With the amount of hip hop and EDM (electronic dance music) shows that have been coming to town as of late, there is one demographic being left out, because they can’t get in the door.
Vernon DJ/producer Genocyde (real name Max Burke) wants to change that.
He has come up with a 16-plus age event called Masquerave, which celebrates the music, but leaves out the drug connotation that can accompany such events.
What started as an event page on Facebook for a Halloween party has now turned into a secured event, which is welcoming people from as far and wide as Williams Lake and Vanderhoof to the Vernon Recreation Centre auditorium on Saturday.
The event was originally going to be an outdoor party because of the response that was initially received after it was posted on Facebook, with 300 hits on the second day, said Genocyde.
“We asked if everyone going would donate a minimum of $5 to help us rent a generator, lights, sound and build some sort of stage,” he said. “By day three, the number had grown to over 500 and that’s when my mom said something like ‘I can’t believe all these kids are going to drive to some remote area just to hear you all play. The roads are treacherous and there will surely be alcohol and drugs consumed. I really wish there was a safer way for you kids to do this.’”
Genocyde took his mom’s (Debra Burke) advice and help when she suggested he change the event into an indoor venue that could be rented, with advance ticket sales to help with the costs.
“The pressure was now on me to do this and that is when I asked my mom if she would help us. She almost immediately said yes because she feels so strongly about the safety of young people and is aware that there are rarely events for teens.”
In approaching the Vernon Recreation Centre, Genocyde says there were a lot of things to be done before staff would consider him hosting a 16-plus dance.
“Safety was number one. We had to hire a professional security company and let everyone know that alcohol and drugs would be strictly prohibited,” he said, saying the rec centre ended up being the perfect fit.
He also decided on a masquerade theme, and the name just fit.
“The name Masquerave is not to be confused with a drug-induced dance party. We want everyone to come enjoy the night, respect the venue and everyone inside it so we can do this every couple of months.”
At 19, Genocyde (who says he uses that name because he wants to cause destruction on the dance floor with the power of his music, nothing else) is not only organizing Masquerave, he is one of the DJs performing. He has been playing and producing electronic music for the last six years and professionally since 2010.
Locally, he has worked with Daryl Dee Bass of Bassbong Records and 13th Floor Entertainment, along with Abstrakt Sonance and Leo Zen, for the Bass Carnival event at Club 2929, and has played events in different cities throughout the province. He is also getting ready to do a release on the Beatport label.
Joining him at Masquerave will be Destroia and Young Catalyst (former Vernon resident and hip hop recording artist) as well as WolfTrack, JLee, Biwweh, Sound Switch and All Day.
The Masquerave takes place Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Limited wristbands are available at the Vernon Recreation Complex for $10 each or $15 at the door (ID may be required.)
