Photo credit: Insomniac Events
On May 19-21, Insomniac celebrated its 30th anniversary, cementing its reputation as a leader in music festivals. EDC Las Vegas attracted over 525,000 visitors from around the world.
The Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas, hosted by Insomniac, has established itself as a champion electronic dance music (EDM) festival. Since 2021, the number of visitors has increased by almost 100,000 more festival visitors this year.
Once again held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the festival featured nine stages, rides, art installations, brand activations and an overall immersive atmosphere.
This year, global DJ icons such as David Guetta, Tiesto, Zedd, Kaskade, Kaytranada, Afrojack, Alison Wonderland, Dom Dolla, Chris Lake, Marshmello, Fisher and many more gave performances that kept visitors dancing from dusk to dawn could.
The festival started at 5pm on the first night and at 7pm on the second and third nights. On all three nights, the final set ended at 5:30 a.m.
I purchased a Premier shuttle pass which made getting to and from the festival a smooth process. There will be a security check at the shuttle stop before boarding the shuttle. Once you’re dropped off at the festival, you’re ready to go back through the gates instead of through security.
There was a bit of concern that there would be heavy traffic and waiting times en route to the festival as there is significant construction going on across the Las Vegas Strip in preparation for Formula One (F1). Luckily I didn’t have any problems getting to and from the festival. The only problem was that there was a bit more traffic on the strip from hotel to hotel during the day.
Prepare the stage:
EDC Las Vegas, which transitioned from its Los Angeles origins to the legendary Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011, this year features a full-scale production featuring nine stages including kineticFIELD, CircuitGROUNDS, CosmicMEADOW, BassPOD, StereoBLOOM, WasteLAND, NeonGARDEN, QuantumVALLEY, bionic JUNGLE . There were also several Art Cars putting on performances throughout the festival.
This festival not only showcases over 230 artists representing different genres of dance music, but also captivates visitors with its stunning art installations that add to the festival’s immersive environment.
Magic moments and unexpected surprises:
While EDC Las Vegas is known for its exceptional music offerings, it strives to deliver exceptional experiences that transcend the boundaries of the dance floor. The festival offers opportunities for legal weddings and engagement ceremonies in downtown EDC.
Photo credit: Insomniac Events
Allegiant Rave Hanger hosted sets that offered attendees an intimate experience rather than being on the larger stages.
VOLTA Beauty gave festival-goers the opportunity to receive a glamorous makeover on-site that enhanced their visual experience.
A meeting place for Kandi enthusiasts, the Kandi Casino facilitates the making and trading of these handcrafted bracelets, encouraging connection and camaraderie among attendees.
Anniversary Lane was a walkway with big screens and lights showing memorable clips and moments from Insomniac’s history.
Photo credit: Insomniac Events
Unforgettable performances:
EDC Las Vegas boasts an impressive lineup of world-renowned artists and DJs, attracting celebrities such as David Guetta, Tiesto, Marshmello, Zedd, Afrojack, Kaytranada and Kaskade. Their performances on the festival’s stages create an intoxicating atmosphere and ensure that visitors are thrown into a whirlwind of musical euphoria.
Alison Wonderland delivered an unforgettable set while she was nine months pregnant. That wasn’t the only baby news! During Zedd’s performance on Saturday night, one contestant went into labor.
It was me 😅😭 pic.twitter.com/4aWAT39At0
— Cristina Celis (@tinacelis11) May 22, 2023
Day highlights:
Day 1: EDC Las Vegas Opening Day kicked off with an exhilarating cosmic MEADOW stage opening ceremony by Nostalgix and James Hype, setting the stage for an exciting weekend. I visited sets from Kream, Sidepiece, Fisher, Above & Beyond and Wax Motif b2b Malaa.
Full of infectious energy and unreleased tracks like “Take It Off,” Fisher’s performance resonated with audiences.
The return of Above & Beyond after a four-year hiatus was greeted with great anticipation, and their captivating performance, enhanced by a gentle downpour, ended with the timeless anthem ‘Sun & Moon’.
Day 2: I’ve attended standout performances by Noizu, Dom Dolla, Kaskade, Subtronics and Chris Lake. Dom Dolla’s performance enchanted the audience, because the crowd moved in unison and sang along with almost every song.
Dom Dolla’s performance also began with an unreleased track of his with Nelly Furtado, which they touted on social media.
Check out this post on Instagram
Chris Lake presented his latest track with Aluna, “Beggin”. The dynamic performance also included the unreleased viral track by Chris Lake b2b Fisher at the Coachella Music Festival this year, “Atmosphere”. The track was a staple at this year’s EDC as other artists, such as Chris Lorenzo, incorporated the track into their sets.
Check out this post on Instagram
Subjohnics was a special guest in the cast of Subtronics and John Summit – a duo who made their debut together at Lost Lands, another event produced by Insomniac.
John Summit and Hayla’s “Where You Are” was a hit throughout the festival. There have been at least four sets I’ve attended that used or remixed the title.
Day 3: On the final day, I embarked on a journey of discovery, dedicating myself to a single stage and embracing the unexpected musical delights that awaited it. J. Worra, Chris Lorenzo, Tchami B2B AC Slater, Wax Motif and Armin Van Buuren delivered captivating performances that night and embodied the essence of EDC Las Vegas. It was a day full of musical discoveries.
As I lined up on one stage, I found the best spot in the house for the fireworks. Fireworks took place each evening illustrating the electric sky.
On the grandstands of cosmicMEADOW you experienced the fireworks and all the beauty that the festival had to offer.
Armin Van Buuren had a beautiful set and brought the “Rave Mamas” on stage. April and Darlene, known as the “Rave Mamas”, were on a mission to illustrate how the festival creates an atmosphere where all ages of adults feel welcome at the festival.
Takeaways:
thinking about mine first experience at EDC And from this year’s experience, I’ve gained some insights into what I think has improved and what could be improved in the future.
- The art installations at EDC Las Vegas never cease to amaze visitors with their remarkable beauty and mesmerizing design. EDC sets an exceptionally high standard for art and stage production, making it a challenge for any other festival to surpass.
- This year’s food vendors have expanded to include a diverse selection of food.
- The VIP area has grown and has changed positively for some stages.
- The bassPOD stage had beautiful architecture this year, but again attracted larger crowds that filled the aisles of the site.
- On the first night, outside the VIP area, the rails slowed and crowds rushed in trying to get inside. The organizers quickly realized this and removed this facility for the following days.
- The Insomniac app was helpful for discovering new experiences at the festival and keeping track of my allotted time. One area where the app can be improved is a more interactive map.
- The fireworks were magical but I missed the element of the drone show. If it isn’t incorporated into the evening fireworks show, I wish artists would be able to incorporate this into their own set.
- If brands want to be more involved in this festival, the ideal would be to create an immersive experience that connects with the community and communicates the mission that EDC represents.
For music industry professionals, EDC provides a platform to showcase and discover talent, as well as a place to make meaningful connections and gain insight into the evolving EDM industry and brands looking to get involved.
Pasquale Rotella, Founder and CEO of Insomniac, addressed a message to attendees at this year’s EDC: “Thank you for a memorable weekend home. The energy and love we received from all of you was truly indescribable.”
“Looking back over the last 30 years of Insomniac fills me with indescribable gratitude and emotion. What started as a simple dream has grown into a global family united by a love of music, community and the ultimate rave experience.”
“We have incredible experiences and surprises in store for 2024 and I can’t wait to share them with all of you.”
EDC Las Vegas 2024 has already been announced, the official dates are May 17th, 18th and 19th. The Future Owl presale will go live on Friday, May 26 at 10am PT.