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Established in 2006, Machines with Magnets hosts experimental music performances, sound and art exhibitions and installations, performance art, film and video screenings, cultural and community events, private events, and fundraisers. Past performances include The Body, Dan Deacon, Mirah, Etran de l'Aïr, Braveyoung, Lydia Lunch, Lightning Bolt, Brown Bird, Container, and Mdou Moctar.
Upcoming Events + Tickets
All ages unless otherwise noted, 21+ with valid ID to drink
Play it Cool Vol. 3: Pre-Pride Party
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
7:00 pm
to
12:00 am
An iconic night with modern Asian American cocktails featuring RI Spirits and sounds by Wawoo!
Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp with DakouDakou
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
8:00 pm
to
Founded in 2006 in Geneva, 90 years after Dada, by Vincent Bertholet (Hyperculte), the 12- piece Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp has released 5 albums on the highly influential Bongo Joe Records and played the European festival circuit for years. This will be their second attempt to conquer America – following the release of the latest album, Ventre Unique. The band’s name is an homage to some of the classic Congolese groups (Orchestre Tout Puissant Konono n°1, Orchestre Tout Puissant Polyrytmo, TPOK Jazz etc...) and to one of the greatest provocateurs of 20th century art. Their music mixes echoes of The Ex, Moondog, kraut rock, minimalism, high life, symphonic touches and punk outbursts - and yet, none of it is terribly relevant: OTPMD has managed to invent its own reality – or, if you prefer, a simulation. Their live performances are mesmerizing affairs with an almost ritualistic slant and arrangements so tight they seem to re-organize chaos itself.
Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp with DakouDakou
Music Show
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
8:00 pm
$15 adv / $20 day of
Founded in 2006 in Geneva, 90 years after Dada, by Vincent Bertholet (Hyperculte), the 12- piece Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp has released 5 albums on the highly influential Bongo Joe Records and played the European festival circuit for years. This will be their second attempt to conquer America – following the release of the latest album, Ventre Unique. The band’s name is an homage to some of the classic Congolese groups (Orchestre Tout Puissant Konono n°1, Orchestre Tout Puissant Polyrytmo, TPOK Jazz etc...) and to one of the greatest provocateurs of 20th century art. Their music mixes echoes of The Ex, Moondog, kraut rock, minimalism, high life, symphonic touches and punk outbursts - and yet, none of it is terribly relevant: OTPMD has managed to invent its own reality – or, if you prefer, a simulation. Their live performances are mesmerizing affairs with an almost ritualistic slant and arrangements so tight they seem to re-organize chaos itself.
'Otherworld' is a love letter to the ways we create ourselves and each other, again and again, across thresholds both visible and unseen. Eli Kauffman and J Rowen O’Dwyer bring together vivid, psychologically charged paintings that explore the threshold between the physical and the mythic, the home and the holy. Their work charts the sacred rituals of queer life — from moments of pleasure to acts of care, devotion, and transformation. The home becomes a site of alchemy, the body a threshold, and queer experiences a mirror and a myth in constant renewal. The outside world serves as a mirror, a set on which to explore new versions of ourselves, and fill unexpected roles. Images drawn from play, intimacy, domesticity, and community shift between documentation and dream, honoring both the rawness and the magic of trans and queer existence. Otherworld refers to myths and realms in legends, but also to the term “Otherworldly” describing the uncanny nature of otherness, leaving the door open to new realms, for those considered outcast.
'Otherworld' is a love letter to the ways we create ourselves and each other, again and again, across thresholds both visible and unseen. Eli Kauffman and J Rowen O’Dwyer bring together vivid, psychologically charged paintings that explore the threshold between the physical and the mythic, the home and the holy. Their work charts the sacred rituals of queer life — from moments of pleasure to acts of care, devotion, and transformation. The home becomes a site of alchemy, the body a threshold, and queer experiences a mirror and a myth in constant renewal. The outside world serves as a mirror, a set on which to explore new versions of ourselves, and fill unexpected roles. Images drawn from play, intimacy, domesticity, and community shift between documentation and dream, honoring both the rawness and the magic of trans and queer existence. Otherworld refers to myths and realms in legends, but also to the term “Otherworldly” describing the uncanny nature of otherness, leaving the door open to new realms, for those considered outcast.
