LOVE AND BEATS episode 6

This February we will be joined by special guest DJ Charles Hawthorne and live art by AshRose. Join us as we dance into the sunset at the beautiful High 5ive Rooftop listening to disco, house, afrobeats, and other love sounds.

Resident DJ:
Cecil (thePeople, SKIN Worldwide)

DJ Cecil’s music has delighted listeners and warmed up dance floors all over the world. Notably talented as a musician, recording engineer and producer, Cecil’s deep love for music stems from a childhood soundtrack of old jazz and gospel records, an adolescence inspired by hip hop’s golden era, and the fine tunings of studying classical piano.

However, his arrival to the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 90’s would set the stage for something much greater; a path that would soon position him as an integral part of a burgeoning and beautiful soulful house music and dance scene. His passion for music is contagious; as he cleverly fuses house with the beautiful nuances of jazz, soul, hip hop and deep world rhythms. The result is a refreshing and colorful dance floor experience, that keeps the body at attention and the heart tenderly in tune.

Pulling from the influential rather than the derivative commercial end of the record crate, DJ Cecil continues to be guided by his genuine love of music.

Guest DJ:
Charles Hawthorne

Charles Hawthorne (they/them) is a Black queer DJ based in Oakland, CA. Hot track selection and divinatory crowd reading have made Charles Hawthorne a force behind the decks and in the nightlife community. Voted 48 Hills’ Best DJ in the Bay “22, ‘23 & ‘24, their unique blend of disco, house, club, and RnB ushers a journey through the history and movement of Black queer dance music. Charles believes you can’t trust a DJ who doesn’t dance, and their movement, energy, and connection behind the decks are a testament to that. The proof is in the pudding, honey!

Charles is the creator of Five Finger Disco, a celebration of the disco diva. They are also a resident of Rollin With The Homos and Home Base: Oakland. Charles has graced the decks of Bay Area mainstay events, including OutsideLands, Soulovely, Swagger Like Us, Elements, Polyglamorous, and Butter. They currently serve as the Board President of Oaklash, the Bay Area’s drag and queer performing arts nonprofit where they co-lead the Oaklash Skills for Nightlife Accelerator Program (O-SNAP!). Charles is also a drug educator, facilitator, executive coach, and consultant working in harm reduction.

Artist:
AshRose

PTV – BDS – Artist. Creative with anything that can be seen artistically.