MDW Top 10 Parties Across America
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The summertime is near and that means lots of sun, lots of parties, lots of drinking, lots of BBQs and lots of festivals! The 3 day weekend for Memorial Day aptly abbreviated MDW is a weekend of remembrance for the lost soldiers but is also a weekend featuring a multitude of parties and festivals all over the US. We did you a favor and put together a little guide on the parties that you are surely familiar with and a few that you might of not even known that were going on.
Whether you live in the Northeast, Midwest, California, the South, or somewhere in between… DT has you covered! We put together a little guide on the art, culture, and music at these magnificent parties.
Mysteryland USA – Bethel Woods, NY – May 22nd to May 25th
Not only does Mysteryland USA have great music but they also have a great vibe, great art installations and an amazing amount of culture. Taking place at the legendary Bethel Woods which was home to Woodstock in 1969, Mysteryland USA has an aura and atmosphere like no other.
Arts
The Gamelatron is the world’s first fully robotic orchestra with custom built instruments handmade by a master craftsmen from Indonesia. The True Mirror Palace is an array of non-reversing true image mirrors and there will also be an interactive audiovisual dome where you can control the visuals through a magic hamster ball. There is also The Big Head Brigade which will march around the festival grounds with giant paper mache costume heads and the world’s largest mousetrap board game, flame manipulation, and much more artistic fabrications that will challenge your senses.
Culture
Endulge in Geisha girls, sake, and amazing food or witness the magnificent and talented street and graffiti artists. In case you aren’t up for live entertainment and want to just sit back and read a book, you can in The Bazaar Library or you can always hop on a toad car and have it whisk you away into The Crooked Forest where you can ride on top of a mechanical bull. Origami Workshops, Yoga sessions, and lots more will allow you to embrace the Mysteryland culture. A healing garden with therapeutic sounds and storytelling will have you drifting away into the land of mystery.
Music
Scissor and Thread duo Bob Moses will take to the main stage on Saturday and display their soulful live set to those that might not be too familiar with the house duo which shall be interesting to witness. The mysterious Claptone will also take to the main stage on Saturday with his deep feel good vibes that will surely throw those looking forward to Kygo and Porter Robinson off guard and open them to a much different sound to what they may be used to. Klingande will take to the Webster Hall stage on Sunday with their catchy jazzy melodies. The founder of French Express and son of Zeus, Perseus will display some groovy disco rhythms and the marvelous KiNK will astound and amaze you with his multitude of synths, midis, modulizers, and whatever other toys he might decide to bring along.
Movement Festival – Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI – May 23rd to May 25th
Culture
Detroit is home to some of the most affluent musical history in the entire world. The deep soul of Motown emerged in the 30s and 40s and offered saxophone and big drum back beats and the 70s brought forth icons such as Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper. The techno migration began in the 80s with high school classmates Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Sauderson who later became known as ‘The Belleville Three’. The underground rave scene flourished throughout the 90s and paved the way for Movement Festival which was born in the year 2000. Saturated in history and authenticity, Detroit is now known around the world as the capital for techno music and Movement Festival is the celebration and commemoration of techno culture.
Music
On Saturday, Henrik Schwarz will perform live on the Beatport Stage with his eclectic German deep house undertones. The techno innovator, Stacey Pullen will man the decks and showcase his hometown on The Detroit Love Stage on the first day of the festival with his incommensurable style. Juan Atkins will perform a live set on Sunday as his Model 500 alias focusing more on song-oriented tracks with melodies and not just dance tracks. Named after their documentary about the deep roots of techno, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May will take us back to the early days performing a back-to-back set as the heavily anticipated hi-tech soul. Joris Voorn will take to the Beatport Stage on the last day of the festival, with his eclectic and diverse range that tinkers between the techno basslines of Detroit and the jazz elements of Motown.
Lightning In A Bottle – San Antonio Recreation Area, Bradley, CA – May 21st to May 25th
Arts
Created by Los Angeles based event company, The Do Lab who also host a stage at Coachella, LIB is very big on the artistic aspect of things. Live art is a big part of this festival with auctions taking place to sell the canvasses and prints. Murals and live artists are displayed throughout the entire festival with interactive art displays and murals and larger than life art installations.
Culture
The Village is a community and learning experience to create and sustain a village and learn what it takes to live as a harmonious entity. Everyone has a role to play and has value in this integral experience. The learning kitchen has workshops, classes, and demonstrations to learn the fundamentals of healthy eating and living while the marketplace has community made goods and food vendors.