This exhibition is a love letter to the ways we create ourselves and each other, again and again, across thresholds both visible and unseen. Eli Kauffman and J Rowen O’Dwyer bring together vivid, psychologically charged paintings that explore the threshold between the physical and the mythic, the home and the holy. Their work charts the sacred rituals of queer life — from moments of pleasure to acts of care, devotion, and transformation. The home becomes a site of alchemy, the body a threshold, and queer experiences a mirror and a myth in constant renewal. The outside world serves as a mirror, a set on which to explore new versions of ourselves, and fill unexpected roles. Images drawn from play, intimacy, domesticity, and community shift between documentation and dream, honoring both the rawness and the magic of trans and queer existence. Otherworld refers to myths and realms in legends, but also to the term “Otherworldly” describing the uncanny nature of otherness, leaving the door open to new realms, for those considered outcast.
This exhibition is a love letter to the ways we create ourselves and each other, again and again, across thresholds both visible and unseen. Eli Kauffman and J Rowen O’Dwyer bring together vivid, psychologically charged paintings that explore the threshold between the physical and the mythic, the home and the holy. Their work charts the sacred rituals of queer life — from moments of pleasure to acts of care, devotion, and transformation. The home becomes a site of alchemy, the body a threshold, and queer experiences a mirror and a myth in constant renewal. The outside world serves as a mirror, a set on which to explore new versions of ourselves, and fill unexpected roles. Images drawn from play, intimacy, domesticity, and community shift between documentation and dream, honoring both the rawness and the magic of trans and queer existence. Otherworld refers to myths and realms in legends, but also to the term “Otherworldly” describing the uncanny nature of otherness, leaving the door open to new realms, for those considered outcast.
Machines with Magnets proudly presents the first Providence performance of early minimal synthesist, JOHN BENDER. "The few self-issued recordings by experimental electronic musician John Bender attained legendary status decades after their initial release during the early '80s. Bender's bizarre, shadowy songs were inspired by Robert Ashley and Pere Ubu, and recorded using bare-bones recording equipment and primitive synthesizers. He issued three full-length LPs and a few cassettes before vanishing; subsequently, his recordings became holy grails for aficionados of minimal synth, avant-garde, and obscure music in general." With local support from:
UNIVERSAL CELL UNLOCK (CF, Daily Life, Kites), VALISE (Maralie of Humanbeast), CREAM CANDLES (Carlos of Russian Tsarlag & Bridget of Aether Jag), and HAND OF FOOD (Eric and Dave of Finished) with SAKIKO MORI (Daily Life/Lazy Magnet) playing keys and select tracks between acts.
Suicide Magnets • Carlos Gonzalez • Domestique • Andy Cigarettes • Inspired School of Astral Music
March 13, 2017
9:00 pm
Come out and have a weird night with SUICIDE MAGNETS, ANDY CIGARETTES, INSPIRED SCHOOL OF ASTRAL MUSIC, DOMESTIQUE, and a new movie by CARLOS GONZALEZ. DJ CLUNK slings 8-track classics at 9 PM.
✧✧✧ Machines With Magnets & Wolfstuff Presents ✧✧✧ Stellar Aussie outfit The Ocean Party make their Rhode Island debut with a very exciting new Providence band (Lookers) and a super looper (Host). A great Sunday night at Machines! ✧✧ The Ocean Party ✧✧ Melbourne, Australia ✧✧ Lookers ✧✧ ✧✧ HOST ✧✧
Machines with Magnets is excited to present: UNNATURAL WAYS - Unnatural Ways is the main project of Brooklyn-based guitarist Ava Mendoza, who has performed in bands led by Fred Frith, Nels Cline, and Weasel Walter among others. The group was originally formed in early 2012 in her longtime home of Oakland, CA and relocated to NY in 2013. The current trio of Mendoza on guitar/vocals, bassist Tim Dahl (Lydia Lunch, Child Abuse, Yusef Lateef), and drummer Max Jaffe (Normal Love, Killer Bob), has developed a highly personal sound; sharp, heavy, and psychedelic. Drawing from complex rock, avant jazz and warped post-punk, the players push the boundaries of their own vocabularies and of the written music to put on powerful and unpredictable live shows. They have released recordings on ohn Zorn’s Tzadik label as well as the New Atlantis label (William Hooker, Microwaves, Elliott Sharp).
