Black and White Ball 2013

Morninoonanight and World Famous Productions present the 4th Annual Black & White Ball with Fort Knox 5 vs. Thunderball and Afromassive with Hometown DJ’s & Madhatta Saturday, May 18, at Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. in Arcata. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. $20 at the door, $15 advanced tickets are available at People’s Records in Arcata, DTA in Arcata, Wildberries Marketplace, The Works in Eureka. 21 and over.

The FORT KNOX FIVE is a leading force in the international funk and breaks scene. Having released an arsenal of floor rocking singles and remixes, the FORT KNOX FIVE has the midas touch for producing heavy hitting records. Sid Barcelona, Jon Horvath, Rob Myers and Steve Raskin are the masterminds behind the FORT KNOX FIVE. They established Fort Knox Recordings in 2003 to release party-rocking music that crosses tempos and defies genres. Their world renowned “Fort Knox Sound” has overtaken dance-floors with its distinct interweaving of live instrumentation with funky electronic breakbeats. The FORT KNOX FIVE’s talent for organic hooks has made them highly sought after producers and remixers. They have dozens of remixes to their credit, including monster mixes for A. Skillz and Krafty Kuts, Kraak & Smaak, Deekline & Wizard, and Malente as well as remixes for the legendary Tito Puente, Louis Armstrong, and Bob Marley. The FORT KNOX FIVE has coined the term “Reminted” to represent their signature remixing style. As DJs, they know how to rock a party with infectious grooves that effortlessly move from funk, reggae, and hip-hop to prime time beats & breaks. Their unique DJ style has proven irresistible to clubgoers worldwide. They have performed on 5 continents, and in over 30 different countries. The Fort Knox Five have spun at some of the most prestigious venues in the world such as Madison Square Gardens in NYC, the Hollywood Bowl in LA, La Paloma in Barcelona, Fabric in London, and Die Registrateur in Munich just to name a few. The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino hired the FK5 to provide musical direction for Eyecandy Sound Lounge. During their tenure at the club, it was the 3rd highest grossing venue out of all of the MGM/Mirage properties. The FORT KNOX FIVE tour as DJs, and a live band, and heavily tour the festival circuit. As DJs, they can perform on 4 turntables often with live visuals. For their live show, the FORT KNOX FIVE perform as a full-on live band bringing many of the artists featured on various projects to perform songs that will inspire, incite and unite audiences to Funk 4 Peace!

The “Ambassadors of Style” return with their fourth full-length recording, 12 Mile High, on Thievery Corporation’s ESL Music. Rob Myers, Steve Raskin and Sid Barcelona are the masterminds behind Thunderball. This Washington, DC-based trio are globally renowned purveyors of sophisticated, stereophonic-thrillers, and cinematic dub. Since 1997 their productions have shifted effortlessly between the genres of drum’n'bass, dub and downtempo, building a strong following for their signature sound. 12 Mile High marks the return of the Thunderball trio from their duties with the venerable breakbeat production group Fort Knox Five. As one of ESL Music’s original artists, Thunderball rapidly defined their sound with their 1999 debut which received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone magazine. Ambassadors of Style earned the group respect for its rich, cinematic soundscapes that are reminiscent of old blaxploitation and spy films. This was followed by 2001′s seminal release, Scorpio Rising, instantly hailed as a downtempo classic. Scorpio Rising’s integration of live instrumentation helped establish the organic vibe that is the cornerstone of the Thunderball sound. On their third release Cinescope (2006), Thunderball upped the ante with fresh elements including collaborations with the godfather of hip hop, Afrika Bambaataa. 12 Mile High is the culmination of over a decade of sonic exploration in the Thunderball realm.

AfroMassive is a new ensemble bringing the masses exciting new music with a mission to turn on your brain and make you get down. Based in northern California, AfroMassive is a collective of like-minded musicians looking to cultivate something uniquely different in our current diverse music scene. Rooted in Afrobeat and funk, they bring their own influences to the table; The improvisational nuances of jazz, elements of electronic music and hip-hop and other influences from sounds from around the world. Mixing heavy bass, driving beats, sweet synthesizers and an in-your-face horn section, the end result is a sultry concoction designed to move you body and your mind. Don’t even think about missing your chance to experience this powerful group.al palette-pleaser. Some of the musicians in AFROMASSIVE are or were members of Bay-Area afrobeat cohorts, ALBINO! and have also been a part of such groups as Gamelan X, SaQi, Everyone Orchestra, The Monophonics, Jacob Fred Jazz Oddessy, Lagos Roots Afrobeat Ensemble, MooGot 2 and much more. The group was founded on Northern California’s infamous counter-cultural hub of Humboldt County in 2007, but has really developed since relocating to the Bay Area the group has diversified its membership, its music and taken the sound to the next dimension. Creating a dense musical tapestry filled with thick interlocking and guitars, heavy bass and intricate percussion paired with and in face horn section and driving drumset, AfroMassive diversifies its sound and its listeners by seamless fusing this timeless instrumentation with unique layers of synthesizers, electronic drums, and effects. Don’t even think about missing your chance to experience this powerful group.