FEATURING A HEADLINING HARD ELECTRONIC SET FROM LENNY DEE & MALKE, IN ADDITION TO SETS FROM
AGENT ORANGE DJ, OSHEEN, HENRY VENGEANCE (LIVE PA), RAYMOND CRUZ, RUSS URBAN, AND RAMSEY K
CLOVER SLATED FOR 3/25 AT THE KING’S HALL
AT AVANT GARDNER
On March 25th, Lemuria Live & ACME Present CLOVER will manifest at Avant Gardner’s coveted King’s Hall to echo the roots of its infamous origin party, which took place in the iconic Newburgh Skatepark 28 years ago in 1995. Merging the past and the future to celebrate the now by bringing together an eclectic array of performers who were born in the warehouses of the ‘90s. Lenny Dee and Malke with a headlining hard electronic set, NYC-based DJ and producer Agent Orange DJ, Uptown Underground mainstay Henry Vengeance, who will take the stage with a live performance, Blinded Records head honcho Osheen, techno and house veteran Russ Urban, and more.
Originally held on the same date in 1995, the event gained notoriety as one of the most legendary raves of all time. In line with the stigma surrounding rave culture which was heavily present at the time, organizers crafted a DIY party, promoted strictly through word of mouth and grassroots marketing, for those who wanted to let loose and dance in a space full of like-minded people. Organizers of the original event creatively hid 400 people on the patio when the police to check the venue, adding to the mystique of this underground phenomenon, called the fire marshal. The party only ended when the needle was worn down to the point that it skid across what would have been the next record at 12:30 in the afternoon.
On CLOVER’s forthcoming resurgence, DJ, producer, and primary organizer behind ACME 1995 and 2023, Ramsey Kablaoui reminiscences on the fragility and elevated danger of throwing raves at the time because anything could happen. “When the officer informed me that the fire marshal was on his way, I grabbed Russ Urban and a security guard and we moved half the crowd to the patio and said ‘shhhhhhh.’” Honing in on its roots and celebrating the decade’s significance in developing the electronic music scene into what it is today, he states, “What I want, most of all is for people to get energized or excited. We can't go back to the 90s, but maybe we can harness some of the attributes that made that time amazing.”
The lineup features a string of some of the most notable figures in New York City’s house and techno scene. The iconic Lenny Dee, known for his high-energy hardcore sound, will take the stage alongside the talented drummer Malke in a rare showcase of the Hard Electronic label. Agent Orange DJ, a veteran of the underground scene, will bring his signature mix of jacking and driving techno. Osheen, a respected producer and DJ in the house and techno scene, will be closing. Henry Vengeance, one of the driving forces behind the ‘90s rave sphere, will be performing a rare live set. Russ Urban, who also performed at the first CLOVER, will be showcasing his eclectic mix of house and techno. Raymond Cruz, from the Hudson Valley House Heads, will be setting the tone for the night along with Ramsey Kablaoui - alias Ramsey K - himself, known for his ability to blend different styles seamlessly will transition the event from techno to house.
On curating the lineup, Kablaoui says, “I was the booking and promotions coordinator for ACME. The music at most raves back then followed a typical bell curve. Meaning there was a warm-up, a peak in the middle, and a cool-down at the end. Clover's musical programming will be a throwback to the bell curve model used in the 90s. The original Clover was slated to go from 9 pm to 2 pm so I had to plan the music accordingly, which included programming 2 bell curves into the night. The first peak was around 1-4 and then 6-9.”
The theme of the party, "the importance of past, present, and future influences in the rave scene" pushes CLOVER’s longstanding motto, “Respect the Past, Embrace the Future, Experience the Now,” which aims to honor the roots of the original event while honoring the evolution of rave culture. In addition to the incredible music, the event will also feature live body painting by Shanndyland for those looking for a burst of creativity amidst the madness.
ACME Presents Clover is not just a party, but also an opportunity to give back to the community. A portion of the ticket funds will be donated to the Education Through Music charity, which provides music education programs in underprivileged schools in New York City. The festivities will kick off in NYC with the official CLOVER pre-party hosted by The Usual Suspects.
Tickets are on sale now at https://bit.ly/CLOVER23TIX; more information can be found at https://lemuria.live/.