EDM Loop

Chicago has some amazing events coming up. Here is a list of our favorite events from August through December. Mark your calendars and we hope to see you all at Summer Set Music Festival this weekend!

08/14    OVERWERK – MID THURSDAYS – RSVP 08/15    SSMF 2014 3 DAY PASS 08/15    SSMF 2014 CAMPING 08/15    SSMF 2014 PREFERRED / RV CAMPING 08/15    SSMF 2014 THE WOODS VIP CAMPING EXP 08/15    SSMF 2014 AFTERS – FRIDAY – GRAMATIK 08/15    FARLEY JACKMASTER FUNK – CHOSEN FEW DJS 08/16    MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY – DETROIT 08/16    CEDRIC GERVAIS – NATHAN SCOTT – THE MID 08/16    SSMF 2014 AFTERS – SAVOY – EMANCIPATOR 08/16    HEXES – RICHIE AUGUST – CRAIG ALEXANDER 08/22    LANE 8 – REDUX DJS – GUN LOVE – PRIMARY 08/22    TRUTH – ZEBO – DJ SOLO – ROBOT DENTIST 08/22    FEED ME – DELTA HEAVY AT ROYAL OAK 08/22    PROTOHYPE – BOKKEN – MIRAMAR THEATRE 08/23    FEED ME (LIVE) – LUMINOX – NADASTROM 08/23    FAR EAST MOVEMENT – HORNY GOAT BREWERY 08/28    NCMF PRE: ATB AT THE MID 08/28    NCMF PRE: MOUNT KIMBIE – CHET FAKER 08/29    NORTH COAST FESTIVAL 2014 – FRIDAY 08/29    NORTH COAST FESTIVAL 2014 – 3 DAY PASS 08/29    NORTH COAST FESTIVAL 2014 – LOCKERS 08/29    NCMF AFTER: WHAT SO NOT- DJ FUNK – ZEBO 08/29    NCMF AFTER: FUTURE ROCK – ORCHARD LOUNGE 08/29    NCMF AFTER: KEYS N KRATES- M4SONIC- PHNM 08/29    NCMF AFTER: ALLAN KINGDOM – ALEX WILEY 08/29    NCMF AFTER: LETTUCE – BADBADNOTGOOD 08/30    NORTH COAST FESTIVAL 2014 – SATURDAY 08/30    NCMF AFTER: NICKY ROMERO – NATHAN SCOTT 08/30    NCMF AFTER: ADVENTURE CLUB- MILK N COOKS 08/30    NCMF AFTER: WOO PARK – MY BOY ELROY 08/30    NCMF AFTER: THE NEW DEAL + MORE 08/30    NCMF AFTER: CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT 08/30    NCMF AFTER: PROB CA– USE – ITYLYON 08/30    NCMFAFTER: GRANDTHEFT-MIDNIGHTCONSPIRACY 08/30    NCMF AFTER: TALIB KWELI – YACHT PARTY 08/31    NORTH COAST FESTIVAL 2014 – SUNDAY 08/31    NCMF AFTER: DADA LIFE AT THE