May 26--A few weeks ago, the Low End Theory, the influential club that champions beats, bass and vibe, celebrated its 500th night in action. Featuring resident beat makers Daddy Kev, Nobody, D-Styles and Gaslamp Killer, the club since its birth in 2006 has come to define not only a weekly event but a sound.
That sonic vision, normally in the claustrophobic second-floor Lincoln Heights club the Airliner, will once again echo outdoors with the announcement of the third annual Low End Theory Festival, which will occur July 23 in and around the Shrine Expo Hall.
This year's roster will be headlined by the Wu-Tang Clan tag-team of Raekwon and Ghostface, influential turntable squad Invisbl Skratch Piklz, Northern California beat duo Hippie Sabotage (best known for its breakout remix of Tove Lo's "Stay High," below) and the producer and Top Dawg Entertainment beatmaker MixedByAli.
Those artists will be joined by some of Southern California's most accomplished experimenters, including Jonwayne, Daedelus, Gonjasufi, Teebs and Samiyam, each of whom offers a different hue in the kaleidoscopic world of beat-based music.
Also of note is the return of instrumental hip-hop innovator Prefuse 73, whose work with Warp Records helped define the subgenre, and the Midwest indie rapper Milo.
Sonnymoon, which features longtime Kendrick Lamar backing vocalist Anna Wise, will graduate from guest spots at the club and onto the festival stage. The rhythms for the entire fest will be powered by the overwhelming amplification of the Pure Filth, and augmented by visuals courtesy of Teachingmachine.
As is usually the case, the festival will also be offering beat-making workshops to help budding producers get a foothold.
Below, the full bill.
Tickets for the festival go on sale on Thursday at noon.
