6:30pm Doors + Free Food | 7:30pm Free Art
Notes Towards Presents…
A Spiritual Boogie
by Andrew Akanbi
Notes Towards is curated by Program Manager Arien Wilkerson
Calling all massive to the house of God.
GROOVY GROOVY presents A Spiritual Boogie at Judson Memorial Church. Live in New York City on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
We’ll transform Judson’s main sanctuary into a groovy playground. The evening opens up with a free meal around sunset. At the hour, Kia Islam will guide a groundation comprised of gentle sound, movement and breath, softening the body-mind vessel to receive the gospel — served in form of booty-shaking African music magic. Yawuza Alhassan & modrums will present a live hybrid Studio Simpa performance, celebrating the release of the compilation Studio Simpa: Digital Dance Music on VCD from Dagbon, Northern Ghana. Akanbi closes out the session with a DJ set. Really good music will be in abundance. Your presence in marking this special occasion is bigly required.
Come & play.
PROGRAM
6:30 PM : Doors
7:30 PM : Breathe & Movement Groundation w/ Kia Islam
8:15 PM : Studio Simpa Live Performance w/ Yawuza & modrums
9:15 PM : Dance Dance Dance w/ Akanbi
11:00 PM : Closing
Free entry to all. Please consider leaving a donation. Early arrival is highly recommended for the full immersive experience.
ARTISTS:
Andrew Akanbi: Creative Director, Programmer & DJ
Kia Islam: Wellness Practitioner & Artist
Mirco Joao-Pedro: Poster Designer
Morgan Greenstreet: Music Curator & Drummer
Yawuza Alhassan: Musician & Dancer
BIOS:
Kia Islam is a yoga and meditation instructor, sound healer, doula, multidisciplinary artist and international retreat host. Sharing yoga practices since 2016, Kia’s work integrates breath, alignment, intuitive movement, meditation, and sound to facilitate deeply nourishing experiences. She is devoted to lifelong study in the healing arts, spirituality, creative expression, and the intersection where artistry meets holistic wellness.
Yawuza Alhassan is a dancer, musician and culture worker from Dagbon, Northern Ghana who grew up performing simpa alongside other Dagomba social dances including Bamaya and Jera. He lives in the Bronx and leads the Wuza Wuza Ensemble. Alongside Studio Simpa compilation curator Morgan Greenstreet (aka dj modrums) they present a hybrid Studio Simpa performance: interacting live with DJ Ebony's productions, original and popular simpa songs and live percussion, Yawuza and modrums help bring an experience of Dagomba Simpa to New York City.
Andrew Akanbi is a fountain of energy whose passion and enthusiasm for music & humanity is undiluted and unmatched. As a DJ he possesses an amazing level of restraint that balances his ball-of-fire spirit. He brings a focused intention to the community as an organizer, tapping into the spiritual frequencies that go beyond the surface. In 2014, he started New York City's GROOVY GROOVY party - a judgment-free atmosphere for wild dance floors, spiritual, mental & physical rejuvenation, radical politics, and a dose of undeniably rocking talent. Akanbi has made an impression with visionary sets at The Guggenheim, Sustain Release, Dripping, Nowadays, Public Records, Tresor, Berghain/Panorama Bar, Primavera Sound, Dekmantel et al.
GROOVY GROOVY is a sexy party, cozy party, spiritual party, intentional party, friendship party and love party. 'If you're not sweating...you're doing it right.' is the motto. WWW.GROOVYGROOVY.CLUB
Notes Towards is presented by Judson Commons in partnership with Judson Memorial Church.
Notes Towards is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation and administered by LMCC.