MID 08/31    NCMF AFTER: THE FLOOZIES – MANIC FOCUS 08/31    NCMF AFTER: STS9 (SOLD OUT) 08/31    NCMF AFTER: OOKAY- WICK-IT 08/31    NCMF AFTER: THE NTH POWER – VAN GHOST 08/31    ALTERED TAPES – DJ NEWLIFE – SHAZAM B 08/31    NCMF AFTER: MK – K SAUNDERSON – J PHLIP 09/01    NCMF AFTER: PORN N CHICKEN 09/04    KLINGANDE AT SUBTERRANEAN 09/06    JAKUBI AT SCHUBAS CHICAGO 09/06    LUCKY DATE – HELENA – NATHAN SCOTT 09/12    MIMOSA – SEGREDO MADISON 09/13    PAUL VAN DYK – NATHAN SCOTT – THE MID 09/16    BLACK BUTTER AFTER: FEAT RUDIMENTAL 09/20    THOMAS GOLD AT THE MID CHICAGO 09/24    GOLDIE [AT] OAK LOUNGE 09/25    EOTO AND LUMINOX AT THE CROFOOT 09/26    PORTER ROBINSON – GIRAFFAGE – LEMAITRE 09/26    CLAUDE VONSTROKE – JIMMY EDGAR – ZEBO 09/27    GARETH EMERY – NATHAN SCOTT – THE MID 09/30    MØ – HOLYCHILD – CONCORD MUSIC HALL 10/01    LA ROUX AT CONCORD MUSIC HALL 10/02    RUSKO – SEGREDO MADISON 10/04    MATISYAHU – CONCORD MUSIC HALL 10/10    RUSKO – GENT & JAWNS – ALEX YOUNG- ZEBO 10/10    BIG FREEDIA AT CONCORD MUSIC HALL 10/14    RÜFÜS DU SOL – HERMITUDE – SCHUBAS 10/16    BAAUER – BOYS NOIZE – LIDO – SPANK ROCK 10/17    THE GLITCH MOB – THE M MACHINE – ARAGON 10/17    LIFE IN COLOR KALAMAZOO – CHAINSMOKERS 10/17    BAAUER – BOYS NOIZE – LIDO – CONCORD 10/18    KYGO – THOMAS JACK – CONCORD (LATE SHOW) 10/18    BAAUER – BOYS NOIZE + MORE | ROYAL OAK 10/18    SKRILLEX – A$AP FERG – NAVY PIER 10/22    THE GLITCH MOB – ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE 10/23    FLYING LOTUS- THUNDERCAT | ROYAL OAK 10/23    SBTRKT – THE RIV 10/24    FLYING LOTUS – THUNDERCAT – CONCORD 10/31    I AM HARDWELL AT UIC PAVILION CHICAGO 11/05    KILL THE NOISE AT NECTO – ANN ARBOR 11/08    MORGAN PAGE – ELLE MORGAN – CHRIS V 11/13    RYAN HEMSWORTH (LIVE) AT DOUBLE DOOR 11/14    RL GRIME – CONCORD MUSIC HALL 11/15    CARNAGE – PARIS BLOHM – DZEKO & TORRES 11/28    MITIS – SKRUX – BEAR GRILLZ – MIRAMAR 12/05    DILLON FRANCIS AT THE ARAGON BALLROOM

