Take A Break Fest
In December 2020, Gatewood began posting Take A Break on YouTube. The video series featured him DJ’ing in an unusual place somewhere in the state. The first episode featured him in the kitchen of a new restaurant in Austin; the second was at an open house in Houston. He plans to revisit the series in the future, hopefully with the assistance of a budget and production help from a channel like Adult Swim or VICE. But the YouTube series helped establish the in-person party.
After countless emails and in-person requests to owners of various venues, Deep Ellum Art Co. gave Take A Break a home.
John LaRue, owner of Deep Ellum Art Co., was so enamored with Gatewood and the evening that he booked a second Take A Break Fest on September 17.
The first edition was held on July 9, featuring DJ/producer DLMT, musician LAKIM, and DJ BOYBLK. DLMT’s hard-hitting bass lines meshed with beaming vocals, LAKIM’s ever-shifting sounds, and BOY BLK’s gospel-inspired set.
The party takes inspiration from 1970’s disco clubs and the iconic It’ll Do Club in Old East Dallas. The let-loose environment is the ideal environment for people that want to feel the music. “There were a lot of good vibes in the air that created a space for free spirited expression,” says attendee Tylo May. “The circles were full of co-creative energy. I danced my ass off.”
Gatewood has bigger plans for Take A Break. He wants to bring a new festival to Texas; he’s still ironing out the details. In the meantime, Gatewood and his team will focus on curated experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth, but plans to take the party on the road in El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and more cities around Texas.
Gatewood is excited about the possibilities. While Dallas has experienced a house music renaissance in the past two years, there is still work to be done.
Connor Hatfield, an artist known as DJ Con The Baptist, said he thinks Dallas needs more shows like Take A Break to give house DJs more opportunities around town.
“Beautifully curated shows showcase a wide variety of sounds and bring light to artists from Dallas and across the world,” he says. “I think this show sets an example for what we need more in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.”
Only time will tell if Take A Break will be able to expand to cities throughout the state or produce a new type of music in Texas, but Gatewood has created a party the Dallas house music scene can be proud of.
“I believe that we will be able to push house music forward in Dallas by bringing it to larger stages. House music deserves it.” Gatewood says.
