We’re just days away from the NYC’s largest EDM festival and I couldn’t be more excited. Despite my (personal) issues at last year’s festival with the NYPD, I had to go back again to experience the incredible lineup that Made Event has put together for this year’s Electric Zoo. What’s more, the festival has followed in the footsteps of many others by putting together official afterparties for the first time. Spanning some of the best venues in NYC including the prominent Best Buy Theater in Times Square (formerly Nokia Theater) and the famous Roseland Ballroom, these afterparties are a surefire way to keep the party going long into the early morning, taking full advantage of NYC’s epic 4AM last call. Let’s take a look at MMIBTY’s picks for the afterhours festivities this year:
Friday 8/31 – 12th Planet, Araab Muzik, Mt. Eden, Netsky & Zeds Dead @ Best Buy Theater
What better way to kick off the first night of the festival with blaring dub in the wee hours of the morning? While Electric Zoo has had a relatively weak dubstep presence the past few years, they’ve stepped it up this year by inviting some of the biggest names in the genre to come perform. And grouping them all together for an afterparty may be a polarizing move for those who would be split between this afterparty and the Ferry Corsten and Michael Woods show at Roseland, but this is our pick for sure. Not only is Best Buy a much more intimate venue than Roseland but after finishing off the day with house, trance and Pretty Lights, chances are you’ll be interested in something a little heavier. Tickets are $45 for a limited time.
Saturday 9/1 – Benny Benassi, Bingo Players, Adrien Lux & Peacetreaty @ Roseland Ballroom
This pick is a hard one for me as Marcus Shultz, who will be performing over at Best Buy Saturday night, absolutely kills it live. But I like variety (and the Bingo Players) a lot so I have to pick the one with the most acts. Benassi is obviously a juggernaut but I think the real highlights of this evening will be the Bingo Players and Adrien Lux. While I’ve never had a chance to see either one of the latter, I can only imagine they’ll put on a hell of performance from what I’ve heard. It’s really a pick your poison kind of night. Tickets to either show will run you $55 for Saturday.
Sunday 9/2 – Hardwell, Zedd, Bart B More, Treasure Fingers @ Roseland Ballroom
This show is a no brainer for me. An odd collection of house, electro, techno and disco (respectively) should provide for a very diverse and exciting way to finish off the last hours of the weekend. I’ve had the opportunity to see all of these acts and each one will definitely put forth a hell of a set. Tickets are $55 while supplies last and I don’t doubt this one will sell out with Labor Day the next day buying everyone another late night out. Make it down there early to catch Treasure Fingers!
Note to non-New Yorkers: Any and all drinks will run your wallet dry at these venues, so come fully lubricated. Also, not to sound like a bitch, but Roseland’s sound will make your ears bleed so you might want to consider earplugs.
All the info on every official afterparty and tickets can be found here. See you all this weekend you crazy kids.
P.S. Our friends at Magnum PR are looking to get the word out about their unofficial afterparty at downtown’s Webster Hall. On Friday night, they will be hosting one of our personal favorites Gramatik alongside Kid Koala and Paul Basic for the very low price of $5 for under 21 and $10 for 19-20 year olds with an Electric Zoo wristband, provided you make it there by midnight (so FYI you’ll have to leave Randall’s early to make it down there by 12). All the info can be found here.