“The Sounds that Move,” an all-new music festival modeled on a classic Brooklyn block party, is coming to Bushwick next month.
Created by Move Forward Music, a live events agency focused on emerging artists, the festival will transform a one-block stretch of Scott Avenue into a hub of music, culture, and creativity from May 15-17.
Performances will be hosted at five different venues, Brooklyn Roots Collective, the Chocolate Factory, 99 Scott, SILO Brooklyn, and Honey’s; and the festival is set to feature headliners like Saba, Hope Tala, Mark William Lewis, Sango, Tyler ICU and DJ Habibeats.
The festival will also feature panels, workshops, live showcases, late-night DJ and club programming, and a multi-day free vintage fashion market by Thrift2Death.
“For the last decade, festivals have grown bigger, but they haven’t necessarily felt more connected,” said Al Damashek, founder of Move Forward Music. “We wanted to build something that feels curated, community-driven, and rooted in New York.”
The festival’s lineup aims to reflect New York City’s diversity, with a wide range of genres and everything from indie and alternative showcases to global “club nights” with genre-shifting dance floors.
Across its five venues, the festival will also feature independent programming, artists performances and showcases curated by partners like Pigeons & Planes, Indie Hourzz, Grey Area, and That Good Sh*t with Annabelle Kline. Industry panels on culture and media include New York luminaries in fashion, such as Emma Rogue, and music industry trailblazers, including Indify, Even, B.A.K., and oneRPM.
“Scott Avenue is a completely unique block where multiple major venues exist side by side, and it gives us the opportunity to bring the city together in one place — artists, media, venues, and fans — all moving through the same space,” Damashek said.
Event organizers expect up to 23,000 attendees for the block party-style event. Festival tickets are available online, with tickets for individual events starting at $29 and day passes available for $79. The Weekend Wristband is $199, and includes priority access to all music events, panels, and workshops, expedited entry, VIP areas, and discounted merchandise.
Move Forward Music has played a vital role in the early live moments of music stars like Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, Juiceworld, Tems, Ravyn Lenae, Shaboozey, and Post Malone, creating platforms across live touring, digital content, and brand partnerships that help shape broader cultural conversations, and the festival continues Move Forward Music’s tradition of highlighting emerging artists, curating intentional spaces for artist discovery and diverse community, and building culture-forward brands.
