Official Momentous Pre-Party

Dombrance (Live in D&B Soundscape)

Hailing from Bordeaux, Bertrand Lacombe is Dombrance, a multi-instrumentalist and live electronic act making serious waves in France and across the globe.

Somewhere at the intersection of Kraftwerk and Daft Punk sits French producer and multi-instrumentalist Dombrance. Dombrance Live is a multimedia performance, with the artist surrounded by synthesizers and pedals—presenting his infectious pounding electronic sounds.

The live concerts are often paired with playful pop-art graphics – a collaboration with illustrator and fellow Frenchman Olivier Laude. His show is highly energetic; Dombrance has the stage presence of a rockstar, armored in his suit, tie, and the signature mustache.

The music draws influence from the Disco of Moroder, the punk of Soulwax, and the energy of Vitalic—all blended together with pulsing repetitive bass and synth lines. It’s pure electronic bliss—a truly ecstatic experience.

His live show is always future facing and Dombrance remixed his show specifically for Format Festival – working with the revolutionary D&B Soundscape technology to present his sounds in an immersive way. He returns to Bentonville for the third time with a brand new show – not to be missed!

François K

Born in Rodez, France, François Kevorkian is a man of many talents, Producer, Remixer, legendary DJ, Studio owner, Immersive audio pioneer, and AI authority.

He has been a prominent figure in the New York City music scene since his relocation in 1975. Renowned for his exceptional career as a DJ, producer, and engineer, François began his journey in iconic clubs defining the culture of dance music like Studio 54, The Loft, PG and New York New York.

His expertise in studio editing and mixing led him to an influential A&R role at Prelude Records, shaping the 7” single versions for many of the disco hits of the early 80’s. His career at Prelude was instrumental in the success of artists such as D-Train, Musique, and Sharon Redd.

As the owner of Axis Studios NYC, situated in the same building as Studio 54, François collaborated with iconic artists such as U2, Mick Jagger, and Ashford & Simpson. His extensive experience also includes working with Depeche Mode on their groundbreaking album ‘Violator’ and contributing to Kraftwerk’s ‘Tour De France.’

His legendary Monday night ‘Deep Space’ event ran for 15 years in New York City and became a key pillar of underground music and a mecca for Djs and producers.

His diverse contributions extend beyond the dance floor, including hosting ‘World of Echoes’ on WWFM for five years and amassing over 2,000 hours of live streaming content on Twitch. Over lockdown FK was one of the pioneers who adjusted to the tough circumstances – building a vast online community and streamed over 1,000 hours.

François, known for his innovative approach, invented his own method of DJing he describes as ‘Live Stems’ Mixing. He uses AI to separate individual elements of classic songs, then remixes them live using an array of multitrack mixing hardware.

He is one of the few DJs to have performed live in Surround sound, having pioneered a 360 area at Burning Man, with Adidas in London and at Format Festival in Arkansas. He was one of the first engineers to test out Dolby ATMOS for nightclubs and has extensive experience is object mixing.

His relationship with Bentonville has been forged due to his two appearances at Format Festival. François played a pivotal role in crafting the immersive D&B Soundscape experience within “The Cube” and the Rode House, where his performances helped shape and elevate the auditory journey for attendees.

François Kevorkian stands as a true musical visionary, bridging together electronic and global sounds with innovation and passion.

Samir Chatterjee & Chhandayan Indian Ensemble

Samir Chatterjee is a virtuoso Tabla player from India. He travels widely across the world throughout the year performing in numerous festivals as a soloist or with other outstanding musicians from both Indian and non-Indian musical traditions. Samir performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway and has played several times at the United Nations General Assembly. In concert Samir has accompanied many of India’s greatest musicians and is returning to Bentonville having performed at Format 2022. For the Momentous weekend Samir will be joined by an Ensemble of three Indian women, including Nirmala Rajsekhar one of the worlds most respected Veena players. This very special Indian concert will be something to behold!

Discolypso

Discolypso is a record label, music blog and DJ collective that often pop-up across the globe with spectacular immersive live shows and themed events. For the last decade they curated stages at many music festivals, have a monthly residency in NYC and bi-annual label showcases in LA, Mexico City and London. They have close ties with the artist Dombrance who releases his music on their label and is constantly pushing the boundaries with his live shows. The Discolypso DJ Crew have a fresh blend of tropical sounds with a carnival energy – stirring up an invigorating jamboree on the dancefloor. Expect an intoxicating melting pot of funk, soca, disco and afrobeat with a sprinkling of Electronics to keep you on your toes.

DJ Girlfriend

DJ GIRLFRIEND is a house + disco DJ based in Fayetteville, AR. While their work is largely informed by their musical upbringing in Memphis, TN, they also draw inspiration from local music scenes across Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas. Find them on Instagram at @djgirlfriend.wav to stay up to date on the latest performances and news. You can also find their work on Soundcloud.