Like many friends, I'm missing Matthew Parkey from the physical world today.  

The soul of the desert, Matthew was always friendly and inclusive.  Always.  At a time when I felt I was told to be playing this way or that in the desert, he allowed me to be free.  At a time when I was not feeling included, he made me feel home.

His events, to me, were the first notable series of desert events outside of fmg.  They were not perfectly organized by any means but they were definitely organized with love by one of the most loving people I knew, and I think that's what stuck with most of us.  He was definitely a visionary, and in more recent years he spent much of his time making music.  

I always deal with pain and loss with music, so this evening I will release my set from one of Matthew's events, Beora, in Oct 2014.  I think it's my favorite set I played for him.

This set is a nighttime set despite the picture, one of the few sets I started with an ambient track but it's definitely techno from 2 minutes in

Rest in power Matthew Parkey, I wlll be looking for your light when I gaze up at the Moon and Stars <3  

*Picture by Jess Monster

Ben Annand Live at Beora Oct 2014, In Memory of Matthew Parkey

Your unusual eclectic enigma music  condessor. 

IG amp_blooming 


I hope you enjoy my music and how I mix it.
For bookings contact benannand@gmail.com // gunita@listedbookings.com

2025 Confirmed dates

Jan 1 Los Angeles - Moontribe NYD
Jan 17 Los Angeles - Tropikroma LA Fire Benefit
Jan 31 Los Angeles - The Livehouse Presents
Feb 1 Orange County - True Ent LA Fire Benefit
Feb 13 Portland, OR - Silk and Sound at Secret Grove
Feb 21 Los Angeles - the Livehouse Presents
Feb 22 Los Angeles - Be My Tropical Valentinew
Feb 28 Pahoa, Big Island, HI - Bee Dance
Mar 1 Honolulu, HI - Centered at Bevy
Mar 2 Honolulu, HI - Anuras Afterhours
Mar 14 Guadalupe Canyon, BC Norte,. Mexico - Leyenda de Eterna
Mar 20 San Jose Del Cabo, BC Sur, Mexico - Afterhours
Mar 21 San Jose Del Cabo, BC Sur, Mexico
Mar 22 Cerritos Beach - Spring Fling at Big Fun Beach Club
Mar 28 Boise, ID - Treefort Music Fest
Apr 4 Eugene, OR - Soul Sessions at Play
Apr 5 Portland, OR - Lit at Capacity Social Club
Apr 18-20 Anza, CA - Tropical Hot Tub Oasis Retreat
May 2 Vancouver BC - Gorgomish Afterhours
May 3 Vancouver BC - The World Afterhours
May 21-25 Bakersfield, CA - Lightning in A Bottle Festival
more soon...

Biography:

In his zone from deep house to techno, Ben Annand pairs impeccably smooth mixing skills with a dynamic style that keeps the music moving, artfully playing with breakdowns and spending most of his time in the mix.

“For me, a great mix is the interplay of 2 unique pieces of music, creating something greater than the sum of the parts - and a great set weaves those mixes into a musical flow you can’t help but lose yourself in on the dance floor.”

Ben fell in love with dancing and rave culture in 1995, and learned to mix in 1996. Just 2 years later he became resident dj at the famed Moontribe Gathering, and started his own production company, Tropical. The first half of his career was mostly focused on DJing abroad, with 13 trips to Moscow’s Propaganda club, travel across Russia, Spain, and Mexico, an appearance at Wiggle at Fabric in London and two at the Labyrinth Festival in Japan.  

In more recent years, Ben Annand became a top West Coast festival DJ, and recently played a standout set at his 5th consecutive Lightning in a Bottle (CA). He has also appeared at Sunset Campout and Desert Hearts (CA), Oregon Eclipse (OR), Photosynthesis and Cascadia (WA), Shambhala and Motion Notion (BC, Canada).

As organizer of Tropical, he's donated over $32,000 to charity, hosted zero-waste events in Hawaii, and presented gender-balanced dj lineups.

Whatever his project,, Ben Annand is always contributing, and always thinking outside the box.