Unabridged: A Bay Area Underground Techno Series by As You Like It

Unabridged is an imprint of As You Like It, a cornerstone of Bay Area underground culture for more than 15 years. Conceived as a long-form narrative project rooted in Bay Area underground techno, Unabridged explores the roots of underground dance music while examining the foundational elements that continue to shape contemporary techno. At the same time, the series looks forward—highlighting the creatives, thinkers, and artists poised to influence the culture for decades to come.

At its core, Unabridged reflects the Bay Area’s ongoing relationship with underground music, its artists, and its social movements. The project was born from a desire for deeper dialogue—conversations that can only happen through sustained engagement rather than one-off events. By creating a year-long, event-driven campaign, Unabridged offers space for context, history, and critical listening within the Bay Area underground techno ecosystem.

“Detroit techno is America’s story,” says Jeremy Bispo, founder of As You Like It and Unabridged. “Black and brown Americans created an entirely new genre of music. It has traveled the world, yet its origins remain overlooked at home.”

This perspective sits at the heart of Unabridged. Detroit techno is not only a musical form but a cultural movement rooted in innovation, resilience, and futurism. Through Unabridged, As You Like It aims to reconnect Bay Area audiences with these origins while honoring the living cultural ecosystem that continues to evolve today.

Bay Area Underground Techno as Living Cultural History

Over a planned 12-month arc, Unabridged will present programming in carefully selected venues throughout the Bay Area. These experiences will range from seated theater conversations and moderated panels to intimate listening sessions, site-specific gatherings, and large-scale dance floors. Each format is designed to support meaningful engagement with underground dance music beyond the traditional nightlife model.

All conversations and panels will be archived, forming a growing cultural record accessible beyond the events themselves. This archive will be supported by an ongoing podcast and interview series, documenting Detroit’s living techno ecosystem while tracing its influence on global underground culture, including its deep resonance within Bay Area techno culture.

By combining education, listening, and celebration, Unabridged positions itself as more than an event series—it becomes a cultural document, preserving voices and stories that have too often been marginalized or erased within underground dance music.

Through sustained programming, archival documentation, and public-facing dialogue, Unabridged contributes to a broader understanding of Bay Area underground techno as both an artistic practice and a living social history shaped by community, resistance, and creative exchange.

Contact: info@unabridged-sf.com

As You Like It Events and Mission

The Bay Area’s contributions to underground dance music run deep, shaped by psychedelic rave culture, radical funk, and electronic experimentation influenced by global movements. Since 2010, As You Like It (AYLI) has carried this legacy forward through more than 15 years of events centered on quality, intimacy, and inclusivity.

Drawing inspiration from Detroit and Chicago to New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, and Berlin, As You Like It events champion timeless sounds and diverse voices across an ever-evolving techno landscape. From Golden Gate Park picnics to Oakland warehouse gatherings and all-night affairs, AYLI remains committed to cultivating meaningful dance floor experiences rooted in respect and connection.

As You Like It is dedicated to preserving underground culture while creating spaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and celebrated. The organization believes the dance floor is a place to connect, belong, and thrive—free from racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, sexism, misogyny, or harm of any kind.

Contact: info@ayli-sf.com