In its fourth year, Electric Zoo will again be held over Labor Day Weekend on Randall’s Island. Though I missed it last year (having covered it the first two years run of the festival in 2009 and 2010), the event planners don’t look to have changed much in terms of the setup. There are still four stages and I’m sure the production will be tight for artists like Guetta, A-Trak, Axwell, Tiesto, Benassi and Sasha.
Electric Zoo has several years ahead of the local incarnation of the Electric Daisy Carnival (which took place earlier this summer in the Meadowlands of New Jersey) so there are likely many return fans buying up tickets. But there is no overlap of artists between the EDC and this events, dividing fans.
Unfortunately, increased competition for the EDM crowd has seen a glut of events this year. None of the newer ones seem to have made a huge splash — Cosmic Opera never turned out its third event while IDentity didn’t cross my radar at all.
But Electric Zoo will warrant attention with its increased ways to indulge in EDM, because if there have been any upgrades to Electric Zoo, those seem to be in terms of extras, extra music and extra premium. Organizers have arranged more massive after-party events — the parties are no longer at the nightclub Pacha, they are held at proper venues, namely the Best Buy Theater in Times Square and Roseland Ballroom not far up the street. Also, organizers have allocated space for even more premium VIP access (above and beyond the regular ‘VIP Experience’ and the ‘Platinum’ level) to the event through Provocateur, a nightlife brand. VIP tables for six begin at $1,250… and they do NOT include admission…
Visit the official site for more information on Electric Zoo and to buy tickets. General admission passes for three days are currently $299. Information on the after parties is also available there.
Artists currently slated for the three day 2012 Electric Zoo (August 31 – September 2nd) include these (headliners in order of appearance):
David Guetta
Axwell
Tiësto
(the rest in alphabetical order)
12th Planet
A-Trak
AbdeCaf
Above & Beyond
Adrian Lux
Adventure Club
Alvin Risk
Andrew Bayer
Andy C
Angger Dimas
Apparat
Argy
Autoerotique
Bart B More
Benga
Benny Benassi
Bingo Players
3LAU
Bloody Beetroots
BLTS: Better Loss Than Stupid – Davide Squillace, Martin Buttrich, Mathias Tanzmann
Boys Noize
Brass Fergie
Brodinski
Chris Liebing
Claude VonStroke
Clockwork
Congorock
Dada Life
DallasK
Dash Berlin
Datsik
Destructo
Dev
Dillon Francis
Diplo
Dirtyphonics LIVE
Dixon
DJ Bl3nd
Djedjotronic v Strip Steve
Eco
Eliot Lipp
EOTO
Excision
Felix Cartal
Ferry Corsten
Flux Pavilion & Doctor P
Frank & Tony
Frivolous LIVE
Gabriel & Dresden
Gesaffelstein
Hardwell
Helicopter Showdown
Jack Beats
Jaytech
Kill the Noise
Knife Party
Koze
Krewella
Kyau & Albert
Laidback Luke
Luciano
Marco Carola
Marcus Schossow
Martin Solveig
Mat Zo
Mathias Kaden
Maya Jane Coles
Mendo
Michael Menert
Mord Fustang
Morgan Page
Mt Eden
Mustard Pimp
Nadastrom
Nervo
Netsky
Nick Catchdubs
Nicky Romero
Norin & Rad
Paco Osuna
Paper Diamond
PeaceTreaty
Pierce Fulton
Porter Robinson
Pretty Lights
Reboot
Robert Dietz
Rusko
Sander van Doorn
Sasha
Skrillex
Sleepy & Boo
Steve Aoki
Tommy Trash
Treasure Fingers
Umek
W&W
The White Panda
Wolfgang Gartner
Z-Trip
Zack Roth
Zedd
Zeds Dead