Al Damashek, founder of Move Forward Music and a former booker at SOB’s, Webster Hall, and Baby’s All Right, has spent nearly two decades placing early bets on artists who later defined their eras. His latest venture, the independent culture festival Sounds That Move, launched in 2026, transforms a single block of Brooklyn’s Scott Avenue into a multi-venue experience built around music discovery and community.
Early Career at SOB’s
Damashek began his career in 2007 as Director of Marketing at SOB’s, the storied downtown Manhattan venue. He founded Move Forward Music out of that office in 2008 with a mission to spotlight progressive artists and create spaces where diverse audiences could connect through music.
“So much culture runs through that space that it’s hard not to get inspired working in that environment,” Damashek said. He credited owner Larry Gold for giving young professionals opportunities. Within months of starting, Damashek found himself on the phone with Gil Scott-Heron and booking pop-up shows by Kanye West, while also learning about Fela Kuti and presenting his son Seun Kuti in concert. “I caught the live music bug and there was no turning back,” he said.
Building House Party NYC at Webster Hall
In 2014, Webster Hall tapped Damashek to revamp its Thursday club night. The resulting weekly event, House Party NYC, became the city’s largest hip-hop party and a proving ground for emerging stars. Over a two-year run, the night hosted early NYC performances by Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Rae Sremmurd, Bobby Shmurda, and Tinashe.
Damashek earned a reputation as the first to book many hip-hop acts in New York. Move Forward Music subsequently developed scenes at Baby’s All Right, Market Hotel, SILO, and other rooms, continuing to identify talent early. Artists including Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, Ravyn Lenae, Tems, and Shaboozey performed on stages the company represented. “We never gave up the mission,” Damashek said.
A Formula for Spotting Talent
When evaluating young artists, Damashek looks for signs that audiences are coalescing around a sound, energy, or identity. He combines data analytics such as streams, likes, and follows with insights from a curated network of trusted managers, agents, and tastemakers.
“I’ve always had a rule of three: when I hear about an artist from three distinct sources, I know there is something happening, and then I let my ears do the rest of the work,” he explained. He does not see his role as coaxing an artist through a growth moment. Instead, he focuses on creating the best possible live environment, especially for a debut New York City show. That means selecting the right room, ensuring fans know about the show and can access tickets, booking appropriate local openers, assembling a production crew for pristine sound, and making the concert experience seamless from arrival to exit. “I’m always going to make it feel like New York, put you in the right neighborhood, with the right people in the room, and the right food backstage,” he said.
Pandemic Pivot and Festival Launch
In 2020, Move Forward Music partnered with Twitch to launch a live music streaming channel and continued paying artists for virtual performances throughout the pandemic. Six years later, the company introduced Sounds That Move, an independent culture festival that takes over five venues on a single block in Brooklyn, turning Scott Avenue into an immersive experience centered on discovery and community.
Reflecting on the power of live performance, Damashek said, “The way it brings people together. You can be in a packed concert and there would never”
