Make Sure You Have Fun™ Presents: 2026 Crash the Decks: Drummer and DJ Battle Exhibition Round - New Haven, CT

Four local teams will consist of one of New Haven's most skilled drummers paired with one of its top skilled DJs, performing live against each other to deliver the best and highest scoring routine of the evening.

These competing teams will be scored and judged in six key areas: DJ Performance, DJ Creativity, Drummer Performance, Drum Solo, Crowd Participation, and, most importantly, Team Chemistry. The team with the highest overall score at the end of the round will take 1st place, win $400 cash courtesy of Cymbal Minded Productionz, and become New Haven’s standing Crash the Decks Champions! The winning team will also receive an invitation to the 2027 Crash the Decks National Tournament.

Saturday, September 19th, 2026

Stella Blues

203 Crown Street

New Haven, CT 06510

21+

Doors at 8:00 PM

Battle at 9:00 PM

$5 Presale

$10 Day of Show

Tickets on sale 8/21/26 @ 11AM EST

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1685117442590881

What is Crash the Decks?

Crash the Decks stands as the world's premier and first-ever Drummer vs DJ Battle League. CTD combines DJs with live drummers to deliver an unforgettable competitive musical experience with the goal of finding the best Drummer vs DJ Duo in the world.

What to expect this season?

The 2026 CTD season is a year of expansion and exhibition. Our goal is to host exhibition battles in new cities this year, building on the four-city 2025 CTD National Tournament, with the goal of expanding to eight cities for the 2027 season’s bracket making it our largest season to date. Expect to see carefully paired teams of DJs and drummers showcasing their unique spin on this performance style as they explore musical genres and drumming techniques while also trying to find the perfect spot for a standout drum solo all with the goal of wowing the judges and keeping their fans dancing. This competition is as much a battle as it is a party, so come out and have a good time cheering on your favorites, discovering some amazing local talent, and dancing with old friends, new friends and family while you do it.

Battling Teams

🥁Jonathan Alexander + DPHR💿

🥁Jocelyn Pleasant + DJ Stealth💿

🥁Trent + MNDOx💿

Judges

📝Air for Effect

📝7ROUBL3

📝She_La

📝Sweettie Belle

🎤Hosted by MIDNIGHT

Curated by Michal Scott Jr. of Cymbal Minded Productionz, New Haven's Crash the Decks Ambassador.

Who's the best?

If you'd like to compete in a future battle, watch previous battle rounds, see the official scores or sponsor one of our battles, visit us online at https://crashthedecks.com to inquire, register, or for more information.

What is Drummer vs DJ?

Drummer vs DJ” is a niche performance style that fuses the excitement of a club DJ with the energy of a live drummer for a mind-blowing and one-of-a-kind experience.

The "Drummer vs DJ" performance style has its roots in various musical genres, including hip-hop, rock, and electronic dance music (EDM). The concept of live drumming and electronic music production coming together in performance is not new, but it gained widespread popularity in the mid-2000s with the emergence of a few key performers.

One of the earliest and most influential "Drummer vs DJ" pairs was DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) and Travis Barker of Blink-182, known together as TRV$DJAM. The two began performing together in the early 2000s, blending hip-hop beats, rock anthems, house, and other dance music genres with live drumming in a high-energy performance that quickly gained a following. They performed at clubs, award shows, and music festivals worldwide drawing thousands, and were known for their innovative mashups and remixes.

Another noteworthy "Drummer vs DJ" duo is the combination of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Questlove of The Roots. These two hip-hop DJs have also played many venues together around the country, showcasing their combined expertise in turntablism, drumming, and musical taste. If you've ever had the opportunity to witness these two live, consider yourself lucky.

In addition to these established pairs, numerous other musicians and performers have adopted and continue to showcase the "Drummer vs DJ" performance style, often collaborating in one-off duos that perform at local clubs and events worldwide. Although this performance style is not new, our battle league brings a fresh and exciting twist to the scene, offering a unique competitive platform for these talented artists to showcase their skills.

History of Crash the Decks

The concept of Crash the Decks, formerly known as Drummer vs DJ, originated in March 2016 when farESH Brand and Loyal Order co-hosted the inaugural showcase at Spirit Lodge in Pittsburgh, PA. This event marked a milestone in Spirit's history, reaching full capacity on a Sunday for the first time. Over the next two years, farESH Brand organized the event 12 more times in Pittsburgh, transforming it into a battle seeing Giuseppe Capolupo and DJ Red becoming our first ever Drummer vs DJ Champions. We then expanded the battle into a year-long tournament across four dates in 2018. The duo DJ ADMC and Dylan Wood successfully defended their champion title four times and emerged as the winners of the first-ever Drummer vs DJ Tournament held at Spirit Hall.

After a hiatus in 2019 and a planned return in 2020 that was unfortunately halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, farESH Brand ceased operations between 2018 and 2023, leading to the closure of its online shop. However, co-founder Ryan "RB" Brown had established Make Sure You Have Fun™ in 2017, which absorbed the event concept, underwent a rebranding, and repackaged it. As the concept evolved, it adopted the name "Crash the Decks."

In 2023, Make Sure You Have Fun™ hosted the first Crash the Decks: Drummer vs. DJ Battle Exhibitions in Pittsburgh, PA; Fargo, ND; and New Haven, CT, under its new name, drawing hundreds of curious and excited fans from across the country. In 2024, the quest to find the world’s best Drummer vs. DJ duo expanded, with battles held again in the original cities while also adding Hartford, CT, and Washington, D.C., setting the stage for the inaugural Crash the Decks National Tournament in 2025.

At the start of 2025, thirty-two teams across four cities—Pittsburgh, PA; New Haven, CT; Hartford, CT; and Fargo, ND faced off in their local tournament brackets throughout the year, advancing to win their hometown CTD Championship and earn a shot to compete in the league’s Crash the Decks National Championship Round in Pittsburgh, PA. Our four city champions went head-to-head in September in an amazing final round, where Villainous Tempo claimed the league’s first-ever National Title.

Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the battle league , our events promise to convert you into a Crash the Decks enthusiast. Don't miss out on the excitement - be a part of the largest tournament in our history and witness the world's best Drummer vs DJ duos in action.

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