Dillon Francis has announced a massive headlining tour to begin this fall. The Friends Rule Tour will kick off November 17 in Nashville, TN and stop in major cities across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping with a headline date at Brooklyn’s famed Barclays Center. Tickets will be on sale beginning at 10AM local time on Saturday, August 16. For ticket and on sale info please visit www.FriendsRuleTour.com. See full list of tour dates below.
Dillon is touring in support of his highly anticipated debut album, Money Sucks, Friends Rule, to be released on October 28 via Columbia Records. The album is available to pre-order now HERE and features collaborations with artists including DJ Snake, Martin Garrix, Twista, Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie, The Presets and Major Lazer, among others. Pre-orders include instant downloads of album tracks “When We Were Young” and “Get Low,” with additional tracks becoming available to pre-ordering fans leading up to the album’s release.
“Get Low,” Dillon’s track with DJ Snake, was recently featured on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance and has already surpassed 3.5 million plays on SoundCloud, while the official “Get Low” video has amassed nearly 4.5 million views. Meanwhile, “When We Were Young,” Dillon’s collaboration with Sultan + Ned Shepard featuring Chain Gang of 1974, was recently added at Sirius BPM.

Dillon has received much praise for his live show from critics and fans alike, with Billboard observing he “played to what was likely the weekend’s largest crowd” at Los Angeles’ recent HARD Summer. After his set at Electric Daisy Carnival, Las Vegas Weekly declared him “your next superstar DJ” and noted that the crowd “appeared to equal the tens of thousands who caught Diplo at the same stage two nights previous.” The upcoming tour, which will feature all new production, follows a stint on the Mad Decent Block Party.
DILLON FRANCIS ON TOUR:
**Denotes headline date
8/15 Montreal, Canada Parc Jean Drapeau
8/16 Rochester Hills, MI Meadow Brook – Mad Decent Block Party
8/17 Las Vegas, NV Encore Beach – Mad Decent Block Party
8/22 Las Vegas, NV Surrender Nightclub
8/29 New Orleans, LA Mardi Gras World – Mad Decent Block Party
8/30 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Music Amp – Mad Decent Block Party
8/31 Dallas, TX Club Zouk – Mad Decent Block Party
9/5 Calgary, Canada Millennium Park – Mad Decent Block Party
9/19 Berkeley, CA Greek UC Berkeley – Mad Decent Block Party
9/20 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater – Mad Decent Block Party
9/21 Vancouver, Canada ONE Amphitheater – Mad Decent Block Party
9/27 Fairburn, GA TomorrowWorld
11/12 Miami, FL Norwegian Pearl Ship – Mad Decent Block Party
11/17 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works**
11/19 Asheville, NC Orange Peel**
11/20 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore**
11/21 Washington, DC Echo Stage**
11/22 Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live**
11/25 Wallingford, CT Dome at Oakdale**
11/26 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory**
11/28 Boston, MA House of Blues**
12/1 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall**
12/5 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom**
12/6 Minneapolis, MN Skyway Theatre**
12/9 Madison, WI Orpheum Theatre**
12/10 Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland**
12/12 Broomfield, CO 1st Bank Center**
12/13 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue**
12/18 Oakland, CA Fox Theater**
12/21 Los Angeles, CA Shrine Auditorium**
1/16 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center**

The 5th Annual North Coast Music Festival is thrilled to announce the single day lineups for the 2014 edition of the festival! Single day tickets are on sale now exclusively at Clubtix.com. 3-day passes are almost sold out so buy your tickets this week! We look forward to covering North Coast Music Festival this year and we hope to see you all there!

FRIDAY AUGUST 29TH
BASSNECTAR
ALESSO
Action Bronson | Chet Faker | Keys N Krates | Lettuce | Papadosio
Showtek | Washed Out | What So Not | W&W
BADBADNOTGOOD | Chris V | Hexes Kryal x Banko
Mighty Thor & Why B | Orchard Lounge | Prob Cause | Sun Stereo
SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH
KID CUDI | STS9
NICKY ROMERO
Adventure Club | BoomBox | Break Science | Cashmere Cat | Future Islands
Future Rock | Little Dragon | Grandtheft | J Phlip | the Nth Power
Talib Kweli | Thibault
Alex Wiley | Altered Tapes (Maker & Trew) | Dopapod | Ghosthouse
M4sonic | Milk n Cookies | The Motet | My Boy Elroy | Savant
Thrift Works | The Trap House | Wyllys | Zebo

SUNDAY AUGUST 31ST
SNOOP DOGG
DADA LIFE | ZEDS DEAD
Auto Body | Dr. Dog | Cosby Sweater | Emancipator Ensemble | Hilltop Hoods | Griz
The Floozies | Midnight Conspiracy | The New Deal | Ookay | Porn and Chicken
Riff Raff | Slightly Stoopid | Wild Belle | Wolfgang Gartner
Youngblood Brass Band | Wick It the Instagator
Attak | Bisharat | Modern Measure | Muzzy | NORdjs
Redux DJS | Saba | Zaramella

