It's. FINALLY. here. In one week, Las Vegas will once again welcome the ultimate in dance music festivals: Electronic Daisy Carnival. While there are many awesome festivals every year, EDC is the only major dance music festival to take place ONLY at night (and It is common knowledge that festivals are ALWAYS better at night). Throw in the sheer size and expense of the event, coupled with its location in the nation's entertainment capital and… well, you get the picture.
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We are only one week away, and that means it's preparations time. For those of you already attending, I'm sure you're already well-versed in EDC lore. KineticFIELD, CosmicMEADOW… you're all over that. But what you might not know is EDC's secondary advantage over every other festival: The pool party. Every year, the world's best DJs descend on Vegas and turn every pool party into a major event on their own. It's pretty incredible, and really enhances the experience. So consider this EARMILK's comprehensive guide to EDC 2014's pool parties. Check here for all your pool party needs, and check back next week as we share special artists/performances we think you won't want to miss for the actual festival.
→ Thursday, June 19 ←
Getting in Wednesday night, and need Thursday plans? Good for you! Don't worry, there's plenty to do early that day. My recommendation is Don Diablo's pool party at the Liquid Pool Lounge, Aria hotel. Not only are the tickets reasonably priced, but the Dutch DJ's track selection is perfect for setting a poolside feel-good mood. While normally a big-room prog house guy, his pool sets tend to be a big more subdued, but still high-energy and well crafted. Check out his new single, "Knight Time" and put yourself in the mood. Tickets here.
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: Additional Parties :
Fedde Le Grand – Encore Beach Club. Tickets here.
Sander van Doorn – Marquee Dayclub. Tickets here.
Tritonal – TAO Beach. Tickets here.
→ Friday, June 20 ←
It's the first day of EDC, so you're probably pretty pumped about that. But the party can't stop won't stop, and EDC doesn't start until 7pm that night anyway. So why not enjoy your Friday daylight hours with Benny Benassi and Ashley Wallbridge at Marquee Dayclub? The Italian producer/DJ has long been a staple of the Vegas pool scene, currently holding residency at Marquee Nightclub in the Cosmopolitan. You've likely heard "Satisfaction", but something tells me you likely haven't heard his new remix of the Bob Marley classic, "Jammin"… Tickets here.
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: Additional Parties :
Diplo – Encore Beach Club. Tickets here.
GTA – Daylight Beach Club. Tickets here.
Hook N' Sling – Liquid Pool Lounge at ARIA. Tickets here.
MAKJ – Drai's Beach Club. Tickets here.
Markus Schulz – TAO Beach. Tickets here.
Steve Aoki – Wet Republic Ultra Pool. Tickets here.
→ Saturday, June 21 ←
First night of EDC was the best night of your life. You couldn't turn down at this point even if you wanted to. Fortunately, the party is just starting, and Steve Angello's set at Encore Beach Club has you covered. 1/3 of the infamous Swedish House Mafia, and currently churning out top-notch tracks on his label Size Records, Angello sets rarely (if ever) disappoint. This isn't just a recommendation; this borders on a command. You MUST see this set. And if you're still not convinced, check out his new single with Wymman, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, "Payback". Tickets here.
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: Additional Parties :
Alesso and Sultan & Ned Shepard – Daylight Beach Club. Tickets here.
Borgore & Kennedy Jones – TAO Beach. Tickets here.
Dyro & Dannic B2B set – Liquid Pool Lounge at ARIA. Tickets here.
Gareth Emery and Blake Jarrell – Marquee Nightclub. Tickets here.
Hardwell – Wet Republic Ultra Pool. Tickets here.
Icona Pop – Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets here.
→ Sunday, June 22 ←
Sunday has traditionally been EDC weekend's strongest pool day. Some festival-goers at this point are starting to feel the effects of all-night partying, and sun is much needed. Thus, prices usually sky-rocket on Sunday. But if there's anyone worthy of such exorbitant prices, it's Ryan Raddon aka Kaskade, who takes center stage at Marquee Dayclub. If you've never been to a Kaskade pool party, then consider your life incomplete. So grab a ticket and complete it. Just do it. (And I would do it soon, as sell-out risk for this event, like many of Sunday's parties is extremely high). Tickets here.
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: Additional Parties :
Avicii – Encore Beach Club. Tickets here.
Carnage – TAO Beach. Tickets here.
Flux Pavilion – Rehab Sundays at Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets here.
Quintino & Helena – Drai's Beach Club. Tickets here.
Stafford Brothers – Liquid Pool Lounge at ARIA. Tickets here.
Tiesto – Wet Republic Ultra Pool. Tickets here.
→ Monday, June 22 ←
Let's be real: at this point you're likely running on fumes. Everyone in Las Vegas knows that, which is why there's hardly anything scheduled for Monday. But for those who have remained strong, there are two awesome pool parties to finalize your trip. While Mr. EDM himself Calvin Harris is throwing down at The Wet Republic Ultra Pool at the MGM Grand during the day, ticket prices are ridiculously high for the event. Instead, I recommend heading back to Encore Beach Club and checking out French electro/prog house maestro Martin Solveig. Tickets are still reasonably priced, and honestly, at this point your eyes are barely open, anyway. Tickets here.
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: Additional Parties :
Calvin Harris, Sunnery James, Ryan Marciano, and W&W – Wet Republic Ultra Pool. Tickets here.
Whew! That's pretty much it. As you can see, there's going to be A LOT going on in Vegas that weekend. So grab your tickets early, and I hope to see you there. Oh, and be sure to check back here next week, for EARMILK's comprehensive guide to the festival, and maybe learn some things you'd never find out on your own!
