn Announces Their Upcoming Shows and Events

The Knitting Factory was founded in 1987 and over the years has grown into Knitting Factory Entertainment, which encompasses four clubs - in Brooklyn, Hollywood, Boise, and Spokane - several record labels and other ventures. Below is an account of the New York club's first years, written by company founder Michael Dorf.

Tuesday, April 27th
Cobra Skulls, Broadway Calls, Lugosi, the Jukebox Romantics
Just signed to Fat Wreck Chords, Cobra Skulls have an urgent political message and are one of the hottest bands in the punk scene. Originally from Reno, they released a couple great LPs with Red Scare and have been playing clubs and basements in North America and Europe over the past couple years. Their dynamic sound takes influences from all sorts of bands: classic punk like Misfits and Clash mixed with newer stuff akin to Against Me! and Bad Religion. Whether it's leftist anthems or punky love songs, Cobra Skulls craft the hits for the pit.

Thursday, April 29th
Scion Garage presents the Black Lips, Pierced Arrows
On the eve of the release of their fifth album, the Black Lips' faith abides stronger than ever. A host of influences (Roky, Brian Jones, Bo Diddley, Lollipop Shoppe) have passed through their gullet and provided the sustenance to keep their faith alive. The dusts of a southern back road and the big-city gutter puke crackle in the grooves of this record as it did in the previous ones. The shouts and moans and static continue to bear witness. Can you, O Garage Rock Faithful, connect the dots? The Lips love the Lollipop Shoppe, Pierce Arrows are the support. (Pierced Arrow was once Dead Moon, Fred Cole was/is guitarist lead singer of PA, DM and Lollipop. But you knew that. But just knowing that doesn't get ya in, you still gotta RSVP www.scion.com/garageshow

Saturday, May 1st
Version City Party w/ King Django's Roots and Culture Band, Kevin Batchelor, Shem's Disciples
A seminal force in the American ska & reggae scene, King Django has made his name internationally as a singer, ragamuffin MC, songwriter, arranger, instrumentalist (trombone, ukulele, harmonica, melodica, etc.), producer, studio engineer and record label owner (Stubborn Records). King Django has toured internationally many times over as a solo artist, as the leader of Skinnerbox and Stubborn All Stars and as trombonist for Rancid, the Toasters, and legendary New York City hardcore band Murphy's Law. At present, Django spends a lot of time recording and producing many bands in many genres in his relocated Version City recording studio, now in New Brunswick, NJ. He also performs regularly with his King Django Band, King Django's Roots and Culture Band, and as a "selector" (DJ) and "DJ" (MC) with his Version City Sound System, among others.

Sunday, May 2nd
The Great Muppet Caper Sing-A-Long
Another daytime KF family event! Come sing along to a screening of Jim Henson's classic Muppet musical, The Great Muppet Caper. Starring Kermit the Frog (as himself), Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo, (and featuring an amazing appearance by John Cleese) , the film combines qualities of A.A. Milne, Busby Berkeley and a small bit of Blake Edwards. This time the Muppets are out to solve a jewel heist, and foil a criminal plot to steal the "fabulous Baseball Diamond".

Wednesday, May 5th
Cheeseburger, Hard Nips, Wizardzz, DJ Krames
"If you've never experienced the mayhem that is one of their shows, now is the time. Once known mainly for the drunken buffoonery, Cheeseburger have really come into their own as a great rock band. These days it's the fans who indulge in the shenanigans, as the band are too busy contributing songs to Grand Theft Auto IV and the Will Ferrell movie, Step Brothers ("Derby Day" plays over the closing credits)." - Brooklyn Vegan

Thursday, May 6th
Tigercity, Sugar & Gold, the Seedy Seeds, Free Blood
Since the critically and commercially successful self-release of their Pretend Not to Love EP in July 2007, Brooklyn's Tigercity has been touring almost continuously, bringing their brand of pop escapism to the masses. Between tours, the band found time to return home and record its first full-length album, enlisting producer Chuck Brody (Peter, Bjorn and Jon, Ghostface Killah) to help realize their vision for a darker, more mature sound. The result is Ancient Lover, a collection of songs that expand upon the crisp production of Pretend Not to Love, utilizing a new arsenal of vintage synthesizers and layers of beautiful ambient guitar to support songs about the ups and downs of rock life. For a band with influences ranging from Prefab Sprout, Chic and Roxy Music to Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, and Tangerine Dream, Tigercity has certainly created its own unique brand of outsider pop.

Saturday, May 8th
No No No! You Don't Have To... A celebration of the music of Fela Kuti and the art of protest starring the Deedle Deedle Dees Family Variety Show
Performers from the cast of the Broadway musical, Fela!, jazz legend Roy Nathanson, his son, Gabe Nathanson, and Brooklyn preschoolers perform original Fela-style music they wrote with the Deedle Deedle Dees

Saturday, May 8, 2010
UniTribe Nightlife: Stirring the Seeds of Change-starring Disco Monkeys, Dynasty Electric, the Flowdown, Ekayani, Matchless Gifts Collective, Sanga Kirtan
A progressive art band known for its high-energy performances and visual appeal, Disco Monkeys have been featured in indie films and often perform in collaboration with visual artists at private and public events for institutions, galleries and the film industry. Disco Monkeys create a dialogue between the visual art and their distinctive sound that runs continuously over the course of two hours, with no clear beginning or end, triggering a journey where spectator, artwork and sound coalesce into a collective consciousness.

Tuesday, May 11th
New Slave Record Release Party starring Zs, Excepter, Mick Barr, Silk Flowers with Dutty Artz DJs Matt Shadetek & Lamin
Founded in 2000, Zs are Sam Hillmer (tenor saxophone), Ben Greenberg (electric guitar), Tony Lowe (electric guitar), and Ian Antonio (drum set). While Zs' music has been variously categorized as no-wave, noise, and post-minimalist, it is primarily concerned with making music that challenges the physical and mental limitations of both performer and listener. Manipulating extended technique, unique instrumental synthesis, and near telepathic communication, Zs aims to create works that envelop the listener and unfold sonically over time, evoking unspoken past, present, and future rites and ritual

Wednesday, May 12th
Leatherface, Ninja Gun, 2 Man Advantage
Leatherface formed August 1988, and with a penchant for bad horror films, the odd mask made of leather and a novel called Leatherface about a highway robber with romantic inclinations, the band was born. England's Leatherface are a rare treasure in contemporary music -- a good old-fashioned punk rock band who are neither near-sighted nor necrophiles. If you believe that punk can still matter -- that it can be impassioned, intelligent and emotive without just retreading the boards -- you should check out Leatherface immediately.

Friday, May 14th
Year Long Disaster, Karma to Burn, Naam, Elk
Since their formation in late 2004, Year Long Disaster have channeled the bastardized muddy blues stomps of their forefathers and overlaid them with their own flash and drama. Their 2007 self-titled debut landed them tours with the Cult, Velvet Revolver, and the Foo Fighters, as well as praise from critics and fans alike, including Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister (with whom they also toured), who told Kerrang! Magazine that "Year Long Disaster plays rock and roll music like rock and roll should be played."

http://bk.knittingfactory.com/