Anyone who was around for Jaenga‘s renegade sets at festivals in 2015 that catapulted him into fame — or anyone who speaks Swahili — knows that Jaenga is known for keeping community top of mind. In addition to pouring into his craft and collaborating with others who hold the same passion, Pat McDevitt focuses on bringing together his fans and any bass lovers willing to listen.

His debut headlining set on the Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom stage at the end of April brought devoted fans from near and far, staying to talk to the ones who he says make it possible for him to do what he loves. Long after the lights came on, groups of fans moved closer to the stage as other attendees slowly trickled out, buzzing with the energy of his performance as they waited in line for a chance to speak with him.

McDevitt met everyone with enthusiasm and gratitude, even shaking hands and trading names with two fans visiting from Hawaii to catch the set. He believes we have more opportunities to connect with others than ever before and wants to foster the human connection that makes the electronic music space so great, and this was just one small example of the possibilities.

McDevitt recently moved to Denver, a.k.a. the Bass Capitol, to continue these efforts. To kick off Summer 2025, he held a pop-up show under a bridge. The breezy air was filled with the smell of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs (courtesy of the Jaenga team) and sound waves of wobbly, wonky bass. The expansive space provided room for flow artists and more passive viewers alike to enjoy the set the way they pleased without restriction, with everyone respecting each other’s personal space, treating one another with kindness. 

McDevitt welcomed a few special guests to play b2bs. Among them was fellow local Mport, who would finally release his highly anticipated collab with Shank Aaron, “Hot Damn,” just a few days later. After weaving it into his sets over the last year, many fans were familiar enough to sing along even before the official release.

Surrounded by construction equipment and graffiti-covered shipping containers, the pop-up was a vibe that I think many older ravers have missed lately as the scene has continued to stray further from its underground roots. Attendees of all ages smiled, laughed, and danced along with friends, both brand new and old, for free.  Unfortunately, much like many renegade events in the early days of raving, the sunny celebration was cut short by the arrival of Denver PD. Squad vehicles poured in, lights flashing and sirens whirring, to shut it down due to the lack of a proper permit. No arrests were made, and the peaceful crowd departed without incident.

“Thank you guys for coming,” McDevitt said over the mic as they played out the last tune of the night to a crowd already heading to their cars. “Maybe next time I’ll consider getting a permit!”

Summer is just getting started, so stay tuned for more opportunities to get down with Jaenga and his stellar team!