VAGABOND: curators and creators of unexplored house and techno
austin, texas
www.facebook.com/vagabondatx
VAGABOND is the brainchild of seasoned DJ/producer Daniel Allen and writer/dance music enthusiast Belen Rodriguez.
Sometime in 2009, in a galaxy far, far away, tiny dancer Belen bestowed the moniker of “vagabond” upon a nomadic Daniel in jest of his couch-crashing lifestyle. Six years later, the creative partners, along with inductees Derek Bittner (aka d.r.k), Paul Bickford (fka UTAH) and Jeff Scroggin (aka jscro), continue to curate fine exhibitions of unexplored techno and house for the fun-loving party people of Austin. Trailing on the heels of Daniel’s HTX-ATX residency at Plush with Josh Dupont (which brought the likes of Dirtybird Justin Martin to the capital city), VAGABOND’s debut showcased an all-star local lineup - Luis Ramirez (aka Daelo), Supafly and ringleader Daniel Allen - at former dance haven Loft 718. A few months later, VAGABOND invited its first out-of-town guest, Detroit native John Johr, to headline Belen’s 33rd birthday party at the same venue. VAGABOND then stretched its tentacles to other venues in the city, and in partnership with local collectives UFunktion, Whiskey Pickle and Headstrong, brought prolific guests such as Convextion, Dead Seal, Camea, Damian Lazarus, Danny Daze, Kyle Geiger, James Teej, Craig Kuna, Kris Wadsworth, and Hidden Recordings’ Deepak Sharma. Determined to keep the cause fresh and cohesive, in between national and international names, VAGABOND sprinkled a quality mix of state and city favorites like Proton Radio’s Bon Spengler, Houston trailblazers Henry Chow and Sasha Braverman, San Antonio’s Abe Novy, techno titan Spettro, Harmonious Discord’s Pointbender, the elusive Lauren LaRose, music madman Spud Crowley, charismatic Joe Dismal, graffiti artist Mez Data, Get Broke! co-founder Merrick Brown, and Detroit-Houston transplant Dan Bain, as well as notable up-and-comers Christian Thomas and Robert Roman. These days, VAGABOND is doused in Topo Chico instead of libations, and the crew has branched out into the culinary arts (Paul Bickford), cinema (Derek Bittner) and baby-making (Jeff Scroggin). Despite all the “adulting,” VAGABOND is still going strong with its residency at Plush, and continues to seek and book avant music makers.
A majority of the flyers are designed by Daniel Allen. Previous designers include Mez Data, Jonathan Lopez, Jonathan Francis, Chris Nelson and Matteo Thomas. DJ photos and most event photos taken by Johnny Armstrong. Gracious lighting at most events by Midnight Gravity Lasers.
Sometime in 2009, in a galaxy far, far away, tiny dancer Belen bestowed the moniker of “vagabond” upon a nomadic Daniel in jest of his couch-crashing lifestyle. Six years later, the creative partners, along with inductees Derek Bittner (aka d.r.k), Paul Bickford (fka UTAH) and Jeff Scroggin (aka jscro), continue to curate fine exhibitions of unexplored techno and house for the fun-loving party people of Austin. Trailing on the heels of Daniel’s HTX-ATX residency at Plush with Josh Dupont (which brought the likes of Dirtybird Justin Martin to the capital city), VAGABOND’s debut showcased an all-star local lineup - Luis Ramirez (aka Daelo), Supafly and ringleader Daniel Allen - at former dance haven Loft 718. A few months later, VAGABOND invited its first out-of-town guest, Detroit native John Johr, to headline Belen’s 33rd birthday party at the same venue. VAGABOND then stretched its tentacles to other venues in the city, and in partnership with local collectives UFunktion, Whiskey Pickle and Headstrong, brought prolific guests such as Convextion, Dead Seal, Camea, Damian Lazarus, Danny Daze, Kyle Geiger, James Teej, Craig Kuna, Kris Wadsworth, and Hidden Recordings’ Deepak Sharma. Determined to keep the cause fresh and cohesive, in between national and international names, VAGABOND sprinkled a quality mix of state and city favorites like Proton Radio’s Bon Spengler, Houston trailblazers Henry Chow and Sasha Braverman, San Antonio’s Abe Novy, techno titan Spettro, Harmonious Discord’s Pointbender, the elusive Lauren LaRose, music madman Spud Crowley, charismatic Joe Dismal, graffiti artist Mez Data, Get Broke! co-founder Merrick Brown, and Detroit-Houston transplant Dan Bain, as well as notable up-and-comers Christian Thomas and Robert Roman. These days, VAGABOND is doused in Topo Chico instead of libations, and the crew has branched out into the culinary arts (Paul Bickford), cinema (Derek Bittner) and baby-making (Jeff Scroggin). Despite all the “adulting,” VAGABOND is still going strong with its residency at Plush, and continues to seek and book avant music makers.
A majority of the flyers are designed by Daniel Allen. Previous designers include Mez Data, Jonathan Lopez, Jonathan Francis, Chris Nelson and Matteo Thomas. DJ photos and most event photos taken by Johnny Armstrong. Gracious lighting at most events by Midnight Gravity Lasers.