Formed in NYC in 1993, the improvising collective No-Neck Blues Band (NNCK) favors anonymity, autonomy, and obfuscation. Alongside founding member Keith Connolly (2016 AIR), they return to open ISSUE’s Fall season at First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn.
ISSUE presents the first commission from Eden Girma (2026 AIR). Part dreamscape and part summoning circle, an intimate diasporic familial archive is pieced together through the eyes of a five-year-old child.
In partnership with Franklin Furnace as part of their 50th anniversary commemoration and November release of "Back to the Present: 50 Years of Free Expression with Franklin Furnace" ISSUE presents an evening of performance and conversation.
Incorporating elements of noise, trance and minimalism, Sergei Tcherepnin (2012 AIR) presents new work for Serge Modular synthesizer.
Raúl De Nieves closes his 2014 ISSUE Residency with "Heel Yourself", an immersive 20-channel audio installation built from the sounds of ABBA's 1979 classic "Voulez Vous", mixed live from vinyl simultaneously by 20 turntables. The night includes live performances by Sadaf H. Nava and Whitney Vangrin.
Raúl De Nieves presents DE FEET N JOY a pop-up “shoe store” and sculptural installation transforming the lobby of our 22 Boerum Place theater, on weekdays Dec 10-19. Derived from, and often worn in the artist’s performances, the objects present new ideas on the practicality of sculpture and installation.
A benefit for ISSUE, acclaimed electronics duo Matmos perform scenes from Robert Ashley's groundbreaking television-opera "Perfect Lives", with opening performance by HARIBO. They present the first and final acts, “The Park”, featuring string ensemble, and “The Backyard”, both accompanied by new video work.
Swedish Energies 2014: EMS at 50
Swedish Energies closes at ISSUE with raw synthesis & video by Maria w Horn, Stephen O’Malley, doom-metal legend of Sunn O)))) fame, solo, Kristina Matousch exploring themes of digestion and eroticism, Leif Elggren & Kent Tankred as The Sons of God, and Ellen Arkbro, who draws on minimalism and just intonation.
Swedish Energies 2014: EMS at 50
Swedish Energies returns to ISSUE with a massive bill including sound artist Jenny Sunesson, saxophonist Christine Abdelnour duo with Joachim Nordwall (The Skull Defekts), Daniel Rozenhall collaboration with designer Sten Backman, Frederikke Hoffmeier (aka Puce Mary), and the notorious Carl Michael von Hausswolff.
Swedish Energies 2014: EMS at 50
Originally commissioned as a 5-minute piece, over 20 years, "12 Stations" evolved into a challenging 6 1/2 hour epic; a deep, spiritual journey that is considered a central work of Rózmann’s oeuvre. Thematically the work draws on the Tibetan Wheel of Life, and reflects Rózmann's deep interest in Tibetan Buddhism.
All tickets are SOLD OUT! ISSUE is pleased to welcome back rock icon Kim Gordon performing in a special first-time duo with the legendary Brooklyn-based guitarist Loren Connors. Electro-rocker Gary War, recently residing in New Zealand, opens the night.
Composer Madalyn Merkey creates a new site-specific work for ISSUE's theater, combining live synthetic sound and acoustic violin to create inner-ear occurrences. Battle Trance perform their album-length work Palace of Wind, a stunning composition for four tenor saxophonists. ISSUE Member party precedes the show at 7pm.