REAL BAD SOUND
Since 1989, REAL BAD has been bringing new and unique sounds to the San Francisco dance floor, year after year. We strive to craft a beautiful musical journey for our guests each year, offering a 3 part experience, starting with a joyous t-dance, moving into sexy, late night beats, and culminating in refreshing morning music. This special journey is our unique sound, and each year we bring in a DJ new to the San Francisco scene to give you their local take on that unique journey.
DJ MOUSSA (BARCELONA, SPAIN)
REAL BAD 34 - MAIN ROOM (HEADLINER)
Coming from a European background, Moussa was born and raised in Germany with a Turkish heritage. Having lived for 13 years in Barcelona, Moussa’s European background embraces its multicultural influence, which also defines his musical diversity.
During his musical education and career of almost 20 years, he holds various primary residencies throughout Europe at brands like Matinee Group and Circuit Festival in Barcelona, and Revolver in Berlin - to mention only a few. Moussa is not only headlining significant parties in Europe but also being regularly booked in North- and South America and even in Africa. His sound reflects a more techy spectrum of Circuit House and covers Techno and Progressive, which he says his roots are based on.
Whatever he plays, his sets never lose the Moussa-Twist and capture the crowd wherever he plays.
DJ ALFONSO TAN (SEATTLE)
REAL BAD 34 - MAIN ROOM (OPENER)
Alfonso Tan is a DJ and Producer specializing in house and adjacent forms of dance music. He can frequently be found crushing the dance floor at one of Seattle's largest LGBTQ clubs, the Cuff Complex, where he's a resident DJ.
Alfonso has rocked parties for Polyglamorous, TrophyDad, DILF, HustlaBall, travelled far to events like Darklands, and more. He is hyper-focused on providing the proper groove for his audience, whether it be bright and happy or dark and dirty. His productions are known for heavy-hitting kicks, groovy drums, and classic house music elements.
DJ SIMON HARRISON (LOS ANGELES)
REAL BAD 34 - UNDERGROUND
Simon Harrison, coming to us from Los Angeles, is a self-taught music producer and DJ known for his deep, melodic, and ethereal soundscapes. His music, a compelling blend of current Progressive House, Melodic Techno, and Tech House, has quickly gained him recognition in the industry along with his performances at iconic events such as Halloweenie, Burning Man, and Lightning in a Bottle.
Simon's talent transcends the boundaries of live performances, producing tracks that echo his own distinctive sound.
ROB PHILLIPS (SALVADOR, BRAZIL)
REAL BAD 33 (MAIN ROOM)
Rob Phillips is a renowned up-and-coming DJ/Producer in the Brazilian electronic scene. He has a contagious energy and plays music that transcends the dance floor by filling it with strong beats, tones, and his own personality. He is known for his constructive live sets and imprinting his musical signature at every event he performs at.
He has spun at some of the biggest events around the world, including: The Week Brazil (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), MEAT (New York / USA), Frisky Party (New York / USA), Circuit T-Dance (Chicago / USA), DNVRMX (Houston / USA), and WE Party (Madrid / Spain).
MASCFISH (LOS ANGELES)
REAL BAD 33 (OPENER)
Los Angeles-based DJ MASCFISH spins funky, fierce and high energy house music. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, MASCFISH formulates sexy, nostalgic and empowering vibes that celebrate the healing power of dance music.
MASCFISH has opened for Hector Fonseca, UFFIE, and Roger Sanchez
JUMPR (SAN FRANCISCO)
REAL BAD 33 (UNDERGROUND)
One of the founding members of Fog City Pack, resident of San Francisco's monthly disco party DAD, and newest resident of one of SF’s longest running fetish nights—Stank—Joe Weidman (a.k.a. Jumpr) has spent the last several years striving to create unique, inclusive, exciting experiences for the SF queer and leather communities not just as a DJ but also as the Creative Director of Fog City Pack. He prides himself on being a dance floor filler, agnostic of genre, spinning everything from sweaty bathhouse disco to throbbing techno bangers. Jumpr wants to bring the rush and keep the energy ecstatic.
