Dancing Astronaut Does the Desert: 10 Coachella Acts You Can’t Miss
Dancing Astronaut Does the Desert: 10 Coachella Acts You Can't Miss
With Coachella opening its gates in just 24 hours and the app finally showing set times, the agonizing task of setting your schedule has become impossible to put off any longer. Whether you consider headliners a no-brainer or a no-go, we’ve gone beyond Sahara Tent marquee names to bring you the 10 Coachella acts you can’t miss. In order of appearance…
Duke Dumont
If Duke Dumont was a BBC Future Star in 2013, a Grammy nom, Astralwerks deal and HARD Fest stint have proved that the future is now for the UK producer. Taking his unique brand of cool to the Yuma tent on Friday, Dumont is poised to interrupt a string of purer tech- and deep-house acts with his unconventional pop-laced edge. Making his Coachella debut after nearly a decade in the business, the house hero will kick off his North American tour with this set; don’t wait until Lolla or Sasquatch to catch him.
The Glitch Mob
Though The Glitch Mob already have a cult following in their native SoCal, the trio has upped the anticipation for their Coachella set by announcing they’ll be bringing their Blade stage setup. A shape-shifting, live-enabling, LED-visualizing experience, the mechanics allow each member to work their magic in the moment with the help of a dozen iPads, some MIDIs and a few drum kits. For those who care more about the audio than the visual, the trio have been touting their latest Love, Death, Immortality as they’ve made the cross-country tour that will rest at the Sahara Tent in Indio.
Flume
Inexplicably sharing a stage with Anti-Flag is Australia’s Flume, who will make the forth stop of his 30-date world tour at the Gobi Stage. Though the urban electronica enthusiast has spent most of his recent studio time with Emoh Instead working on What So Not, his late 2013 self-titled album has enough material to last beyond his 50-minute set. Promising to deliver a blend of hip-hop, hard to resist indie dance and handily-served beats, the Future Classic star offers a chill way to prepare for OutKast.
TJR
LA-based TJR will finally be heading to Palm Springs. Hot on the heels of his Ultra performance, the East Coast-raised, West Coast-hearted producer is poised to grace the Sahara Tent for the first time smack dab in the middle of the festival’s activities. Known for his precision as a producer and general disregard for genres, TJR has delivered everything from trap to dub to commercial house with the single goal of keeping the energy up. The perfect start for late-risers or re-energizer for the truly committed, this debut set will deliver an audio party platter suited to any taste.
Guy Gerber
If Guy Gerber has been absent from Beatport lately, it is only because he’s been busy in the studio. The Israeli tech house titan held a special event during Miami Music Week that showcased what he had been working on for the last two years – “underground dance” music made with none other than Sean Combs. While the release date of the pair’s 11 11 album is still under wraps, with or without Diddy, the new music is sure to be played again for the California crowd in the mood-setting Yuma tent.
Justin Martin
Representing the Do Lab, Justin Martin is bringing the spunk to the desert. The San Francisco-native excels in the live setting, bringing not only his unique brand of booty-bounce but any and every genre along for the ride. Most recently celebrating the release of his Hello Mr Jello EP with co-conspirator Eats Everything, the dirtybird has once again questioned the tech house status quo, a move sure to be repeated when he plays in Coachella’s experimental backyard.
The Magician
One half of Aeroplane and curator of the most buzzed-about monthly mixtape in the blogosphere, Stephan Fasano, better known as The Magician, takes to the Yuma tent to mix things up on Saturday. Known for his impeccable taste and nu disco sensibilities, expect for his set to be a revival of the golden age of dance music. Flowery vocals, tinsel-coated pianos and music designed to make you smile, The Magician’s set will provide the perfect compliment to the setting California sun.
Galantis
The celebrated sons of current electronic music, Galantis will make their grand debut at Coachella’s Gobi Stage. The first live performance from the pair separately known as Style of Eye and Miike Snow’s Christian Karlsson, anticipation is high for this Saturday show. With the world enamored of their distinct and unprecedented sound after hearing just six originals, predicting what the artists will deem as suitable accompaniments to their music is almost as difficult as predicting what their next move will be. Truly a historic set as the electronic world starts peeking into less mainstream avenues, if you had to make one set, this would be it.
AlunaGeorge
Taking to the Gobi Stage shortly before Disclosure rock the Outdoor Theater, AlunaGeorge may not draw as large a crowd as their countrymen and collaborators, but that only gives fans more room to dance to their body music. The London duo have found the perfect balance of vocal and groove with their silky sound and present a refreshing live element with Aluna’s singing. With their work being remixed by a who’s who of EDM talent, the duo’s less synthesized approach serves as a perfect inbetween of Coachella’s indie and electronic interests.
Duck Sauce
Though we said no Saraha marquee names, we had to make an exception for the one and only Duck Sauce, who leaked a preview of their debut album just in time for the Quack Opera at Coachella. Closing out the festival on its EDM-dedicated stage, A-Trak and Armand Van Helden will be on the same decks for the first time since Holy Ship!!! and promise to bring the same insanity to the less intimate venue. Though wishing for all 12 Quack tracks to make an appearance may prove too basic a move for the pair, disco cuts, house beats, and a fair amount of hip waddling are guaranteed.