Five Must-See Artists at North Coast Music Festival

Sad news, Chicago. I will be absent on Labor Day weekend. I bought my ticket to Electric Zoo last October, not anticipating the absolutely stacked lineup that North Coast Music Festival would present. So you’ll have to party on my behalf – and I trust that you will honor my request. However, you can take comfort in the fact that another WRR team member will be in attendance to review the experience.

The cool thing about North Coast is you’ll find many different kinds of music: electronic, rap, hip-hop, jam bands, and a lot of local artists. Since I tend towards the EDM side, I just thought I’d share the five acts that I wouldn’t miss…but unfortunately will:

1. Knife Party
If you can’t call off work on Friday, you’ll still be in good shape to catch Knife Party at 7:30. The DJ duo experiments with a wide variety of styles – moombathon, electro house, dubstep – but categorizes it all as ‘seizure music.’ And while most DJs have had Knife Party’s ‘Internet Friends’ on rotation this summer, the guys manage to add an extra dose of hectic to the track when they play it themselves. I can’t give enough love to the Rage Valley EP or their remix of ‘Last Time’.

2. Alesso
The Swedish House messiah, Alesso, always brings a fun, feel-good set to the stage. Even if he’s become a bit predictable lately, with productions like ‘Years’ in his back pocket, it’s alright. The young DJ is such a power-house producer that Dirty South is even basing his North American fall tour on their newest collaboration, ‘City of Dreams.’  And if you get to see Alesso, you can feel OK about skipping Steve Angello on Sunday –there will probably be a lot of overlap between the Swedes.

3. Digitalism
Digitalism caught my attention with their Tommy Trash collaboration, ‘Falling.’ If the video is any indicator, this electro house and indie pop pair has a good sense of humor, which should make for a fun show.

4. Chuckie
I can’t attest to Chuckie’s live show, but I’m loving his latest releases like ‘Breaking Up.’ Chuckie brings out the best of the Dirty Dutch sound, yet also has a penchant for hip-hop. I was sure that ‘1234,’ his track with Laidback Luke and Martin Solveig, would become a festival standby for the summer. However, it never got as much play as I thought it would. I wish I could be there to see this track get all of the love it deserves…but that’s up to you.

5. Pretty Lights
Pretty Lights is the perfect choice for North Coast closer – his style bridges all of the musical genres you’ll hear in Union Park over the weekend. Derek Vincent Smith’s performances bring pretty lights and major music. When it all comes together, you suddenly understand why Smith has a cult following.

Furthermore, it is my wish that you attend one of the many after parties. You don’t have work on Monday, so act accordingly. It looks like every venue in the city will be taking part in summer’s last stand, so don’t stop once the day is done.

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