DJ RUSS RICH (SAN FRANCISCO)
REAL BAD 32 (MAIN ROOM)
DJ Russ Rich is one of San Francisco’s most versatile DJs. Early on in his DJ career, he became known for his happy and uplifting vocal style. As his sound progressed, he began spinning darker sets with elements of tribal, tech and progressive house mixed in. After several years spinning local bars and T-Dances, he graduated to headliner status, playing peak time sets at clubs like “Industry” at Mighty, “Hero” at Ruby Skye, “Colossus” at 1015 Folsom, and “House Party” at Powerhouse. In 2011, Russ won “San Francisco’s Next Top DJ” competition, and in 2013, he won a nationwide contest for Gay Internet Radio Live.
Russ was named Resident DJ for PLAY T-Dance beginning in 2013. When PLAY went on hiatus for a few years, Folsom Street Events booked him as the Resident DJ for “ROUGH.” In addition, he has played for Folsom Street Events at “Magnitude” and “Bay of Pigs” and has spun at both the Dore Alley Street Fair and the Magnitude Stage at Folsom Street Fair.
DJ MATT EFFECT (SAN DIEGO)
REAL BAD 32 (OPENER)
Australian-born DJ Matt Effect began his career in Sydney where he gained residencies at ARQ, Midnight Shift, Manacle and UP Dayclub. He’s been a regular name at events including Bear Essentials and Mardi Gras.
Matt broke into the US with Lazy Bear and since has spun for Matinee, Folsom Street Fair, GayDays, also Pride events in New York, Vancouver, Dallas, LA and has been a regular at LookOut SF.
This now San Diego resident has shown his musical versatility for a wide range of audiences in many cities throughout.
DJ PAUL COWLING (LOS ANGELES)
REAL BAD 32 (UNDERGROUND)
making his San Francisco debut is Los Angeles based with British roots DJ Paul Cowling. Known for his innovative and powerful deep dark cosmic beats, where house, techno and progressive coalesce in after-hours and underground warehouse parties. Paul has been featured at iconic venues including London’s Ministry of Sound, Fire Vauxhall, Avalon Hollywood, Exchange LA, and Sound nightclub in Hollywood. His distinctive cosmic-techno sounds have snagged him gigs for Insomniac and Anjunadeep and shared line-ups with Chus + Ceballos, CamelPhat, Yotto, Markus Schulz, and the list goes on. Further, Paul spins at pride festivals throughout California, teamed up with Oscar Velazques, Dani Toro, Danny Verde and Nina Flowers just to name a few. Between London and Southern California, DJ Paul Cowling has an international residency at A:M After-hours at Fire Vauxhall and Roosterfish in Venice, California, where he spins an eclectic mix of deep house, funk, and nu disco vibes.
DJ ALE MAES (CHICAGO)
REAL BAD 31 (MAIN ROOM)
Self-taught, he learned his first steps in music in a small studio. In 2014 he moved from São Paulo, Brazil to Chicago. For his debut, he performed at the ManHole Club and hasn’t stopped since! Always in great harmony with the dance floor, Ale presents his style “SexXxy Beats” full of hot vocals, strong bass lines, driving and intensive high-energy sets.
DJ FAWKS (SAN FRANCISCO)
REAL BAD 31 (UNDERGROUND)
Dedicated to cultivating an open and inclusive space through the collective he co-founded (Fog City Pack). He’s created a platform for himself and other queer electronic music artists to break free of the mainstream dance floor sounds. Playing a diverse array of sounds from future house and deep tech to proper techno. Fawks is taking dance floors by storm with his immaculate curations and highly stylized sound.
