GROOVY GROOVY pres. A Spiritual Boogie @ Judson Memorial Church
Judson Memorial Church55 Washington Square South, New York, NY10012 · Map
This night happened — Wed 14 Oct · 6:30pm → 11pm
free · 18+ · GROOVY GROOVY ·
Press play
Who was billed4 artists
In the order the promoter listed them.
Set times were not published.
Good to know
- “The evening opens up with a free meal around sunset.”
- “6:30 PM : Doors + Free Food”
Calling all massive to the house of God.
GROOVY GROOVY presents A Spiritual Boogie at Judson Memorial Church. Live in New York City on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
We’ll transform Judson’s main sanctuary into a groovy playground. The evening opens up with a free meal around sunset. At the hour, Kia Islam will guide a groundation comprised of gentle sound, movement and breath, softening the body-mind vessel to receive the gospel — served in form of booty-shaking African music magic. Yawuza Alhassan & modrums will present a live hybrid Studio Simpa performance, celebrating the release of the compilation Studio Simpa: Digital Dance Music on VCD from Dagbon, Northern Ghana. Akanbi closes out the session with a DJ set. Really good music will be in abundance. Your presence in marking this special occasion is bigly required. Come & play.
PROGRAM
7:30 PM : Breathe & Movement Groundation w/ Kia Islam
8:15 PM : Studio Simpa Live Performance w/ Yawuza & modrums
9:15 PM : Dance Dance Dance w/ Akanbi
11:00 PM : Closing
Please consider leaving a donation. Early arrival is highly recommended for the full immersive experience.
Kia Islam is a yoga and meditation instructor, sound healer, doula, multidisciplinary artist and international retreat host. Sharing yoga practices since 2016, Kia’s work integrates breath, alignment, intuitive movement, meditation, and sound to facilitate deeply nourishing experiences. She is devoted to lifelong study in the healing arts, spirituality, creative expression, and the intersection where artistry meets holistic wellness.
Yawuza Alhassan is a dancer, musician and culture worker from Dagbon, Northern Ghana who grew up performing simpa alongside other Dagomba social dances including Bamaya and Jera. He lives in the Bronx and leads the Wuza Wuza Ensemble. Alongside Studio Simpa compilation curator Morgan Greenstreet (aka dj modrums) they present a hybrid Studio Simpa performance: interacting live with DJ Ebony's productions, original and popular simpa songs and live percussion, Yawuza and modrums help bring an experience of Dagomba Simpa to New York City.
Akanbi is a fountain of energy whose passion and enthusiasm for music & humanity is undiluted and unmatched. As a DJ he possesses an amazing level of restraint that balances his ball-of-fire spirit. He brings a focused intention to the community as an organizer, tapping into the spiritual frequencies that go beyond the surface. In 2014, he started New York City's GROOVY GROOVY party - a judgment-free atmosphere for wild dance floors, spiritual, mental & physical rejuvenation, radical politics, and a dose of undeniably rocking talent. Akanbi has made an impression with visionary sets at The Guggenheim, Sustain Release, Dripping, Nowadays, Public Records, Tresor, Berghain/Panorama Bar, Primavera Sound, Dekmantel et al.
GROOVY GROOVY is a sexy party, cozy party, spiritual party, intentional party, friendship party and love party. 'If you're not sweating...you're doing it right.' is the motto.
WWW.GROOVYGROOVY.CLUB
NOTES TOWARDS IS A LIVE PERFORMANCE SERIES FOR BIPOC PRACTICES — Curated by Arien Wilkerson.
Andrew Akanbi: Creative Director, DJ & Curator
Kia Islam: Wellness Practitioner & Artist
Mirco Joao-Pedro: Graphic Designer
Morgan Greenstreet: Producer, DJ, Musician & Curator
Yawuza Alhassan: Musician & Dancer
the rest of the promoter’s listing — 1 more paragraph
6:30 PM : Doors + Free Food
from the promoter’s listing on Resident Advisor
Who they are
“Akanbi is heading a new generation of dedicated ravers in New York City.”
their own biography
the whole biography
Akanbi is heading a new generation of dedicated ravers in New York City. Raised in Lagos, Nigeria, with limited access to the internet but a huge thirst for new music, Akanbi moved to NYC in 2010 and immersed himself head on into every corner of dance music, as a serious dancer and, eventually, a DJ and rave activator. He’s cultivated his unique style of DJing that delivers an intentional blend of freak-out boogie music, sensual rollers, whip-crack bangers, insistent percussion, afrobeat goodness, deep thumping low frequencies & slow-burning experimental descents. In 2014, he started New York City's GROOVY GROOVY party - a judgment-free atmosphere for wild dance floors, spiritual, mental & physical rejuvenation, radical politics, and a dose of undeniably rocking talent. Akanbi has made an impression with visionary sets across the globe at select spaces like Guggenheim Museum, Sustain Release, Nowadays, Dekmantel, Horst, OIL Club Shanghai, WWW Tokyo, Berghain/Panorama Bar, Corsica Studios, Primavera Sound Barcelona et al.Recently at Nowadays, La Plaza Cultural, Apollo Studio · often with /KATA/, The Large, Ayanna Heaven, none of them here that night
“modrums approaches his DJ sets with an ear to the sonic footprint of the African diaspora, drawing on an impressive collection built from his years as a radio producer for Afropop Worldwide and shaped by his frequent travels through Europe, West Africa and the Caribbean.”
their own biography
the whole biography
modrums approaches his DJ sets with an ear to the sonic footprint of the African diaspora, drawing on an impressive collection built from his years as a radio producer for Afropop Worldwide and shaped by his frequent travels through Europe, West Africa and the Caribbean. He plays with a sense of tension and release, emotion and humor, merging roots, retro pop and current aesthetics into a singular experience of communal joy. As a producer, he works closely with Lollise, Delasi and others. He currently curates playlists of contemporary African music for Tidal.Recently at Eavesdrop, Earthly Delights, Jupiter Disco · often with Sofa Elsewhere, Xela, Miss Hap, none of them here that night
Last at La Plaza Cultural in Jun
names these artists often play with — not that night
- The Large9 with Akanbi
- DJ Temporary5 with Akanbi
- Ayanna Heaven4 with Akanbi
- x3butterfly4 with Akanbi
- /KATA/3 with Akanbi
- Yaya Flows3 with Akanbi
- DJ SWISHA2 with Akanbi
- Lychee2 with Akanbi
The room
Judson Memorial Church — 4 events and 36 distinct artists since Sep 2025.
Who put it on
GROOVY GROOVY — 18 events and 62 artists since Sep 2023.