Got plans this Friday? Well, maybe now you do. Join the folks behind MOM DJs and Events as they celebrate Motown on Monday's sixth trip around the sun over at The Independent this Friday, April 17th.
Since humble beginnings as a weekly neighborhood event at Madrone that aimed to celebrate the Detroit soul music that MOM founder Donovan Hall (DJ Gordo Cabeza) grew up with, Motown on Mondays has been asked to franchise out to many locations across the country, taking its energetic blend of soul music and dancing on the road.
In fact, the anniversary soiree this Friday will host DJs from the six different MOM parties in California alone, featuring acts from Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco (SF will be represented by the original Madrone faction as well as the newer folks over at Pop's in The Mission).
Stephen Jackson/Hoodline
"Last year was the first year we had it at the Independent and it nearly sold out," said Tim Ryan (DJ Timoteo Gigante), a partner and original member of MOM at Madrone. "This year we are hoping to see at least the same success in the same way, by bringing local talent and relying on our MOM fam, which are the roots of the party itself."
That said, Ryan also told us they are pleased to welcome renowned Canadian DJ The Gaff to add his unique blend of funk, soul, and dance music to the party.
The MOM DJs, which added Malachi Pearson (The Captain Hat) most recently, have a few special guests of their own as well. They have invited The Hitsville Soul Sisters, Will Magid, E Da Boss and Audio Angel to perform live alongside them as they do their thing.
In fact, the entire night has a collaborative edge to it. Five turntables will be set up with three mixers on stage, and each MOM camp will be given 30 minutes to perform a specially curated set for the evening. Many more special guests are anticipated to perform with each group, and, if the vibe is anything like their other parties, the music will likely have the crowd moving in an oh-so-soulful way.
Ryan is pleased with the way the party has changed over past six the years. "It's evolved quite a bit," he told us. "It's taken some of the other cities a while to get started and develop a scene, but a lot of the venues that have stuck with it are really starting to see a strong following."
(Photo: MOM)
"Motown on Mondays is great because of its diversity," he continued. "It's the kind of place where you'll have 60- or 70-year-old cats that have been around Divisadero forever showing up every Monday, along with people literally bringing their grandmas in, and you'll also have 21-year-old kids from USF. On top of that, we get a really good cultural mix, with people of all different colors."
Sound like your kind of party? You can purchase tickets here. They're $15 advance, and $20 at the door. The event gets going at 8:30pm, so head on over after dinner and get down in celebration of the neighborhood's longest-running weekly dance party.
