UMOJA HI-FI SOUNDSYSTEM 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SATURDAY OCTOBER 25

Legendary DJ crew unites for a special one-off gig.

What: Umoja 15-year Anniversary gig.
When: Saturday October 25, 2008, 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.
Where: Surya Dub at Club Six, 60 Sixth Street, San Francisco

The Umoja Hi-Fi DJ crew unites to celebrate their 15th year.

Umoja Hi-Fi was co-founded by DJ Daz (Darren Blackburn) and DJ Tomas (Tomas Palermo) in 1993, and joined a year later by DJ Culture D (Damon Arnone), DJ Jun (Jun Antazo) and Cokni O’ Dire (O Williams). Washington DC’s Stevie G (Steve Gamboa), was inducted in 2000.

At breakout LA club nights like Umoja Jazz & Ragga Lounge, B-Side and Chocolate Bar, the Umoja DJs established an eclectic blueprint for the LA club sound, one that included diverse but connected sounds from dancehall and hip-hop, to electronic beats, rare groove and house that typified the name Umoja, a Swahili word for unity.

The various members remain active in San Francisco (Tomas) and Dallas (Cokni O’ Dire) and LA (Daz, Culture D and Jun) and continue to rock key parties such as Speaker Boxx at Carbon, Uprock 77, Sunset Junction, Coachella, The Standard, Firecracker and Do-Over. Umoja DJs have also opened for and shared stages with Shabba Ranks, Supercat, David Bowie, Tricky, Jamiriquoi, The Pharcyde, Lennie Kravitz, Freestyle Fellowship and Blood & Fire Soundsystem.

The Umoja 15-Year Anniversary gig in San Francisco will be a groundbreaking gathering. It’s only the second appearance in San Francisco in 10 years for the entire DJ crew, and the first to feature founding members Daz and Culture D. Additionally, MC/DJ Cokni O’ Dire – a radio and club DJ with Brooklyn, Jamaican and London roots – will emcee in two separate rooms throughout the night and spin a vintage reggae set. DJ Jun and Tomas will perform a two-hour tag-team dubstep and global bass set in Surya Dub’s basement chamber. Expect a big night, boom tunes and DJs who live for their art. Pure vibes!