AFTER PARTIES
Friday, August 29th
Lettuce | BADBADNOTGOOD – Concord Music Hall | 18+
Future Rock | Orchard Lounge – House of Blues | 18+
What So Not | DJ Funk | Zebo – The Mid | 21+
Keys N Krates | PHNM – Bottom Lounge | 18+
Saturday, August 30th
Nicky Romero | Nathan Scott – The Mid | 21+
Adventure Club | Milk N Cookies – Bottom Lounge | 18+
FiyaWerks Boat Party w/ Talib Kweli & More – 18+
The New Deal | Cosby Sweater | Autobody – Concord | 18+
Chicago Afrobeat Project w/ Tony Allen – Double Door | 21+
Prob Cause | Itylyon | Ghosthouse – Schubas | 18+
Grandtheft | Midnight Conspiracy – Evil Olive | 21+
Sunday, August 31st
STS9 – House of Blues | 18+
Dada Life – The Mid | 21+
MK | Kevin Saunderson | J.Phlip – Transit | 21+
Ookay | Wick It the Instagator – Bottom Lounge |18+
The Nth Power | Van Ghost – City Winery | 21+
Monday, September 1st
NCMF Closing Party w/ Porn and Chicken – EvilOlive | 21+
Tickets for the official North Coast Music Festival after parties are on sale now. For a complete list of shows, please head here.

Spring Awakening Music Festival returned to Chicago at the historic Soldier Field for the third year in a row, with over 100,000 people in attendance over the course of three days. SAMF brought together some of the biggest names in electronic dance music, with Tiesto, Pretty Lights, and Kaskade closing out each night, along with Knife Party, Diplo, Big Gigantic, Steve Aoki, Flux Pavilion, Eric Prydz, and many more.
The festival also showcased the most influential labels in dance music taking over The Hanger Stage, including OWSLA & Fool’s Gold Records with Kill the Noise & A-trak, Dirtybird & Cajual Records with a rare back-to-back DJ set from Claude VonStroke & Green Velvet, and Buygore Records & Dirty Dutch with Borgore & Chuckie!

Don’t have any plans this Sunday? CMF presents Forest Gathering at Busse Forest off of Higgins Rd. (Higgins Rd. and Arlington Heights Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Grove #1) 2pm-Sundown. Free and all ages event. Come meet new people and dance to some good music!

Sincerity – The Theme of the Electric Forest Experience
Electric Forest in Rothbury, Michigan is as much of a social experiment as it is a music festival. If there is one thing that it proves, it’s that human beings, by nature, are overwhelmingly positive and good to each other. The key words here being, “by nature.” And that is what Forest provides each and every one of its some 40,000 attendees.
EF 2014 was my very first camping festival experience. And even before that, my traditional music festival pedigree was pretty slim. For the record, I am a 24 year old male, two years removed from state university with a 9-5 corporate job and bills to pay. In the real world like many others out there, I have suddenly found myself shuffling through life and doing my small part to maintain the “machine” of a society we’ve created for ourselves here in the states. Simply put, we live for the weekends.

My small group of four festival goers arrived in Rothbury, Michigan on a warm Thursday afternoon to smiles and high-fives from the crew working the event and searching the vehicles. Strangers don’t usually act this kind. The uplifting aura set in immediately as we were ushered into the campground and directed to our home for the next four days. In line with several other vehicles, we pulled into our row, parked, and began to unload camping gear. Cue a mad dash to setup the chillest campsite on the block. The competitive nature of the real world that we had just left behind was shifted to a collaborative mindset. Every individual around me had one focus, and that was to enhance everyone else’s experience with an open door policy on our now completed temporary village. Within the hour, our neighbors all felt like close friends and we proceeded to crack open some celebratory adult beverages and toast to our first accomplishment together.

Before ever stepping foot into the venue, it was at this point that I realized why people travel from around the world to attend festivals – and I hadn’t even caught a live show yet.
Upon finishing our drinks and gathering our things, we agreed it was time to head into the venue and let the real magic begin. A stroll through vendors selling an assortment of tapestries, custom glass, decorations, paintings, and delicious food lined the campground’s main walkway which led to the queue into Sherwood Forest. I am confident this queue only existed for the high-fives and the cheers that you got when walking through it. This final connection with other fellow foresters was enough to pump everyone up like a team running out of the tunnel for the opening kick-off to Monday Night Football. That’s how electric this place was.