With local support from:
FINISHED, HAIRSPRAY QUEEN, FEEDBACK PSYCHOSIS & DJ BARRY MAALOT.
GNAW
Gnaw is a New York City noise band created by Alan Dubin after the dissolution of Khanate. The band was originally composed of Dubin, Carter Thornton (of Enos Slaughter and others), Jun Mizumachi (a former live member of Ike Yard) and drummer Jamie Sykes (of Burning Witch). Guitarist/sound designer Brian Beatrice, drummer Eric Neuser, and lap-steel guitarist Dana Schechter (Angels of Light, Insect Ark) later joined the group. In addition to the traditional 4 piece rock format and string and wind instruments, Gnaw utilizes synthesis modulation, found sound and manipulated recordings. In issue 302, The Wire magazine called Gnaw "a terrifying rock sextet whose blackened vision has enough dark energy to blot out the sun". With local support from:
RECTRIX (Pippi Zornoza of Bone Dust, Worms in Women & Cattle), KINTAAN (members of Finished, Longpig, Ultra Spasm Aktion), & TIMEGHOST (opening with new material). With DJ LE BOURREAU (of Theologian).
A night of progressive, electronic, and experimental songwriters: ALEC K REDFEARN & THE EYESORES - Many buzzwords have been used to describe the band’s playing and Redfearn’s composing and arranging, but they all fall short of conveying the dark beauty of the music and lyrics. The group's unmistakable sound is the result of Alec's songs, which have poignant melodies and lyrics filled with doom-laden imagery. These songs are performed by a band who use unusual instrumentation in interesting and creative ways. The music touches on elements of Americana, folk, European cabaret, minimalism, noise, and progressive rock, but it ultimately transcends all categories except for 'excellence'. SAAJTAK - a Detroit-based avant-rock quartet. LAURIE AMAT - Laurie Amat is an acclaimed vocalist, improvisational performer, experimental composer and teacher. BELLEROPHON - an electronic musical act by Mauricio Ossa that is based in Providence, RI.
A night of stark electronics: ambient, minimal industrial & noise. CEREMONIAL ABYSS - Solo project featuring Bryxan of Thee Source ov Fawnation:
"Denver’s Ceremonial Abyss inhabits his own space in the techno landscape, a space that blurs the boundaries of what that classification can possibly mean. It’s not just the improvised, analog nature of his art, nor the pressure cooker intensity he conjures – it’s the way he glues it all together. It’s that kind of vital meditative quality, born in noise, that brings him to playing alongside acts like Wolves in the Throne Room, and at bacchanals like Katabatik’s Summer Kampout in Northern California." VERHALTEN (Chicago):
"...a new project from Unur’s Patrick Scott. While Unur focuses more on stories of broken selves and melodic coldwave, Verhalten finds its noire minimalism in radio static and rhythm. Industrial, noise and muted dark techno all make their presence known." With MARK CETILIA, POWER MONSTER, AMBER ROOM & DJ KURT SNELL.
...a killer Industrial, EBM, & Noise show featuring: HIDE (Midwich Records, Chicago IL)
The artistic collaboration between visual artist Heather Gabel and musician Seth Sher (Coughs, Ga'an, Oakeater). HIDE creates aggressive and sparse haunting music that empowers as it punishes. HIDE's name and visual aesthetic also reflects their ideology of personal autonomy as performers/humans in a world of moral judgement and surveillance. Showcasing top-notch production and a seamless visual aesthetic, their immersive sound draws the listener into a trance state with dense, throbbing dirges. Their themes and presentation confront power dynamics and their relation to personal ideas about gender identity/fluidity. With local support from:
CRAOW,
TRIM, &
DAVE PUBLIC. Mystery DJ starts at 9:00pm.
A wild and crusty Wednesday with: OCCULT BLOOD
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, noise/grind maniacs Occult Blood return to Providence with a new lineup featuring a dual-vocal assault. Members of White Horse and dozens of other bands. "N E A N D E R T H U N D E R I O U S N O I S E C O R E." With local support from:
MAR, FLINSTONES, DOUBLE DRAGON, & DJ Dave Public starting at 9:00pm.