DJ CHARLY (MADRID)
REAL BAD XXX & RITUAL 2019
DJ Charly, a Madrid native, started his career in 2006. Whether it is Vocal House, Tech House, Techno, or Progressive, he creates magical, electronic journeys in tune with what the audiences need to feel energized. His torrential, powerful beats immerse everyone in that magical journey, which is the reason he has become a well-known and respected member of the European DJ scene so quickly.
DJ JUANMA ESCUDERO (BARCELONA)
REAL BAD XXIX & RITUAL 2018
Juanma Escudero is an artist born in Argentina and living in Barcelona since 2007. His ability, passion, and talent for music has boosted him up to multiple worldwide events and parties: Replay (Viena), Cox (Milan, Pisa), Le 6 (Niza), Construction (Lisbon), RED (Boloña), HERO (Rome), Gibus (Paris), The Black Room (Barcelona), Amen (Madrid), Kluster (Madrid), LOL (Madrid) and Pervert (Barcelona), among many others.
DJ SCOTT SHEPARD (SAN FRANCISCO)
REAL BAD XXIX (UNDERGROUND)
San Francisco’s own Scott Shepard was the Underground DJ from REAL BAD XXIX!
DJ BRET LAW (SEATTLE)
REACH 2016
Hailing from Seattle, Bret Law’s blend of house, dance, and circuit combined with an extensive knowledge of dance music means there’s always an element of surprise to his sets. If you’re poolside, at the gym, or in the middle of a packed dance floor, you’ll know he’ll find the right vibe to keep you dancing and singing. Bret has played alongside DJ Grind & Toy Armada, The Cube Guys, Abel, and DJ Suri, and has shared the stage with the likes of Deborah Cox, Betty Who, and Alexis Jordan.
DJ XAVIER ALVARADO (MEXICO CITY)
REAL BAD XXVIII (MAIN ROOM)
Largely self-taught, his first professional opportunity was in Puebla, Mexico in 2009. The following year he moved to Mexico City where he later landed a residency with Maninfest, Mexico’s premier leather event. Since then he has also debuted in Paris and Madrid. His sets create a journey by mixing a wide range of house, tech house, techno, tribal, and progressive resulting in a powerful, sexy style.
DJ SALAZAR (SAN FRANCISCO)
REAL BAD XXVIII (UNDERGROUND)
Born in Colombia, and a recent transplant from Miami, Florida, DJ Salazar brings a lustful, animalistic twist to his music, which speak to his audience’s libido. He brings this seductive sound to regular San Francisco residencies at Powerhouse, Eagle, Lookout as well as the infamous Hellbound party. Wherever he goes, Salazar seeks to keep his crowd dancing.
DJ PHILIP GRASSO (SAN FRANCISCO)
RECOVERY 2015, 2016, 2017
Philip Grasso's signature style of funky house and driving tech house creates a unique dance floor experience that’s full of non-stop energy. Philip’s curated sound has landed him gigs at notable events including REAL BAD presents RECOVERY, Folsom Street Events’ Bay of Pigs, and Matinée NY Pride. When not home in San Francisco at his residences (Lookout and Halcyon), he's spinning across North America from NYC to Seattle and LA to Vancouver.
DJ AMY ALDERMAN (VIRGINIA)
REACH 2015
Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, DJ Amy Alderman offers a joyous, energetic, loving t-dance style that brings the heart and soul to dance floor.
JESUS PELAYO (MADRID, SPAIN)
REAL BAD XXVII (MAIN ROOM)
Jesus defines himself more as a musician than a DJ, although he has been DJing for friends in small and medium size parties for as long as he can remember. His experience spinning for large crowds has been enriched playing every year since 2011 on a float during Madrid Gay Pride parade, an event attended by hundreds of thousands of visitors. Most relevant club gigs outside Spain include DJing for PAPA Party in NYC. He maintains no residences so that each gig is prepared meticulously. The outcome: custom-made sets and an excited audience.
Check out Jesus on Facebook, and listen to his podcasts on Mixcloud!