Suddenly I found myself inside of Sherwood Forest in the midst of a crowd. It’s daytime, sky is blue, trees are green, and overall it’s exceptionally ethereal. The bass was reverberating through my sandals and to find a person not bumping to the music or walking with that hop-dance funky two step thing people do as they navigate a crowd during live music was completely impossible.
Good. Fucking. Vibes.
The hippie stereotype was alive and strong with the crowd showing off plenty of skin and a seemingly endless ocean of tie-dye and bright colors hypnotically swaying to the groove at the big Ranch Arena stage. Amid the masses, a pink shirt worn by a cute girl that read, “You Can Sit With Us” caught my eye. As the girl smiled at me and walked by, I knew she meant it. And we all knew that everyone else felt the same way. It was comforting.

Focusing back on the show, I couldn’t help but laugh as I enjoyed Paper Diamond’s set while the sun drifted under the tree line. People flowed in and out of my group’s zone and almost everybody initiated a conversation, or at the very least, wanted to dance. Some people even opted to enjoy the music from the ground while lounging on moon mats and blankets. But whether standing or sitting, people expressed simple and genuine curiosity about their fellow men and women here. I loved to see it, and nobody was avoiding eye contact or staring into their smartphones. How refreshing. Questions like, “where are you from?” “how are you feeling?” and, “is this your first Forest?” became common in every encounter and most are eager to hear your story and then tell their own. The unity of the crowd was infectious and everybody looked to be in their element. No hidden agendas, no lying, no cheating. There was no hierarchy here.
Sincerity, in its purest form.
By this time, darkness was rapidly approaching. The sweat began to dry and all of the sun-kissed necks and shoulders were welcoming of the cool, dropping temperatures at Sherwood Forest. It was now dark. The mood immediately changed from an incandescent blast of positive energy, to an otherworldly sexy and seductive sensory overload that everyone had fully accepted as their new reality moving forward. At this stage in the night, the Glitch Mob began to perform and the music was like voodoo magic in command of the crowd which was bobbing and weaving and dancing and screaming to their performance. Glowsticks and neon totems bouncing to each bass drop might as well have been hypnotism; it was obvious this crowd had just been elevated to a new level. As they say, the place was going wild.

Each music set I adventured to in the forest felt like a unique one hour dramatic theatrical production. No two shows carried the same flavor or premise. Each taught new lessons and brought crowds to new places. Intros and rising actions and climaxes complete with all the ups and downs of any great book, play, or movie were all prominent. Not to mention the storybook setting. It was all on display for the crowd at Electric Forest and it just goes to show how far these artists and production crews have advanced with their ability to tell a story through music. This is why I believe the popularity of EDM and jam bands continue to rise at an astonishing rate. And when the laser light show is illuminating a pristine forest all around you, you’re bound to experience something at Electric Forest that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Once The Glitch Mob ended, Zeds Dead took over and brought the crowd through yet another moving set leaving everyone begging for more. Eventually, the music subsided. Everyone danced and chanted in unison into the glowing and mysterious forest on their way back to their campsites. Eager as I was  to do it all over again.

The magic lasted four entire days. There are so many ways to experience this festival, with the best experience having a little bit of everything. Campsite pow-wows with strangers late at night into the early morning, chill sessions in a tangled web of hammocks amongst the trees during the day, impromptu dance-offs at the silent disco, endless amount of sharing what you have to offer with anyone out there willing to stop by, and finally all of the strange realizations and life lessons you will encounter that you will most certainly take home with you stored deep within your soul. Electric Forest was more akin to a spiritual awakening or epiphany than just a concert. For me, it was a lesson on the potential good within all of humanity. For many, it’s an eye opening realization of inherent positivity that most people possess, and maybe some people even learn of a new positivity that they themselves can harness and use moving forward. Above all of the spirituality and deep-rooted meanings that people love to discuss, Electric Forest is just really just fun to be a part of. And it feels bigger than you.