Music
The Lucent Dossier Experience will take to The Lightning Stage on Saturday with their avant-garde circus type performances complete with vocals and live music and aerial arts, fire performance, and dancers. Atish will provide his deep and emotive sounds to set the mood while Desert Hearts aficionado, Mikey Lion will take to the decks on The Woogie Stage on Friday along with his signature top hat providing a mix of house and techno. Wolf & Lamb artists Pillow Talk will perform on The Woogie Stage on Saturday fusing classic R&B, disco, and house and techno. Shiba San will take to The Woogie Stage on Sunday and with his hip hop roots, he combines Deep House with Ghetto House to make for a truly eclectic and interesting sound.
EDC New York – Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ – May 23rd to May 24th
Arts
Located at Metlife Stadium, EDC New York has massive art installations. Melding metal, glass, fire, and tons of lighting displays are present throughout. Circus like performers, pyrotechnic displays, and full-scale carnival rides will also be displayed.
Culture
While there aren’t any workshops or yoga classes, there is still quite a bit of raver culture at EDC New York. Dancers, stilters, aerialists, and circus performers will all add to the experience.
Music
Art Department might take to the stage with only Jonny White for the first time since Kenny announced his departure. Although Kenny will be missed, you can still expect to hear Jonny adhere to the legendary Art Department sound that they both curated on Saturday. Ame will push the boundaries of new sounds displaying deep and melodic house that they are known for while the infamous Dixon will also adhere to the legendary Innervisions sound that he has worked on to so well define. One of the owners and founders of both Cielo and Output, Nicolas Matar has been gracing the decks for over 15 years and is taking the time out of his busy schedule to present his sound this year at EDC New York. Recondite will perform live with drum machines and synths galore to display his experimental melodies.
Sunset Music Festival – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL – May 23 to 24th
Music
So there isn’t much culture or art at this festival but there is quite a bit of trance and electro and big room music. It also happens to be in Tampa so go figure. Duke Dumont, Keys N Krates, Claptone, Route 94, and Solarstone are some names to note on this line-up among the bigger headlining acts…although those pretty much are headliners on their own…
Sasquatch Festival – Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA – May 22nd to May 25th
Music
Although there isn’t too much electronic music at this festival, it takes place in the scenic and gorgeous Gorge in Washington state. Chromeo and Odesza will take to the stage on Saturday while Cashmere Cat, Madeon, and Sbtrkt will take to the stage on Sunday.
Flying Circus – The Belasco Theater Rooftop, Los Angeles, CA – May 23rd
Culture
Taking place at The Belasco Theater, Minimal Effort will present the debut of Flying Circus in Los Angeles. The Belasco Theater reopened as a massive performance hall in 2011 since it’s original opening in 1926. It has been seen in films such as Being John Malkovich, Swordfish, Memoirs of A Geisha, and The Prestige. The rooftop has 2 levels and looks like an absolutely insane place to host a party.
Music
The duo Audiofly and Flying Circus founders will take to the decks with their intoxicating grooves while Guti will bring along his jazz influenced sound in a live performance. Martin Buttrich will display his diversity while Minimal Effort presenters and founders Human Resources will also take to the decks. Local LA native, Eduardo Castillo will play an astounding six hour extended set.
Cuttin’ Headz Label Night – Flash Nightclub, Washington DC – May 22nd
Music
The Martinez Brothers will showcase their young label ‘Cuttin’ Headz’ that is said to span house, techno, and hip hop from their native home of New York. Fellow New Yorker, Filsonik will go back to back with another fellow New Yorker, Jesse Calosso. Raffi will have the honors of opening while Philip Goyette and Mike Bloom will play the Flash Bar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iicOJjOXE00
Superfreq. 13th Anniversary Tour – TBA, Boston, MA – May 23rd
Music
Dusk Till Done will present this party at an unannounced location somewhere in the Boston, MA area. Superfreq. will be celebrating their 13th anniversary with a tour that spans cities such as New York, Austin, San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, and more. Superfreq. founder and innovator, Mr. C will headline this spectacular event and Boston locals Patrick Barry, Smeed & Suspence, and Johnny Vaz will also be seen on the bill.
Caked Up – Indianapolis 500 Snake Pit, Indianapolis, IN – May 24th
Culture
Having taken place every year during Memorial Weekend since 1911, The Indianapolis 500 is probably on every American’s bucket list. Although there is quite a bit of beer and liquor being drank at the Indy 500, the winner traditionally drinks a bottle of milk which has been a tradition since 1933 ever since the marketing opportunity arose from one of the winners requesting milk over 80 years ago. The milk might help wash down all the cake being thrown around in the Snake Pit.
Music
Speaking about cake, Steve Aoki will headline along with Kaskade and A-Trak in The Snake Pit.
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