Dancing Astronaut’s top 10 underground parties of MMW 2013
As you may well know, there are literally hundreds of events to choose from during Miami Music Week. Pool parties, after hours, label showcases, rare sets, marathon sets — you name it. Maybe parties like Jacked, Size Matters, and F*ck Me I’m Famous aren’t your cup of tea this year, but the sea of opportunities beyond might seem daunting. This list will serve as your guide. These ten parties (as well as a number of honorable mentions) are the perfect blend of old and new talent, exclusive or stacked lineups, day and night time slots, and a wide variety of venues throughout Downtown and South Beach. These are events that fall outside the realm of your run-of-the-mill DJ set, these are the events that will make Miami Music Week what it is in 2013.
10. Detroit Premiere Artists Showcase
Why: Getting Kevin Saunderson, Carl Craig, and Stacey Pullen in the same room is an occasion usually reserved for the prime Detroit techno celebration in the world — Detroit Electronic Movement Festival. Detroit Premiere Artists is hosting a showcase that does not only this, but also brings in almost the entirety of the agency (many of whom, obviously, are not actually from Detroit). The execution will be unparalleled — several generations of the Detroit techno sound in one fell swoop.
Who: Agoria, Audiofly, Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson, Luca Bacchetti, Mark Fanciulli, Nina Kraviz, Paul Woolford, Radio Slave, Stacey Pullen
When: 3/20 from 10PM to 5AM
Where: Treehouse Miami
How: Tickets
9. Flying Circus Miami 6th Anniversary
Why: Audiofly’s Flying Circus parties, and this lineup in particular, represent some of the more intriguing talents in the underground world these days. Azari & III, Benoit & Sergio, Martin Buttrich, and Tone of Arc are all playing live sets. Audiofly are temporarily fusing with M.A.N.D.Y. as M.A.N.F.L.Y. And oh yeah, Magda, Lee Curtis, Shaun Reeves, and tINI will be there too.
Who: Audiofly, Avatism (live), Azari & III (live), Benoit & Sergio (live), Bill Patrick vs. Maayan Nidam, Blond:ish, Clockwork, Den Ishu, Inxec, Just Be, Lee Curtiss, M.A.N.F.L.Y. (M.A.N.D.Y. vs. AUDIOFLY Miami exclusive), Magda, Martin Buttrich (live), My Favorite Robot, Special Case, Shaun Reeves, Tiefschwarz, tINI, Tone Of Arc (live), Ultrasone
When: 3/20 from 12PM to 5AM
Where: Villa 221
How: Tickets
8. Klockworks Showcase
Why: The Miami stop is only one of two opportunities North Americans will have to catch Ben Klock’s Klockworks label showcase this year. Klock’s dark Berghain techno will be paired with a set of impressive minimal visuals from Heleen Blanken. Also note the venue — this showcase will be held at The Station, a new downtown Miami “art lounge restaurant” that’s decorated like a ’60s gas station.
Who: Ben Klock, DVS1
When: 3/21 from 10PM to 7AM
Where: The Station
How: Tickets
7. CircoLoco Miami
Why: You’ll be able to catch most of these top tier DJs at other points during MMW, but a CircoLoco party is just about as close as you’ll get to raving at DC-10 in Ibiza. This pool party is without a doubt one of the most comprehensive groupings of talent of MMW. Instead of spending time at the Apollonia showcase, catch Dyed Soundorom and Dan Ghanacia here. Missing Troxler and Crosson at the W on Monday? Don’t worry, they’ll be at CircoLoco. And for good measure, let’s throw in CircoLoco residents Davide Squillace and Matthias Tanzmann, BPitch headmistress Ellen Allien, and Dubfire.
Who: Seth Troxler, Dubfire, Matthias Tanzmann, Davide Squillace, DJ Sneak, Ellen Allien, Clive Henry, Dyed Soundorom, Dan Ghenacia, Art Department, Damian Lazarus, Andrew Grant, Maceo Plex, Ryan Crosson, Tale of Us, Shaun Reeves, Lee Curtiss, Willie Graff
When: 3/21 from 11AM to 11PM
Where: Surfcomber Hotel
How: Tickets
6. DJ Harvey and Osunlade: Inside/Out…All Night Long
Why: DJ Harvey is probably one of the most influential DJs you’d be lucky enough to catch during MMW. If there is one finger to point for bringing the original American garage, house, and disco sounds to the UK, it’d be this man. He played alongside Francois K and brought Larry Levan to London. He had some of the first residencies at Ministry of Sound and many of the early era’s superclubs in the UK. As of late, he’s had a bit of a resurgence. His incredibly diverse and powerful DJ sets have elevated him into somewhat of a cult figure. As of late, he’s been producing as Locussolus. Osunlade, also a classic figure for house music, will be playing alongside him. You’re probably familiar with the Âme remix of “Envision,” but the Yoruba Records founder has released something close to twenty albums in his lifetime and like Harvey, is seasoned enough to meld rare records from funk, soul, rock, Balearic, and edgy techno sounds. He did deep house before it was “deep house.” He’s announced he’s moving away from house music (despite releasing Osunlade in the House for Defected in April), so it’s unclear exactly how his set will flow. This is the only opportunity you’ll have to see either of these DJs at WMC, and their backing lineup ain’t half bad either.
