Celebrating Newark’s House Music History at Newark Culture Club

Presented By: IN THE WAKE TV
Dates: Weekly on Saturdays, September 5 – October 3, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Newark Culture Club
Admission: $10

For over four decades, New Jersey House Music has been far more than just a soundtrack to late nights—it has served as a self-sustaining ecosystem of Black community, sanctuary, and pure joy. Long before thousands gathered in parks for large-scale festivals, local organizers, DJs, and dancers built a movement from the ground up right here in Newark.

Starting Saturday, September 5, 2026, IN THE WAKE TV presents the Black House Black Joy House Music Screening series at the Newark Culture Club. Running weekly through October 3, this special limited series dives deep into the evolution of New Jersey’s distinct dance scene. Through intimate interviews with iconic figures like DJ Jihad Muhammad, Kenny Bobien, Josh Milan, Kym Mazelle, and The Weather Girls, the series honors the artists, archivists, and activists who shaped a global phenomenon.
Whether you are a lifelong House Head or new to the history, here is what you can look forward to across the eight-episode screening schedule:

Weekly Screening Schedule

Saturday, September 5

• Episode 1: The House Newark Built
  Discover the grassroots labor, permit proposals, and neighborhood pride that birthed Newark’s second-oldest House music festival.
  
• Episode 2: Sacred Floors & Holy Sweat!
  Follow local dancers who view the dance floor not just as a party, but as a sacred space for mental health, sobriety support, and healing.
  

Saturday, September 12

• Episode 3: Sound Architects
  Local DJs and music stewards break down the craft, labor, and lineage of preserving Newark’s signature sound for new generations.
  
• Episode 4: Queer Sanctuary
  A tribute to the Black LGBTQ+ organizers and dancers who created lasting safe havens grounded in safety, love, and mutual care.
  

Saturday, September 26

• Episode 5: Behind the Lens: From Vietnam to House Culture
  Meet the military veterans who returned home, picked up cameras, and captured decades of local memories and cultural history.
  
• Episode 6: Club Zanzibar
  Step inside the oral histories of Newark’s legendary music sanctuary—the club that gave birth to a global sound and provided refuge for all.
  

Saturday, October 3

• Episode 7: Serving Our People
  House music is about taking care of its own. Learn how groups like Treehouse Care have spent four decades delivering meals, clothing, and direct aid to neighbors in need.
  
• Episode 8: Women of House
  The series finale centers the vocalists, mothers, and organizers whose dynamic leadership built and continues to sustain the foundation of dance culture.
  

Join the Movement

The journey to bring these untold stories to the screen has been a passion project for the entire team, and as the work continues, the creators are eager to begin engaging with audiences directly. Join us every Saturday at Newark Culture Club to connect with the filmmakers, honor our local legends, and experience the culture that keeps Newark dancing.

For ticket information and event updates, visit the Newark Culture Club's Eventbrite or follow IN THE WAKE TV..