Turning Stone Announces First-Ever Resident DJs for NY Rec & Social Club, its New Sports Lounge and Nightlife Venue

Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (November 29, 2023) – In advance of the highly-anticipated grand opening on December 18, Turning Stone announced today its three Resident DJs for NY Rec & Social Club, the resort’s new sports lounge and nightlife venue. DJ Big Poppa, DVDJ Reel and DJ Washburn will be spinning every weekend at Turning Stone’s newest entertainment destination, adding to the energetic atmosphere with customized set lists and their own twists on today’s hit music.

NY Rec & Social Club’s Resident DJs were selected after a fierce competition. More than 50 DJs submitted demos earlier this year to be considered for the new venue’s residency gig. DJ Big Poppa, DVDJ Reel and DJ Washburn were crowned NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJs because of their charisma, level of entertainment and interactions with the audience. With their energetic sets and eclectic styles, the three DJs will now help define the atmosphere at Turning Stone’s new sports lounge and nightlife hotspot.

One part sports heaven. One part gastropub. One part nightlife venue. When it opens on December 18, NY Rec & Social Club will be unlike anything Upstate New York has ever seen. The modern lounge and sports book in the Exit 33 entertainment complex is three experiences in one. NY Rec & Social Club is home to Turning Stone’s sports book, complete with 60 televisions, five betting windows and kiosks, table games, and social games such as foosball, pool, air hockey and darts. NY Rec & Social Club is also a full-scale restaurant, a swanky eatery with creative interpretations of classic bar food, a stellar beer and cocktail program, and an expansive center bar with a three-story tower of screens for maximum game-watching.

NY Rec & Social Club will host trivia nights and other fun promotions throughout the week. It also boasts fan caves where guests can hang out with up to 10 of their closest friends for the ultimate VIP experience.

NY Rec & Social Club will be the first venue to open as part of Turning Stone’s $370 million evolution and represents the most significant addition to the Exit 33 entertainment complex since Turning Stone opened it 10 years ago.

DJ Big Poppa, NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJ
Central New Yorkers know the voice of DJ Big Poppa. He has been an on-air personality and radio DJ for nearly 25 years. For most of that time, Big Poppa has also spun records on the side.

“When I was younger and was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said ‘professional wrestler, magician, and a DJ,’” said NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJ Big Poppa. “To be able to DJ at Turning Stone, in this incredible new venue, is quite literally a dream come true for me.”

In addition to being on the radio, Big Poppa has been performing at several locations throughout Central New York including Point Place Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Cavallo’s and Saranac Thursdays in Utica.

In terms of what guests can expect to hear from Big Poppa at NY Rec & Social Club, he’ll approach his sets with a broad variety of music. His go-to artists include Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, and classic rock. Big Poppa also mixes in some 80s hair bands such as Poison of Mötley Crüe, and loves country music artists such as Luke Holmes and old-school Garth Brooks.

DVDJ Reel, NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJ
As a DVDJ [digital video disc jockey], Reel incorporates video into most of his sets, and he loves to keep it “real” with a specialty in old-school hip-hop.

Growing up outside of Albany in the 1980s, DVDJ Reel has built a large part of his set around this era, playing retro music like Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, older Jay-Z, and more. He also mixes in contemporary dance music, too: David Guetta, Tiesto, and James Hype are among his go-to content creators, and has been dabbling in tracks that mash-up traditional country music with cutting-edge EDM.

“When I’m performing, I like to keep an open format in my sets,” said NY Rec & Social Club Resident DVDJ Reel. “At NY Rec & Social Club, I’m going to create a vibe that everybody can enjoy. Whether guests are coming out to bet on sports, have some food, or just hang out with friends and have some cocktails, I want them to relax and have a good time. That’s my goal.”

DJ Washburn, NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJ
As a popular entertainer and professional poker player, DJ Washburn is a familiar face at Turning Stone and now one of only three Resident DJs hired to perform at NY Rec & Social Club.

Originally from Plattsburgh, DJ Washburn got his start behind the turntables in 2009 at Moonies Bar & Nightclub in Ithaca and exploded from there. Since then, he has performed all across the country, scratching vinyl for celebrities such as Ludacris, Blake Shelton, Nelly, and Cole Swindell. He recently played at New York Comic Con, and when the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, DJ Washburn will be performing a live set at Walt Disney World.

“I’m excited about the changes at Turning Stone with NY Rec & Social Club among the first venues to open as part of its latest transformation,” said NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJ Washburn. “To be one of the first to headline at Turning Stone’s newest venues and to be a part of the opening team, it is truly an honor.”

DJ Washburn’s sets will be eclectic. He describes his style as uplifting and includes a mashup of genres from hip-hop to mainstream, house music to what he refers to as “nerd” stuff. To extend and amplify the vibe, he wears bright and shiny outfits to create connections with the audience and make guests smile.

NY Rec & Social Club Resident DJ performances are currently planned for every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.