About Worship Recordings

Worship Recordings was established in the summer of 1998 in Philadelphia by Rob Paine & Dan Thompson. The concept was simple at first: they just wanted to put out their music their own way. After the first few releases it became clear that they had dropped in on a genre of house music that has slowly but surely come to fruition, now being labeled by the massive as “dub house” or “dub techno”. Some Worship releases are more dub than house. While others are more house than dub. They knew they were not the first to use the influence of Jamaican reggae music as a foundation for their house productions, but they definitely wanted to continue to push it to new heights in both the house community and progressive reggae scene to play their part in Philadelphia's vibrant culture.

What started out as an in-house production label, Worship soon started to sign like-minded artists such as: Garth, Chris Udoh, Pete Moss, Solomonic Sound, Hakan Lidbo, Jay Tripwire and Grant Dell- just to name a few. From the music’s production quality to the legendary KLH art work and right down to the packaging, Worship Recordings has continued to stand out from normal. They continue to explore new methods of using reggae and house music side by side to reach lovers of both sounds and to unite them in the dance hall as ONE.

 

About 'The Shakedown' Event

The Shakedown started in October 2001 as a Worship Recordings monthly event every second Saturday, where The Worship Recordings crew (DJs Rob Paine, Willyum, and Zacharijah) could promote the label on the local level and all DJ together. This passion was quickly integrated into a monthly gathering built around their own sound system. The sound systems in the venues in Philadelphia at that time were average at best. Therefore, the guys took control of that aspect to ensure the dancers and club-goers a top-notch sound experience. They saved up door earnings from their weekly Friday reggae nights at Filo's and bought a sound system. Boom! The Shakedown was born!

When the party gained steam, so did their ideas to grow it. At that point, they came up with a vision to start a new sub-label of Worship called Shakedown, a little more on the jazzy/funky side of the genre, andbasically host a 'raise the EP' party each month where the label’s artists would come play the event.

As the vinyl industry collapsed around 2006, this concept became difficult to manage. Instead, they just started bringing in DJs whose records they were playing at the Shakedown parties—records that created that overall signature 'Shakedown Sound' that people experienced when attending.

Over the years, they have had the honor of hosting some of the world's greatest house DJs, including Mark Farina, Derrick Carter, Josh Wink, DJ Sneak, DJ Harvey, Jimpster, Doc Martin, Sandy Rivera, Lady Alma, DJ Heather, Danilo Plessow, Terrence Parker, DJ Dan, Soul Clap, Musclecars, Francesca Lombardo, Lovebirds, Dubtribe Sound System, DJ Garth, JT Donaldson, Black Loops, King Britt, and Rich Medina... just to name 23 of over 500 DJs that they have booked over the past 25 years.

Besides their normal second Saturdays, they also co-produce the beloved annual 2nd St. Festival Shakedown, a 13-hour outdoor/indoor festival that happens every first Sunday in August, going on 16 years at North Bowl, plus the Winkdown event, which is Josh Wink's annual birthday bash. Taking place at the end of April (near his birthday 4/20!) and going on 14 years now!

In 2022, Will and Rob welcomed new blood, Ty Salone, as a resident to the Shakedown sound station, bringing in the next generation of deep house groovers who dig deep into the resurgence of vinyl enthusiasts.

25 years later, The Shakedown's legacy continues every second Saturday and is known across the country and across the globe as Philadelphia’s longest-running, top-ranking monthly house music event. No gimmicks. Instead, the focus is on hi-fi sound, the music, and oneness amongst ALL in our house music community.