Afrobeats New Years Nite

Ring in the New Year at The 418 Project with an unforgettable, high-energy Afrobeats celebration! Bring your whole self, your dancing shoes, and your community spirit as we dance across the threshold into 2027 in deep gratitude and joy.

This special New Year's Eve edition of Afrobeats Nite transforms the Large Theater and Oasis Lobby into a pulsating sanctuary of rhythm, global bass, and live African music.

Featured Artists

DJ Monk Earl (Afroscope Promotions / Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz’s own cultural steward, curator, and sonic architect Jase Monk Earl holds down the dance floor with his signature blend of contemporary Afrobeats, Amapiano, highlife, and African diasporic rhythms. Raised in the immigrant-rich hub of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and steeped in hip-hop culture, Earl approaches DJing as a live compositional practice and communal ritual. With over two decades of international artistic practice—from teaching DJ intensives in Accra, Ghana to curating packed community gatherings across Northern California—Monk Earl creates spaces where music is a catalyst for genuine connection and collective euphoria.

Big Klef & Live Band (Oakland / Bay Area & Nigeria)

Pioneering the explosive fusion known worldwide as AfroTrap, Nigerian-born, Oakland-based recording artist, producer, and audio engineer Kenneth Ofigho—known to fans as Big Klef—brings his full live band to The 418 Project stage. Blending the infectious grooves of contemporary West African Afrobeats, melodic trap, and street hustle lyricism born from the Niger Delta, Big Klef delivers an electrifying live performance that bridges continents. Fresh off celebrated releases like Naija Papi, Mans On The Move, and his breakout anthem Idiagbon, Big Klef and his band will ignite the room with live horns, percussion, and undeniable stage presence.

Orchestra Gold An Oakland-based psychedelic afro-rock band centered around the voice of Malian singer Mariam Diakité and guitarist Erich Huffaker. The music draws from West African devotional traditions and electric psychedelic rock. Guitars, horns, and deep rhythmic grooves carry the sound forward. The project began when Huffaker met Diakité in Bamako, Mali in 2005. They reconnected later, recording together an early session that revealed a natural musical connection. After navigating the process of bringing Diakité to the United States, the two began building a band in Oakland. Today Orchestra Gold performs as a 5–6 piece group, with a live show rooted in Malian musical traditions and the energy of psychedelic rock. Diakité's voice carries the spiritual influence of the Baye Fall Sufi tradition, grounding the music in devotion and ancestral rhythm.

More Dancers, Artists, & Guest Performers To Come!

Stay tuned—the lineup is continuing to grow! Additional guest DJs, live percussionists, visual artists, and special surprise collaborators will be announced as New Year's Eve draws closer.

Lobby Lounge Enjoy relaxing music and good food and drink in a beautiful and comfortable space.

Interactive Relaxing Small Theater Our partners Mic Drop will be hosting an open mic and Liminal Space will provide an interactive art experience. Stay tuned for some featured performances in the small theater as well!

What to Expect

• Massive Sprung Hardwood Dance Floor: Santa Cruz's premier dance space with full theater sound and immersive lighting.
• Midnight Countdown & Community Toast: Welcome 2027 together with festive celebration and community love.
• Oasis Lobby Lounge: Full bar, community chill space, and refreshments.
• Small Theater Community Space: Open Mic, Live Music and Poetry Performances, Interactive Art Experience.