Friday Mar.28th, City Presents cosmic techno pioneer PLEASUREKRAFT alongside SHAY DE CASTRO at the new reveald dance music venue, GRIDWRKS, on 221 Rideau st, Ottawa.
PLEASUREKRAFT (Kraftek, Drumcode, Octopus Recordings) Pleasurekraft is a techno duo formed by Kaveh Soroush from Washington, D.C., and Kalle Ronngardh from Stockholm. They gained prominence in 2010 with their track "Tarantula," which topped the Beatport charts for an entire month. Their music is described as a "simultaneously visceral and cerebral experience" characterized by seductive, deep, groove-heavy, underground techno. Over the years, Pleasurekraft has evolved their sound towards what they term "cosmic techno," integrating big room drums, soaring breaks, and unpredictable vocals. They have also established their own label, Kraftek, and have remixed tracks for artists like Green Velvet and Booka Shade.
SHAY DE CASTRO (Factory 93, Kraftek, Codex Recordings) Shay De Castro is an American techno DJ and producer hailing from Idaho. Despite growing up in a region with little electronic music presence, she cultivated a passion for techno through online communities and self-directed learning. Her sound blends hard-hitting, driving beats with deep, ominous melodies, influenced by her background in grunge rock and guitar playing. De Castro has released music on notable labels such as Factory 93 and Kraftek, earning support from industry figures like Adam Beyer and Amelie Lens. She has performed at esteemed venues worldwide, sharing stages with artists including Deborah De Luca and Spektre.
MADISON MADISON is a rising force in Ottawa’s house music scene, proving she knows exactly how to make bodies move and booties shake on any dancefloor. Over the past few years, she’s been slaying the local scene, performing with a variety of Ottawa’s event collectives and rocking the decks at signature clubs like City at Night and 27 Club. This summer, she stepped onto the festival stage for the first time, delivering high-energy sets at Camp Summerdaze and Front Republic Music Festival. Effortlessly blending brooding basslines with ethereal, spacey melodies, MADISON likes to get deep, dark and dirty, and lost in the groove. With every set, MADISON hopes to inspire a sonic exploration of the human condition, encouraging listeners to find catharsis, connection, and an undying spirit of rebellion.
GRIDWRKS - 221 Rideau St. - City Gridwrks is the next evolution of the City at Night community; An expansion designed to be more than just a venue. It’s a space where underground music, culture, and community intersect, creating a
