About S&N

THE SHORT STORY

Spins & Needles is a mobile art party that travels to different cities around the world. First conceived in Montreal by designer Melanie Yugo and DJ Jason Pelletier, they threw the first event as a way to create a temporary space for creative types to get together, listen to music and make stuff. It quickly caught on; since then, over 100 events and workshops have been produced in the US, Canada, UK and Europe, serving up local and international DJs playing the freshest underground beats mixed with cutting-edge art/design projects.

To find out more about how to attend, what kind of music is played, what kind of projects are featured, and the story behind Spins & Needles, visit the FAQ page.

THE LONG STORY

Spins & Needles is a mobile art party that travels to different cities around the world, mixing DJs with creative types, dancefloor with art gallery, and underground beats with hands-on art/design projects. The event takes place in bars, clubs, galeries, museums and other esoteric spaces.

First conceived in Montreal by designer Melanie Yugo and DJ Jason Pelletier, they threw the first event as a way to create a temporary space for creative types to get together, listen to music and make stuff. It quickly caught on; since then, over 100 events and workshops have been produced in the US, Canada, UK and Europe. The event has traveled to cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, New York, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, Germany and London (UK). Known for its alternative take on the nighlife experience, Spins & Needles is attended by creative types, cubicle dwellers, students, party people, and anyone looking for a good time out.

Through events, partnerships, workshops and other spin-off initiatives with artists, businesses, local organizations and public institutions, Spins & Needles aims to provide resources, a creative network and fun times to our audience and community at large.

It has collaborated with local and large players in art and cultural scenes, such as Maker Faire, Renegade Craft Fair and Etsy Labs. Spins & Needles has also collaborated with major public cultural institutions and initiatives including the National Gallery of Canada, partially inspiring their afterhours event, Artsparks.

Jason Warming Up the Tent

In addition to producing creative nights out, Spins & Needles has pioneered a number of recurring spin-off initiatives including Disco Bingo (an alternative night out mixing disco beats and kitschy bingo games), Pop-Up Workshops (guerilla workshops in creative public spaces) and Clothing Remix + Remake swap parties.

In 2010, Spins & Needles was commissioned to produce the Winterlude Urban Cozy Project by Canada’s national capital commission. WUCP was a participatory public art installation involving over 100 hundred artists from Canada, the US, the UK, Europe and Africa, for one of the largest winter festivals in the world, Winterlude.

Spins & Needles has been featured on television, radio and in a variety of online/print articles (from independent publications to nationally syndicated newspapers to international magazines) including: BUST Magazine, BurdaStyle, Makezine.com, Flavorpill, Le Cool, Metro, CBC Radio, CBC Television, Radio-Canada and the National Post. For more press information, visit out Press page.

spins & needles - 2-year anniversary party! - february 2007