FUNKBOX AT 18: Tony Touch on Nearly Two Decades of NYC Nightlife

Moodymann

Tony Touch

FUNKBOX

How House Music is Getting Healthier

Superior Ingredients

United States

jazz house

nu disco

disco house

Eli Escobar

DJ Disciple

Ejoe

DJ Justice

 has held its place as one of New York’s most respected and enduring house music institutions. Born in the heart of NYC nightlife and built for the dancers, the party has stayed true to its foundation since day one. Guided by 

 and shaped in part by the legacy of the late Voodoo Ray, Funkbox has always been about the floor first. No frills, no pretension, just raw, soulful and deep house, a packed room, and a community that shows up to move.

Over the years, Funkbox has welcomed some of the most respected names in house music while carrying its sound beyond New York to dance floors across the country. What has kept it going is simple. It is a space where the music is felt, not forced, and where the crowd comes ready to be part of it.

This year marks 18 years of Funkbox, a milestone that speaks to its staying power and the people who continue to return week after week.

The anniversary brings together a lineup that reflects the reach and history of the party itself. Moodymann arrives as one of Detroit’s most recognizable and uncompromising figures in house music. Operating under his real name Kenny Dixon Jr., he has built a legacy rooted in the city’s record culture, known for a fiercely independent presence, rare appearances, and a sound grounded in soul, jazz, and blues. 

From early days working in Detroit record stores and DJing within the Outcast Motorcycle Club to releasing on labels like Peacefrog, Planet E, and his own KDJ and Mahogani Music imprints, his catalog has come to define a raw and deeply personal corner of house and techno. 

Lyk U Use 2 (feat. Andres)

DJ Justice adds a major name to the bill, expanding the scope of the celebration. Eli Escobar, a longtime NYC staple, owner of a Williamsburg nightclub, 

, and Funkbox regular, returns with over two decades behind the decks, shaped by New York’s 1990s club era and refined through years of global touring, radio appearances, and releases on labels like Phonica, Razor n Tape, and Classic, alongside his own Night People imprint. He joins Disciple, EJoe, and Tony Touch himself, with more names still to be announced.

At the center of it all is Tony Touch. A true New York figure whose influence stretches from hip hop to house, radio to clubs, Touch has spent years shaping spaces where music feels lived in and shared. Funkbox stands as his longest running vision, growing from a weekly session into something far bigger.

To celebrate 18 years, Funkbox takes over Superior Ingredients in Brooklyn for a full day into night marathon on Friday, July 17. The experience begins at 4PM on the rooftop, where the summer air and skyline set the tone for an open air session that echoes classic New York day parties. As the sun sets, the energy moves indoors into The Room, where the night stretches deep into the early hours, running until 4AM.

From rooftop daylight to a packed floor after dark, the format mirrors the spirit of Funkbox itself. A continuous flow of music, people, and energy across twelve hours in the middle of summer.

This is not just an anniversary. It is a continuation of something that has shaped the sound and feel of New York nightlife for 18 years. A dancer’s haven where the house music community comes together, united by rhythm, soul, and movement.

FUNKBOX NYC 18-Year Anniversary Day-Into-Night Marathon

Netherlands

big room

electro house

Laidback Luke

Laidback Luke & Guests

melodic house

progressive house

deep house

Eric Luttrell

Sanvero

Nuran

AXELA

Nandu

The Roof of Superior Ingredients

Eric Lutrell with Nandu & Guests

melodic techno

afro house

Zamna Soundsystem

South Africa

Jono Stephenson

PAGODA

United Kingdom

indie dance

Redfreya

Miss Hazard

ZSS - Zamna Soundsystem with Jono Stephenson & Guests

Morocco

afro tech

Ankhoï

Mexico

Luch

ASMOT

Deroza

ROME

Doubleheader

DOUBLEHEADER: Ankhoï x Luch

Philippines

GUDFELLA

Très Mortimer

Kino Todo

Pardon My French

Amanda Simpson

GUDFELLA with Très Mortimer, Kino Todo & Guests

deep disco house

house

minimal tech house

minimal techno

Nick Curly

classic house

funky tech house

tribal house

Harry Romero

Andrew Azara

GENPOP

Cécille

Cécille Records with Nick Curly & Guests

hard techno

techno

tekno

acid techno

hardcore techno

OGUZ

JSMN

Medina

OGUZ & Guests

bass house

bassline

g-house

uk garage

AC Slater

hard house

Boy Sanders

riva + bianca

AC Slater & Guests

fidget house

tech house

Kyle Watson

Kyle Watson & Guests

L.P. Rhythm

Ford Scott

Olive F

Collin Oliver

stixx

L.P. Rhythm & Guests

Germany

trance

progressive trance

Cosmic Gate

Cosmic Gate & Guests

stutter house

Twin Diplomacy

Twin Diplomacy & Guests

FUNKBOX NYC 18-Year Anniversary Day-Into-Night Marathon

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