Words: Esteban, Photos: Erik Kabik
Some fans for go the music. Some go for the parties. Some go only because their friends are going. Whatever your reason, there is scarcely a live event in our day and age that can hold a candle to the Electric Daisy Carnival. The people, the art, the 90 foot stages filled wall to wall with speakers, and the motherfucking music. Whether you were there only wish you could be, enjoy this recap complete with photos and live sets.
Over the last two weeks Insomniac has worked around the clock transforming the Las Vegas Motor Speedway into a 360-degree audiovisual carnival experience for the 16th Annual Electric Daisy Carnival. For the debut evening, more than 70 DJs played across seven stages from dusk until dawn, including Kaskade, Sebastian Ingrosso, Benny Benassi, Afrojack, Above & Beyond and Knife Party, surrounded by more than 500 theatrical performers, fire twirlers, aerialists, dancers and stilt walkers, amid a landscape dotted with full sized carnival rides and large-scale interactive art.
The 1,000-acre complex will remain a fully immersive audiovisual adventure for the next two nights with dynamic art, special effects and décor creating interactive environments along with state-of-the-art lighting and sound production and a 15-minute pyrotechnics display. Based on ticket sales, Insomniac estimated that approximately 115,000 attendees experienced the first of EDC’s three nights.
Saturday, Day 2
Severe winds descended upon the Speedway on Saturday, day two of EDC Las Vegas, forcing Insomniac to cancel most performances just before midnight. Fans were quarantined to the grand stands for their own safety and allowed to watch select performances on only a small number of stages due to the safety hazards caused by the wind.
Head of Insomniac, Pasquale Rotella, had this to say, “I’m upset and sorry for last night but nothing is more important than your safety. Severe gusts of wind and 90 foot stages aren’t a good combo.”
Although no refunds were issued, Insomniac was kind enough to let patrons with a Saturday pass come to Sunday’s show.
Sunday, Day 3
The final night of the 16th Annual Electric Daisy Carnival came to a close with 115,000 fans dancing beneath the desert sky at the fully transformed Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Truly a 360-degree carnival experience, the evening featured extended pyrotechnics displays on each stage, an additional fireworks show, impromptu theatrical performances throughout the crowd and a full evening of world-class music.
Insomniac concluded their first ever “You Are the Headliner” costume contest, which treated winners from each evening to all-star VIP treatment, including helicopter transfers on Maverick Helicopters and artist-style hospitality. Fans also became the feature of the festival on the debut “Discovery Stage” where aspiring DJ/Producer contest winners performed in front of a dancing crowd of their own peers.
EDC also played the setting to a another new beginning tonight, as character Nigel Ficke wed a young couple as the night’s fireworks display erupted in the distance. While it had its ups and downs, this was a romantic end to 2012’s Electric Daisy Carnival.
Download all sts from EDC Las Vegas HERE.
More bellow:
Day 1
Michael Woods
Hardwell
Knife Party
Afro Jack
AN21 & Max Vangeli
Fedde Le Grand
Kaskade
Gareth Emery
Benny Benassi
R3hab
Steve Aoki & Afrojack
Sidney Samson
Day 2
FULL BROADCAST 1 FILE – ASOT INVASION STAGE – SATURDAY
Armin van Buuren Warmup Set
Eco
Kyau & Albert
Jochen Miller
Rank 1
Markus Schulz
Schulz b2b AvB b2b Cosmic Gate b2b W&W – The Storm Shelter Set!
Day 3
Kristina Sky
BT
Tritonal
Armin van Buuren ASOT Stage Set
ATB
Dash Berlin
Ferry Corsten
Aly & Fila
Armin van Buuren – Main Stage Set!
Arty
Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano
Carl Cox
Cazette
Chuckie
Dada Life
Pretty Lights
WTF you want more, you greedy bastard? Well, good. Check out EDM Tunes TV for streams and downloads from artists like Boregore, Datsik,Bassjacker, Kill the Noise,and Laidback Luke.