The Blacktronika Festival 2025 Lineup Features Notable Dance Music Innovators

DJ Pierre, Wajeed, and Rimarkable appear on the Blacktronika Festival 2025 lineup ahead of this year’s event in New York City.

What started out as art and music events at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) has grown into college courses and — for the first time last year — a music festival. Blacktronika Festival returns to Central Park and Marcus Garvey Park in New York City on August 16 and 17, respectively, and organizers have now shared the full lineup.

As with the 2024 edition, Black electronic music innovators abound on the Blacktronika Festival 2025 lineup. Perhaps the most recognizable name to dance music fans is that of Phuture aka DJ Pierre, the Chicago DJ and producer whose errant Roland TB-303 knob twist created a squelch sound that inspired the immensely influential acid house sound.

Detroit will also be in the house, with hot, new Motor City names like Wajeed and Rimarkable adding weight to the bill. Perhaps most notably, UCSD professor and present-day Blacktronika torchbearer King Britt will perform back to back with Charlie Dark, who famously conceived of the ICA iteration of the concept all the way back in 1999.

“Blacktronika is a movement dedicated to honoring and illuminating innovators of color who have played a pivotal role in the evolution of electronic music,” reads a description accompanying the announcement. It goes on to note that “the festival has successfully engaged audiences in Paris, Knoxville, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and San Diego, fostering an expanding global community invested in the intersection of music, culture, and education.”

No ticket information is currently accessible for Blacktronika Festival. Pay close attention to King Britt on social media to get updates as soon as they’re available.