Who: DJ Harvey, Osunlade, Pillowtalk (live), The Marcy Allstars, Jacques Renault, Maxxi Soundsystem, PBR Streetgang, Shiny Objects
When: 3/23 from 10PM to 5AM
Where: Soho Studios
How: Tickets
5. Crosstown Rebels present Get Lost Miami
Why: Thirty one DJs are set to perform at the Ice Palace for the Miami edition of the Crosstown Rebels Rebel Rave world tour. Other cities were lucky enough to get five of these artists, but in Miami basically everyone is showing up. Interesting additions to the star-studded lineup include Cassy, Francesca Lombardo, Guti with Fosky, Infinity Ink, jozif, and Tiga. It’s also ok if you admit you’d go to this party to see how Skream fares sans dubstep.
Who: Alex Arnout, Bill Patrick, Burnski, Carl Craig, Clive Henry, Craig Richards, Cassy, Damian Lazarus, DJ Three, Droog, Eats Everything, Eduardo Castillo, Francesca Lombardo, Fur Coat, Guti & Fosky, Heidi, Infinity Ink, jozif, Just Be (Bushwacka), Lee Curtiss, Maayan Nidam, Mark Jenkyns, Richy Ahmed, Robert James, Roska, Russ Yallop, Shaun Reeves, Skream, DJ Sneak, Subb-an, Tiga, tINI
When: 3/23 early AM to late PM
Where: Ice Palace West
How: Tickets
4. Mindshake vs. M_nus at Treehouse Miami
Why: Two of techno’s titanic labels will duke it out in competing rooms at Treehouse Miami and this will be one for the books. The Mindshake room, led by the very capable Paco Osuna, will feature unrelenting groove from Carlio Lio and exciting live action from newbies Kabale und Liebe. Pop over room two and you’ll get the most twisted of techno from 2012 Enter Ibiza residents Matador and Hobo. Julian Jeweil, a newer addition to the Minus family, will also be showing off his live work. This isn’t Hawtin at Mansion, but maybe that’s a good thing. You won’t be able to catch this kind of powerful label showcase at many other points during the season.
Who: Paco Osuna, Carlo Lio, Kabale und Liebe (live), Dela vs. Matador, Hobo, Tripmastaz, Julian Jeweil (live), Nsound
When: 3/19 at 10PM to ???
Where: Treehouse Miami
How: Tickets
3. Diynamic Neon Nights feat. Solomun & Friends
Why: Solomun, my man of the moment, doesn’t grace the shores of the New World too often and it’s even less likely that when he does, he’ll be with a large chunk of protégés from Diynamic Records. The Diynamic Neon Nights party was one of the most successful events in Ibiza last season, and this is your way to experience that in the US. Diynamic is the way to define straight up house music these days and with unwavering confidence, I can assert that this amalgamation of talents is truly representative of the zeitgeist of the 2013 season.
Who: Solomun, H.O.S.H., Kollektiv Turmstrasse (live), Stimming (live), David August, Uner, Adriatique, Hunter/Game, DJ Phono
When: 3/20 from 9PM to 5AM
Where: Nikki Beach
How: Tickets
2. 2GTHR with Joris Voorn, Nic Fanciulli and Friends
Why: Joris Voorn and Nic Fanciulli are headlining what looks to be the most ridiculous groupings of back-to-back DJ sets I could ever imagine. This party at The Surfcomber will last all day Tuesday and consists of nine stunning combinations of DJs. This is truly the only thing that surprised me when digging through all of MMW’s parties and there’s no way to even point out one or two of these sets as better than another — they’re all top of line. This is a DJ’s party and a music lover’s dream.
Who: Joris Voorn vs Nic Fanciulli, Stacey Pullen vs Josh Wink, Guti vs Reboot, Martin Buttrich vs Subb-an, Robert Dietz vs Luca Bachetti, Heidi vs Huxley, Ida Engberg vs Andrea Oliva, Mark Fanciulli vs Edwin Oosterwal, Maher Daniel vs Daniel Dubb, Lee Curtiss, Shawn Reeves, Danny Daze
Update: Reboot and Heidi have been removed from the lineup. Lee Curtiss, Shawn Reeves, and Danny Daze will replace them.
When: 3/19 from 11AM to 11PM
Where: Surfcomber Hotel
How: Tickets
1. Loco Dice b2b Marco Carola
Why: You thought that six hour set you saw a few months back was a marathon? Double that. For four years now, Loco Dice and Marco Carola have taken over the Space Terrace for what usually clocks in to be about a twelve-hour back-to-back set. This event has and will define the MMW experience for devoted fans of the men behind the Herculean success of the Desolat and Music On names. Arrive with no expectations, leave with a newfound identity as a techno zealot.
Who: Loco Dice, Marco Carola
When: 3/20 at 10PM to 3/21 at 4PM
Where: Space Terrace
How: Tickets
Honorable mentions:
Hotflush Miami at Electric Pickle
DJ Mag at Delano Opening Party at Delano Hotel
SCI+TEC & Supernature at Treehouse Miami
Cocoon Heroes Miami at Treehouse Miami
Chus & Ceballos and Friends at Space
Crew Love: Pillowtalk, Soul Clap, Wolf + Lamb, and more at Electric Pickle
Dirtybird Players – Miami Edition at Villa 221
Miami Deep with Danny Daze, Noir, Maxxi Soundsystem, Murk, MK, Oliver at Shelborne South Beach
Ellum & Leftroom present Another Reckless Night at Electric Pickle
Categories: Music