Speaking back to the music at this festival, after all, that is what it’s all about, the variety was amazing. From the jam bands to the huge EDM names, every show that I caught sounded great. There were  4 hour jam sessions with The String Cheese Incident, there was a melodic tropical house set from Kygo with beach balls floating through the sky amidst trees and sunshine,  Zedd melted everyone’s face on Friday night, Umphrey’s did their usual thing, Schoolboy Q turnt everyone up, and then Tycho and Emancipator turnt everyone back down. Each individual show was worthy of its own full review. So I in turn wanted to focus this piece on putting the experience as a whole into words by describing what it feels like to be at Electric Forest, and not just discuss the music itself. If an average guy like me can find a new home and a new escape from the “machine” in a place like Forest, then it really can be a special place for anyone to enjoy and cherish. It’s not just about the music; it’s the community, the camaraderie, and the sincerity of everyone in attendance.

My friends and I are already planning our return and yes, we’re bringing way more hammocks. Electric Forest, thanks for the memories, and until next year.
Sincerely,
-Chris
Check out more photos from Electric Forest here.
 

CHICAGO – North Coast Music Festival is thrilled to announce the official after parties for 2014, including STS9, Nicky Romero, MK, J Phlip, Adventure Club, Dada Life, Lettuce, & an All Star Super Jam Yacht Party featuring members of The Allmann Brothers, Trey Anastasio, The Meters, Lettuce, Nth Power, Dumpstaphunk, Pretty Lights, Break Science, and more, with special guest Talib Kweli!
In addition to the after parties, Talib Kweli, Youngblood Brass Band, Hilltop Hoods, as well as some of the Midwest’s finest local talent have been added to the lineup. Full list of after parties below. More after parties TBA!
Tickets for the after parties are on sale now at Clubtix.com. Tickets for the festival are available now through Clubtix.com!

THURSDAY

• Official NCMF Pre-Party w/ Chet Faker & Mount Kimbie – Concord Music Hall | 18+ – Tickets

FRIDAY

• Lettuce | BADBADNOTGOOD – Concord Music Hall | 18+ – Tickets
• Future Rock | Orchard Lounge – House of Blues | 18+ – Tickets
• What So Not | DJ Funk | Zebo – The Mid | 21+ – Tickets
• Keys N Krates | PHNM – Bottom Lounge | 18+  – Tickets
• Closed Sessions w/ Allan Kiingdom, Alex Wiley, Saba, & More – Cobra Lounge | 21+ – Tickets

• Nicky Romero | Nathan Scott – The Mid | 21+ – Tickets
• Adventure Club | Milk N Cookies – Bottom Lounge | 18+ – Tickets
• FiyaWerks Boat Party w/ Talib Kweli & More – 18+ – Tickets
• The New Deal | Cosby Sweater | Autobody – Concord | 18+ – Tickets
• Chicago Afrobeat Project w/ Tony Allen – Double Door | 21+ – Tickets
• Prob Cause | Itylyon | Ghosthouse – Schubas | 18+ – Tickets
• Grandtheft | Midnight Conspiracy – Evil Olive | 21+ – Tickets

• STS9 – House of Blues | 18+ – Tickets
• Dada Life – The Mid | 21+ – Tickets
• MK | Kevin Saunderson | J.Phlip – Transit | 21+ – Tickets
• Ookay | Wick It the Instagator – Bottom Lounge |18+ – Tickets
• The Nth Power | Van Ghost – City Winery | 21+ – Tickets

• NCMF Closing Party w/ Porn and Chicken – EvilOlive | 21+ – Tickets

North Coast Music Festival is thrilled to announce the 5th Annual Toast of the Coast! The organizers at North Coast Music Festival are always looking to foster the best local and regional talent, and this is the perfect opportunity for you to show us what you got!

North Coast Music Festival
August 29th – August 31st, 2014
Union Park
Chicago, IL 60607
All Ages
Friday: 3 PM – 10 PM
Saturday/Sunday: Noon – 10 PM
www.northcoastfestival.com
www.clubtix.com