Music It’s Feeding Time at the Electric Zoo

August 29, 2011 - 1:17 pm

Electric Zoo: New York’s Electronic Music Festival now in its 3rd year, will feature more than 100 of the world’s biggest electronic music talent, including DJs and live acts, providing the finest techno, trance, house, dubstep, electro, indie dance music and more across multiple stages on beautiful Randall’s Island Park. Electric Zoo received a coveted IDMA nomination for “Best U.S. Festival” and “Best Music Event” by URB magazine, as well as press coverage from major media outlets like CNN, New York Times, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Time Out New York, New York Post, DJ Mag, and Ocean Drive, establishing it as New York City’s premier electronic music festival as well as a top American event. After a sold-out capacity crowd of 50,000 over 2 days in 2010, Electric Zoo 2011 enters its 3rd year with a new 3-day format and stellar artist lineup headlined by Tiësto, David Guetta and Armin van Buuren with Moby, Above & Beyond, Afrojack, Plastikman, Rusko, Boys Noize, Calvin Harris, Carl Cox and many more.

In addition to providing 36 hours of beats over 3 days, Electric Zoo aims to also provide a plethora of good eats. With artists from all over the world, they will also have a global selection of foods, including Asian, Belgian, French, Middle Eastern, Latin American, Mexican, American, and Thai offerings. Delicious Vegetarian, Vegan and Kosher options will be available as well.

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Event Gallery Moving on…

June 5, 2009 - 3:29 pm


If you love dance music, Detroit on Memorial Day weekend is like Christmas, Thanksgiving and July 4th rolled into one.  This year was no exception, both for what happened and what didn’t at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, or Movement 09.

Of the numerous firsts: Carl Cox and Derrick May’s festival debuts. Although both had been scheduled to play in previous years, Cox cancelled because of stomach problems (caused, some speculate, by the news that Carl Craig, his long-time friend, had just been fired). And May, the last of the original techno trio and only one to never play the festival, got rained out by a thunderstorm. To sweeten the pie, Carl Craig was named creative director of Movement 2010. On this last year of the festival’s first decade, history was well served.

Movement 09 in Detroit

Hip-hop was better represented than it has been. Rising talents like Flying Lotus, top-of-their-game superstars like RJD2 and Z-Trip, and a visit by no less than Afrika Bambaataa, one of the men who started it all, kept the Red Bull Music Academy stage packed both day and night. The reception proved that the festival can easily accomodate diversity, especially when the genres share the same roots.

That stage’s success points out one thing that didn’t happen: drum and bass.  Lots of out-of-towners were missing as well. Most of the people who come regularly from places like California, New  York and even Chicago didn’t make it this year. When people have to give up something so close to their hearts like the festival, you realize how bad things really are.

Detroit's Movement 09

But mostly what didn’t happen this year was the array of all night parties the festival was famous for. This time, the blame goes straight to the city of Detroit, for refusing to let the bars close at four. While there were plenty of private and underground parties, much of that  action took place behind closed or suburban doors, and the 24/7 freak show was conspicuous by its absence.

Finally, there was no Richie Hawtin, who was wrapped up in the launch of his fancy fashion line. A genuine Detroit hero, in spite of his triggering a mass exodus to Berlin, his year off was taken in stride, with the tacit understanding that he would be back bigger, better and, presumably better dressed next year.

Movement 2009

But those a quibbles in an otherwise perfect universe. The level of talent, the quality of the music, and the intelligence of the audience has made Detroit a juggernaut. A feather in any DJ’s cap, its survival assured, there’s no surprise that talk is already turning to next year’s tenth anniversary edition. Here’s what they are saying in four words: Make your reservation now.

Movement Festival in Detroit

Words by Neil Feineman, photos by Dustin Downing

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