Local synthesizer startup business Patchwerks will be holding its latest Synth Meet-Up and Petting Zoo Sunday August 21 from 1 pm-6 pm at Melrose Market Studios (free entry). These events offer great opportunities for musicians to sample synths and to network with fellow gear heads.

Patchwerks will be giving away some synths and display demonstration models at the event, and Korg will have a booth displaying its current products as well as some vintage units from the '70s through the '90s.

The chaotic cacophony of several keyboards being played simultaneously at these meet-ups sounds amazing. But you could also be polite and listen to your doodling on your own headphones, if you plan accordingly. Interested parties can reserve a table to exhibit their wares by emailing Patchwerks at rsvp@patchwerks.com. You might want to get on that posthaste.

Also happening August 21 is the listening party at Revolver Bar (8 pm-11 pm, 21+) for Seattle techno producer Big Phone's outstanding Selva City album (Green Orb Artifacts). The creation of machine-intelligence designer Kenric McDowell, Selva City was, he says, "composed with ancient Greek scales and blended with field recordings from the Peruvian Amazon." These elements add granular uniqueness to Big Phone's expansive, hypnotic techno opuses, which buoy you to the vertiginous realms usually only reached by enlightened masters like Ricardo Villalobos and Donato Dozzy. Copies of the double LP will be on sale at the event and in addition to playing Selva City in its entirety over Revolver's system, McDowell will be spinning "synth, kraut and afrojazz vinyl" that complements his own productions. You can get a preview of Selva City below.