Location: Queens, NY, USA
Capacity: 4,400
In its seven years of existence, the multidisciplinary nine-room venue known as Knockdown Center, housed in a 120-year-old factory complex, has become one of driving forces of New York City’s nightlife. A glance at the list of DJs who have played in 20,000-square-foot main hall and its similarly-sized backyard (aptly named The Ruins) tells you why: Kerri Chandler, Jeff Mills, DJ Harvey, Louie Vega, and Ben Klock are just a few who have worked the club’s concert-grade A/V system in recent months, with Aussie house heavy hitter Wax Motif among those on the way. Toss in live performances, festivals, exhibitions, and the Center’s techno-centric sister club Basement, and you’ve got yourself something truly special.