EDC New York 2016 Was One for the Books

With thunder in the forecast, there could have been no better foreshadowing for what was to come during our fifth edition of Electric Daisy Carnival in the Tri-State Area. It was hard. It was fast. It was loud. It was definitely one for the record books. The Mets may be the hottest ticket in town, but as they’re currently on the road, we’ve no doubt they’d be proud of what befell their venue during their time away.

There were so many firsts: Eclectic Los Angeles mainstay brand Audiotistic hosted their first stage ever on the East Coast. Techno goddess Nicole Moudaber brought her In The Mood radio show to real life by hosting her first stage ever. The future brand of trance, Dreamstate, literally showed how valued the longstanding European genre is in the States in 2016 by being the first stage at capacity all day on Saturday. New York, you know how to party. Below are some of our favorite moments of the weekend.

Bassrush

Bassheads get down—that is a fact. With a pit that rivals the biggest metal show, these Headliners sure know how to mosh. However, don’t let their intense demeanor fool you: They are some of the nicest and humblest fans out there. While the brand has morphed over the years from strictly drum & bass to a broader, bass-encompassing vibe, they have been able to stay true to their core of bringing some of the most forward-thinking low-end sounds to the masses. That said, it was amazing to see old-school luminaries Fury and MC Dino open the cosmicMEADOW stage on Sunday, bringing drum & bass like it was 1990. While the day evolved into an all-out trap-infused dubstep party, it was great to see drum & bass set the tempo for what was to come.

Dreamstate

Trance fans come out en masse, and they come out early. By 3pm on Saturday, Ben Nicky had the circuitGROUNDS tent filled to capacity, and things pretty much stayed that way throughout the weekend. While only in its infancy, Dreamstate is quickly proving itself to be the brand for trance fans in the States. With EDC NY marking the first time Dreamstate touched down on the East Coast, the bar was set high. From highlighting American mainstays such as Mike Saint-Jules and European luminaries Cosmic Gate, to showcasing Paul Oakenfold’s Fluoro show and the return of Gouryella to the East Coast, Dreamstate gave trance fans something to talk about for years to come.

Crystal Village

After a whirlwind year in which the Crystal Village touched down in both Vegas and Mexico, it was about time the owl made it to the East Coast. The setup was as impressive as the artists who graced the stage. From trance heavyweight Dash Berlin, to prog-house superstar Eric Prydz, to the return of David Guetta—from start to finish, kinecticFIELD was the place to be all weekend. Where else can you see Dada Life throw bananas next to a real-life waterfall? The highlight had to be Kaskade finishing the weekend off with a career-spanning set that made the cold seem welcoming.

neonGARDEN

The smallest stage always packs the biggest punch, and this was easily the case at EDC NY. Day one featured a total takeover by Hot Since 82. Green Velvet and the Martinez Brothers were both, in fact, Knee Deep in rolling minimal techno, and by the time the hosts for the night hit the stage for an extended set, everyone was reminded why techno is king in New York City. Day two was the first time that Nicole Moudaber curated a stage, and it was massive. New York transplants Thugfucker showed why they headline sold-out warehouses in Bushwick, and the lady of the night went b2b with Chris Liebing for a set that no one will forget. Oh, did we mention the fountain? Techno needs more fountains.

VIP Bazaar

The VIP section this year had one goal, and one goal only: to bring out your inner child. From life-size Connect Four and chess—which admittedly got pretty bush-league by the time the sun went down—to a station where you could make your own kandi and get your face painted, Headliners had every opportunity to relive a simpler time. If that weren’t enough, one could relive their favorite moments at their local fast-food establishment by jumping in the ball pit. It was truly a sight to see.

The Blind Owl Speakeasy

A craft cocktail speakeasy in the middle of a music festival? Someone should have thought of this a long time ago. The Blind Owl was a place prototypically New York City. It was the perfect spot for you to kick back and sip on libations such as the Agave After Dark and the Prosecco Punch. Piggybacking on the trend of Moscow mules, Insomniac put its twist on the popular beverage with the ever-so-tasty Midtown Mule. For whiskey drinkers like us, the Bee’s Nest had to be the best of the lot. Along with solid craft cocktails, the Blind Owl hosted a bottomless brunch on Sunday—to, you know, get the party started.

Jägerhaus

This cabin more apropos for the Alps than in the middle of a rave was a welcome escape from the sensory overload of EDC NY. Sipping cold Jägermeister drinks while an eclectic mix of EDM blasted from the roof made one feel as if they were on a winter retreat instead of in the parking lot of Citi Field. Furthering the idea of living out your childhood, the two-story structure even had a slide by which you could exit the roof. It was fun.

Audiotistic

This eclectic West Coast party hit the East Coast for the first time with a lineup as varied as their two-decade-plus history. From psytrance to future bass, Audiotistic’s takeover of cosmicMEADOW on Sunday was diverse, to say the least. Seven Lions continues to shock us with his successful mix of dubstep and trance. Ephwurd reminded us why they are the future bass duo you needed to be following two months ago. And Diplo’s protégé Dillon Francis confirms time and time again that he is more than just a party DJ.