Why Not Now? Festival Deubt Edition - Event Review
Written by Meagen Surowiecki on May 26, 2026
It wasn’t a complete washout this Memorial Day Weekend. In fact, it marked the beginning of a brand-new era for the Brooklyn dance scene. Partnering with the industry-leading team at EMW Presents, the debut edition of Why Not Now? Festival took over Industry City for a two-day sonic journey packed with house, bass, dubstep, and UK garage. Boasting a heavyweight lineup anchored by headliners Gorgon CityandChase & Status, alongside stellar support from Bambii, GENESI, Flava D, Linska, and TOBEHONEST, the weekend also featured an explosive, UK-centric back-to-back from Joy Anonymousand MPH. It was a festival weekend for the books and a Memorial Day weekend to remember forever.
Why Not Now? completely transformed Industry City, stretching its mainstage footprint from 33rd to 34th Street. The layout was thoughtfully designed, flanking the massive crowd with a premium VIP lounge that offered top-tier viewing spots, private restrooms, dedicated bars, and accessible water stations. The dancefloor was filled both nights, even on rainy day one. If the rain was too much for festival goers, there was an indoor area. Though Mother Nature threw a wrench into day one, the production team was fully prepared. When the rain grew too heavy, festival-goers could retreat to a massive indoor complex. The indoor area was beautifully decorated and highly functional, featuring a bustling food court, local pop-up shops, the official merchandise store, and an intimate second stage showcasing local talent. Navigating between the indoor sanctuary and the outdoor madness was seamless.
Saturday arrived with cold, relentless rain that threatened to dampen the festival spirit, but the crowd had other plans. The outdoor stage was framed by the striking, industrial backdrop of Industry City, giving the event a gritty, authentic New York warehouse vibe as the visuals and laser lights bounced spectacularly off the surrounding brick buildings. The day one lineup featured STELLO, Dreya V, TOBEHONEST, Linska, GENESI, and Gorgon City. Despite the downpour, the artists brought unmatched energy, turning the mud and rain into a modern, electronic music iteration of Singing in the Rain. GENESI and Gorgon City walked away as the undisputed MVPs of the night. By the time Gorgon City took the stage, the rain was pouring, but the crowd was locked in. Delivering a masterclass performance, they dropped anthems like "Voodoo," their new track "Second Nature," and my personal favorite, "You’ve Done Enough." The torrential rain actually heightened the euphoria; everyone was too busy dancing to care about being drenched.
While Day two spared everyone the rain, the chilly temperatures forced ravers to swap out their planned outfits for warmer layers. Fortunately, the music provided all the heat we needed. Sunday’s lineup was a masterclass in rhythm, featuring Dave Shichman, Bambii, Flava D, a massive b2b set from Joy Anonymous and MPH, and a closing set from Chase & Status. The highly anticipated Joy Anonymous b2b MPH set was a masterclass in the UK house and bass sound. The genre is experiencing a massive global resurgence, and these top-tier acts proved exactly why their set was an absolute blast from start to finish. Finally, Chase & Status closed out the weekend by unleashing the full, unbridled force of UK garage and drum & bass. From the very first drop, the entire crowd was headbanging and dancing with frantic energy. As a longtime fan, witnessing their set in that industrial courtyard was easily one of my highlights of the entire festival.
From the brilliant venue layout to the mesmerizing, high-octane performances, the inaugural edition of Why Not Now? Festival was a resounding success. EMW Presents officially raised the bar for Brooklyn festival production, delivering pristine sound and stunning visuals that defied the elements. If this weekend was any indication of the festival's future, Why Not Now? is here to stay.
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