Photo Cred: Alive 2016
EDC Orlando 2016. Where to even begin? We were absolutely blown away this year. We’ve been to EDC Orlando the last few years, and it was great. But this year… this year Insomniac raised the bar and brought the Orlando edition of EDC to a whole new level. With the immenseness of EDC’s 20th Anniversary in Las Vegas a few short months ago, the energy is still well and alive with not only the organizers, volunteers, and artists, but also the Headliners, who have a definitive passion and pride at each EDC stop that is unparalleled to any other festival tour out there.
Photo Cred: Marc Van Der Aa
There were many improvements that were made. Whether it was the giant daisies that led you from the main entrace over to circuitGROUNDS (just watch the videos below), a new VIP area for neonGARDEN, the badass Jägermeister Haus, or the love bursting from the Smirnoff House, it was bigger and better than ever before. It’s hard to top EDC Las Vegas, and we’re not saying they did, because let’s face it, that’s an impossible task. But Insomniac brought the same love and energy, handsdown. Orlando is smaller, and starts earlier and ends earlier, so they did what they could with those factors. But they crammed every bit of over the top production, scenery, lights, props, and actors in as they possibly could. That cup runneth over, and everyone was frolicking in the glorious spillage.
Photo Cred: Alive 2016
As we saw at EDC Las Vegas this past summer, the mega structure is no more for circuitGROUNDS, so we could only assume that it would be gone from Orlando as well. And it was. However, after seeing the all encompassing 360 degree experience that was in Las Vegas, we knew that we wouldn’t be let down, and by God, we weren’t. The new stage itself had reminiscent parts of Las Vegas, but in a different style, shape, and lighting. With a massive screen behind it, blasting imagery and lights with insane lasers from high in the sky, the additional 10 massive screens went around you like the pillars of Stonehedge, and just as impressive. An arena of bass. If you had forgotten your earplugs, your ears are probably still ringing to this day. Artists like Nero knew exactly what to do with this place, closing out night one:
Additional artists including 12th planet, Alison wonderland, Rabbit in the Moon, and of course, Bassnectar graced the stage and left us in complete bliss and awe.
There were a few hiccups this weekend, like audio/visuals cutting out. We heard about it at other stages and saw it first hand during bassnectar’s set.. the backlash you would kind of expect however, wasn’t there.. at one point nectar screamed something like “I really wanna play music for you guys!” And the whole crowd just cheers with happiness. I even heard someone behind me yell “it’s ok we still love you.” With such an incredible vibe in a magnificent wonderland like this, it was hard to let that little thing ruin your entire experience.
The Buddha for neonGARDEN stage was also put away this year, bringing on a 150-foot long tent. Host to Dreamstate’s first premier in Orlando with artists like Cosmic Gate, Gouryella, and Markus Schulz, and Cosmic Gate as they blew us away below:
Saturday brought on techno and house vibes with artists like Jamie Jones, Mark Knight b2b Chus & Cabellos (one of our favorites all weekend) and Camelphat, just to name a small few. That tent all weekend was a nonstop dance party, especially Saturday. The vibes radiating from that tent were incredible, and it was ridiculously hard to leave. Good problems, right? But with these visuals and never-ending beats, set such as Sonny Fodera below made us want to camp out there all day.
The kineticTEMPLE was also a site to revel in. Bringing a piece of 20th anniversary history from EDC Las Vegas this year, the mainstage was constantly mobbed with a massive crowd, no matter the time of day or temperature. A massive screen above the decks boasted incredible visuals and lights and lasers as to be expected, with the stage extending out to large owls on either side of the stage. Guarding us to keep the harsh world out, and the amazing vibes in. Ephwurd, Axwell, Above & Beyond, Chocolate Puma, all bringing us in and uniting us in two incredible nights.
As we had covered in our stages review of EDC Orlando, in collaboration with Pulse Nightclub, Smirnoff House created a place that #LoveWins where $5 was donated for every attendee that entered to the Equality Florida Action, Inc. With Pulse DJs and some of the biggest names there including Markus Schulz, NGHTMRE, Bixel Boys, Camelphat and more. It was a great intimate place to go and feel like at home, with all of the artists who gave their time for a second set to raise awareness, happiness, and of course, love. #LoveWins
Photo Cred: Alive 2016
Whether it was the marching band of clowns jamming out on the patio of the Jägermeister Haus, Headliners ziplining over Lake Beardall with music and stages all around them, or fireworks at kineticFIELD that had us nostalgic of EDC Las Vegas, but feeling just at home here in Orlando with our new family wherever they traveled from, it was another year bigger, more colorful, more love, more smiles, more happiness…. just plain more. We couldn’t be more thankful to be part of it, and we truely thank all of the Headliners who shared in love and Insomniac whom never stops short on anything for their family. We will see you next year. Much love.
Photo Cred: Alive 2016
Co-author: Brian Schultz
Connect with EDC Orlando:
https://www.facebook.com/ElectricDaisyCarnivalOrlando
https://twitter.com/EDC_Orlando
https://www.instagram.com/EDC_Orlando
http://orlando.electricdaisycarnival.com
Share On
