The English electronic duo Plaid will be playing at The Independent on January 20th, 2024, after a couple of show postponements earlier this year (the show was originally scheduled for February 2023).

Originally making music with Ken Downie as The Black Dog (from 1989 to 1995), Ed Handley and Andy Turner eventually split off and started Plaid in 1995. Putting out records with the then Sheffield-based label Warp Records (now London-based), Plaid built a following in the frothing UK electronic music scene of the mid-to-late ‘90s.

Known for making music across a range of electronic genres, from dance to ambient to electronica, Andy credits the UK rave scene of the ‘90s as a pillar for Plaid’s musical education. He said in an interview with Ban Ban Ton Ton, “The raves sure helped though, due to the eclectic nature of the music at the early ones. We were exposed to so much material.”

From the communities forming around FatCat record store and the club night Thunderground in London, to touring the world, Turner and Handley have consistently highlighted the importance of community and playing live. Their shows often combine the two of them playing various pieces of electronic equipment along with brilliant visuals (on their last tour, the AI artist Emma Catnip toured with them).

With a career now spanning over three decades, Plaid continues to be celebrated as an innovative and forward-thinking duo in electronic music, with an uncanny ability to blend complex rhythms with intricate melodies. You can expect to hear some of that brilliant drum programming, engaging synth play, and creative sound design during a beautiful evening at The Independent in January. Tickets can be bought now on Ticketweb.

Location: The Independent

Address: 628 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Doors Open: 8:30 pm

Age: 21+