EDC NY vs Mysteryland: Which Will You Choose?

There is no shortage of music talent in New York. As a mecca of culture and entertainment, New York satisfies its residents with a seemingly-endless amount of live music events and festivals. As EDM continues to grow more events pop up to satisfy the insatiable appetite of concert-goers. Memorial Day weekend is one of special note, especially in the coming year. Two events are going head-to-head: veteran EDC New York and newcomer Mysteryland. Since festival tickets cost somewhere in the range of hundreds of dollars, making the right decision can be imperative to ensuring an epic weekend.

The Details

EDC has become a leading example of EDM festivals in the United States. This will be Insomniac’s third year holding the festival in the Big Apple and it seems to be even bigger than ever. This new iteration will be improving production (this time bringing the now-iconic Owl from the EDC Vegas main stage), and returning to MetLife Stadium. Rumors persisted that this new venue would be Winston Farm, which held Woodstock in 1994, but the town of Saugerties voted to abstain from holding the event at the farm. However, the festival is still slated for Memorial Day weekend and promises to boast the elements associated with EDC events: a top-notch lineup, a variety of carnival rides, and stellar production.

Mysteryland may be a new name to American festival-goers but Europeans have been enjoying the festival for years at its original home in the Netherlands. ID&T orchestrates the event, the group best known for organizing Sensation and Tomorrowworld and aiding the Beers brothers in organizing Tomorrowland. Its debut in the United States comes with a key strength: it is the first festival to be held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts since the original Woodstock in 1969. This Netherlands festival is known for its intricate production design, varied lineup (including a famed Q-Dance stage), and unique atmosphere.

So Which Festival to Choose?

While EDC Vegas is touted as one of the best festivals in the world, EDC NY’s prior years have come with a few complaints. Last year’s venue, Citi Field, cramped stages next to each other and resulted in excessive sound bleed. Many attendees also criticized its scaled back lineup and production when compared to the production and lineup of EDC Vegas. Insomniac clearly took the complaints to heart and seems to be attempting to upscale the event by returning to MetLife stadium. While Insomniac may not have been able to create a camping festival, MetLife Stadium offers much more room than Citifield and should alleviate sound bleed. Tickets start at $213 for regular admission and $315 for VIP admission. It remains to be seen whether or not EDC NY can match up to Vegas but so far the signs point in a great direction.

Mysteryland has revealed more details than EDC NY thus far, which makes sense given the rookie-status of the event in the US. Pricing seems similar to EDC NY, with tickets starting at $199 without camping, $274 with camping (and an exclusive pre-party) and $299 and $478 VIP tickets without and with camping respectively. Mysteryland offers single day-admission for $109, something EDC NY currently lacks. Although only occurring for two days, its location will surely enhance the experience. The festival is also limited to 21+ attendees and capped out at 20,000 tickets, which should contribute to a more mature and comfortable atmosphere. One issue with the festival may be its lineup. With EDC NY taking place within the same weekend and radius clauses, it is more likely Insomniac will secure the arguably more esteemed DJs and producers. Given the complaints of EDC NY’s lineup last year, Mysteryland may receive the same lukewarm reception once its lineup drops. We’ll have to wait and see.

The choice is ultimately up to the festival-goer. Both festivals possess their strengths and weaknesses. Choosing between the two will most likely become easier as more details of each event trickle out. Either way, both festivals contribute to the development of the EDM in New York and pave the way for other states to host fantastic events.

Mysteryland or EDC NY? Which one will you choose?

Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments section below.

This article was written by WRR Contributor Cody Smith. 

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