REFUGE NYC closes out its inaugural year with a truly special moment: Sasha performing on New Year’s Eve inside a 500-capacity club – a rarity in today’s landscape and a testament to the venue’s commitment to intimacy, purity of sound, and uncompromising underground values.
Since opening this fall, REFUGE has quickly become Brooklyn’s most talked-about new dance sanctuary, driven by founders John Dimatteo and legendary sound architect Craig “Shorty” Bernabeu. Every week, Shorty personally retunes and upgrades the club’s bespoke REX analogue sound system, continually pushing it toward even higher fidelity. This month also sees the completion of REFUGE’s new custom-built DJ booth, a three-month design-and-build project engineered for total sonic precision and performer connection.
As the club enters the holiday and winter season, REFUGE also reveals that Serge Devant becomes a new club resident with his upcoming and extended after hours set sure to lay down a fine first maker. As well as that, the venue continues its bold programming with a lineup that honours house and techno’s past, present and future, culminating in Last Night on Earth label head and enduring electronic legend Sasha with Vivian Wang on December 31 and Victor Calderone, Avision and Jivan Calderone for New Year’s Day.
Ahead of that REFUGE’s late-fall and early-winter programming brings a dynamic mix of international heavyweights, New York icons, and rising talents across house and techno. November closes with Battle Hymn taking over the room with J. Aria, Michael Magnan and Donofrio, followed by stacked Saturdays featuring Tim Green, Anthony Middleton, Ranger Trucco and Claudio. The month continues with Serge Devant’s “After” session, Tony Humphries for Sunday Selectors and a special Thanksgiving Eve with Natalia Roth, Shahar and Jean Pierre, before Battle Hymn returns for a holiday edition with Dane Deveraux, Eli Escobar and Tom Peters. Finally, Joey Llanos and Shorty step in for another Sunday Selectors session.
December rolls in with a UK trio of Josh Butler, Liam Palmer, Elliot Schooling and Heidy P, followed by Chuwee & Matisa, plus a sunrise after-hours on the 14th with Serge Devant & Dimatteo. The month’s marquee nights include Miss Gypsy, Carl Craig and Octave One (live) on the 20th, Mike Dunn with Cosmo, Simon Heyliger and Mario MPC on the 27th and Jellybean Benitez to round out the final Sunday of the year.
Set inside a standalone 19th-century industrial complex between East Williamsburg and Bushwick, REFUGE was built to centre sound, space, and spirit above all else. The room features a floated maple wood dancefloor, acoustics shaped by Al Fierstein of Studio 54 and Sound Factory fame, 35-foot ceilings, original brickwork and zero residential restrictions enabling true late nights and marathon after-hours sessions.
Phones are discouraged, there’s no VIP and no bottle service, keeping the experience raw and unfiltered. Get your tickets now at; refuge.nyc. For more information on REFUGE head to: refuge.nyc / @Refuge.NYC
