There’s a new aura coming to Downtown Monterey. Satisfy your senses and discover a new way to unlock the night at the grand opening of COMPACT DISCO on Friday, July 21st, doors open at 3pm.
The public is invited to attend the ‘phase one’ grand opening celebrations of Monterey’s most-anticipated micro-club. A high-fi listening room during the day and danceteria by night, Compact Disco boasts a $20,000 custom in-ceiling sound system that will be used for day-time-listening, while late-night DJ oriented events will utilize a secondary, more punchy, dancefloor-focused sound system. This is the only venue in Monterey Bay dedicated to tasteful, quality underground house music, with a strict policy of no EDM, no pop music, no requests, and no cellphones allowed.
COMPACT DISCO is where locals and visitors can enjoy internationally recognized DJs while tapping into the region’s roots and experiencing an atmosphere like nothing before. With flavors inspired by the ancient surrounding cultures and music programming that will showcase the roots of modern day dance music, patrons can enjoy a full bar and lively atmosphere seven days a week starting at 11am and staying open until 2am most weekends.
Owner / Operator Kenny Summit talks about the anticipated opening weekend, “We are excited for the opportunity to add something new and original to Monterey’s already bustling beloved downtown scene. It’s our goal to provide an experience that speaks to the residents of Monterey, providing a space for creatives to let their hair down. Dancefloors have traditionally served as a melting pot where folks from all walks of life come together regardless of financial status, race, or other social restrictions and I feel that’s part of the innate beauty of bringing a House Music culture-focused venue to the area; there’s something very special about walking into a space where people can be themselves, have a few drinks, make new friends, enjoy the vibe, mix and mingle while making memories that will last a lifetime. The Compact Disco concept is something I’ve been cultivating for over a decade and launching the first location here in Monterey is going to be a real pleasure.”
Textures and elements of the venue’s tropical disco themed ceilings and walls engulf the party go-ers with oversized leafy palms and a never ending array of disco balls. An early 1900’s Paris inspired salon-style art installation adorns the north wall while back lit vintage walnut and brushed metal stereo components glisten from behind the black marble bar where patrons enjoy their favorite libations poured by the area’s best mixologists. Sports fans can watch the big screens during the day, and at night the screens fade to black as the true purpose of the venue unfolds; a rotation of world renowned producers and DJs will grace the DJ booth each and every weekend, showcasing Chicago House, Detroit Techno, New York Tribal House, Philly Soul, Italo Disco, Balearic Beats, Bossa Nova, Funk, Motown and other sounds that helped build the foundation of modern day dance music.
Phase Two will reveal a Compact Disco membership plan, an extended food menu, regularly scheduled exclusive ‘members only’ tastings and sit down dinners, off premise special private events, road trips as well as affiliate and partnership programs with surrounding businesses.
As an award winning music producer with numerous #1 records under his belt, Kenny Summit brings a unique ‘underground’ esthetic to Compact Disco; mentored by none other than the creator of the House Music genre himself, the late, great Frankie Knuckles, he’s collaborated with the Godfather of Disco Giorgio Moroder, as well as the creator of Hiphop, DJ Kool Herc.
Over his lengthy career Kenny has been called upon to serve as music curator for leading fashion brands including Dolce & Gabbanna, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Kenzo, Adidas, Nike and Diesel, while his life as a globe trotting DJ has been peppered with star-studded engagements for celebrities including Oprah, Michael Jordan, Steven Speilberg, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Tiger Woods, Madonna, Elton John, Beyonce, Sean Combs, Miley Cyrus, Bernard Arnault, Mark Zuckerberg, political figures including the Kennedy family, Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as the United Arab Emirates royal family.
As a club owner / operator, Kenny’s track record is just as, if not more impressive than his music career: learning the “velvet ropes” from two of the world’s leading nightlife impresarios, famed club owner David Sarner (whose career started at Studio 54) and Peter Gatien. Kenny speaks of his time working with both icon’s of the club world “I cut my teeth at Gatien’s infamous Limelight venue in the early 90s during the tail end of the Club Kid phenomenon.
I did everything from handing out flyers on street corners at 4am when the clubs were letting out to working the coat check and DJing whenever the opportunity presented itself. That experience opened my eyes to the world of event marketing on a massive scale and gave me an in-depth look at what went into filling a 4000 person nightclub 3 to 4 nights a week.
A decade later, Sarner introduced me to the world of high end, jet-setting club go-ers, patrons who could easily spend $75,000 in one night on the world’s best champagne and think nothing of it. The common thread between the high roller with the black Amex card and the everyday Joe who scrimped and saved all week so he could have a night out at the club over the weekend was the same thing; it came down to the music and the atmosphere.
Nightclubs that specialize in underground house music offer an escape; on a dim lit dance-floor with the right music you can easily lose yourself, you forget about work and a euphoria of sorts slowly sets in. You can’t find that feeling anywhere else and it’s well worth the price of admission.”
Connect with COMPACT DISCO : Instagram
Connect with KENNY SUMMIT : Instagram
