Ok, so I like electronic dance music, more specifically Trance. When I started in the 1990's, the US was a bit behind in that department.
Still, with San Francisco and San Jose nearby, I've had some opportunities to see some great EDM/Trance DJs. Back in the early 2000's, they sadly played club music in the US that was nowhere close to the hits they had composed and were known for, but over the years, as Trance started becoming more popular, those DJs finally started playing their good tunes in the US too, and maybe from 2004 on, it's only been getting better. Popsicle Halloween 2004 was really the beginning of great music parties in the San Francisco Area, and thankfully things have gotten even better since then
As a matter of fact, after another 10 years (2015 and beyond) the good news is that Trance has grown quite a following in the US, and places like the SF Bay Area, and while Trance has been declared dead a few times in the last 10 years, it's still going strong here.
Trance Family SF is definitely strong in the area, we've been getting more big trance parties every year, including many top DJs that come visit us what feels like every other week now (as of 2018-2019), and through those events, I made many friends in Trance Family SF. Thanks to you all.
Over those years, I got the chance to meet a few of my favourite DJs, including Armin more than once, and my last hobby has been to work on lights for my shirt and pants (version 3) and (version 4)
After a recommendation from some coworkers, I booked a trip to EDC this year, to see how a big party there, would be. And sure enough, while beyond wonderland in the Bay Area is actually quite good, EDC is just bigger and better.
About EDC:
it mostly runs from sunset to sunrise, which still gives quite warm weather at night (but during the day, it would have been unbearable and dangerous).
it's big. Las Vegas Speedway is not small, it takes a while to walk the miles that cars drive around it
there is a bit of a burning man night scene feel with all the different kinds of music, lights, and happy people dancing (except of course for the money)
Speaking of burning man, there were some familiar art cars and a few structures that I had first seen there.
8 Sound stages with different genres of music. Unfortunately 0 trance the first night, to the point that I almost considered not going the first day, but the next 2 days definitely made up for it.
It was well built and organized, including the bus service (which was another $100) and gave a reliable way in and out in 1h (normally it's 25mn without traffic, but with traffic it could have been 2h+).
Anyway, here's day 1. I mostly walked around to see the different sound stages and other displays/attractions:
Day 2, I was more excited about. lots of trance on the menu, starting with Above and Beyond:
then Armin came
I was stretching my zoom. 30X optical plus another 2X digital
and this was the end of day #2
Here is a video of bits of day2 with some bookmarks:
Faithless, can't sleep, Above and Beyond @0:35
blue sky action, king for a day @6:20
Armin @13:45
Game of Thrones @17:55
Great fireworks @22:30
Day 3 has the biggest Trance lineup, so made sure to get there early. Unfortunately they had to open late due to winds:
no one getting in
I can thank my 30X zoom again
it had been ages since I sasw ATB. Awesome!
Orjan Nilsen
Ferry Corsten. Also had been ages since I last saw him
I happened to catch a Dr Megavolt lookalike somewhere outside:
Andrew Rayel
Next was Gaia, which I hadn't seen perform before. It was quite hard to make out Armin under the cape :) Very nice set by the way:
Aly and Fila
And just like this, the night was nearing its end, and I had to bail a bit early to make it back to the airport to catch my early flight back home.
Here is a video of bits of day3 with some bookmarks:
ATB: 9 PM till I come @08:30
Orjan Nilsen: Just Be @14:00
Awesome Fireworks @26:30
Gaia @37:28
And that was it for EDC. It was a bit tough to timeshift 12H and be up all night for just 3 days, but otherwise it was an awesome show and impressive transformation of Las Vegas Speedway, along with top DJs from around the world.
