Nada Mucho

Paradiso: Electronic Dance Music, Northwest Style

Posted by Nada Overlord June 22nd, 2012 No Comments »

By Jeff Wilson

Electronic dance music has quickly taken over America, whether people are ready for it or not.

Local event coordinator United States of Consciousness (USC) Events shrugs off the recent rise of EDM, though, opting instead to shove its 15 year tradition of bringing great DJs and producers to Seattle down any band-wagoners” throats. The organization is pulling out all the stops for it’s fifteenth anniversary Saturday at Paradiso, the first Northwest-produced EDM festival.

Not surprisingly, Paradiso will feature some of the world’s best DJs and producers including Above & Beyond, Avicii, Afrojack and Knife Party alongside fifteen or twenty Northwest artists, including Tacoma native Donald Glaude. But this is an anniversary party, not just another concert. So, similar to Insomniac Events’ Electric Daisy Carnival earlier this month, USC  is bringing in carnival attractions like a 95 foot Ferris wheel and a Kamikaze ride to celebrate fifteen years of EDM goodness. They also plan to have trapeze artists, aerialists and “crowd surfing Oompa Loompas.” To top it all off, they picked one of the world’s best concert venues, the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington.

I have high hopes for Paradiso and, knowing what USC can do, I don’t think I will be disappointed. I went to Identity Festival last year (also at Gorge) and it was one of the better concert experiences I have ever had.

Besides being in 70 degree weather in an amazing place, this is what I am looking forward to tomorrow:

1. Above & Beyond – One of the biggest names in Trance, and EDM in general, these three gentlemen will bring uplifting beats and entrancing music to the lovely setting at the Gorge. Their Group Therapy tour is one of the most sought after tickets and we are lucky to have them. #trancefamily

2. Avicii – Yes I said I was excited to see him at Coachella but I didn’t actually catch his set. So now I have the chance to see the artist’s mysterious face in person. From what I have seen, the face isn’t that impressive but who wouldn’t want to see him perform? He’s a musical genius. Why is he playing at 6 p.m. though?

3. NERVO – As EDM rises in America, a lot of people point out that there aren’t many female DJs and producers. But NERVO is made up of twin sisters Miriam and Olivia, and these ladies really know how make music. So there.

4. Michael Woods – By far my favorite genre of music is trance, so Michael Woods is obvious “must see” for me. He’s not as well known as some of the other acts playing the festival, but I’m predicting he’ll be the “sleeper” of the evening.

I’ll be posting pictures and updates, so be sure to follow along at @nadamucho.