Miami’s Ultra Music Fest marks the beginning of the festival season. A crowd from a rumored 73 countries attended the Bicentennial Park hoopla to hear the best in electronic dance. We know you know the major leaguers (Tiësto, Deadmau5), so here’s the lowdown on the best under-the-radar acts and where to see them next.
Sound: Indie electro-punk act will make you want to jump up and down and (maybe) break stuff.
Song: “Baptism”
Live antics: Alice Glass doesn’t let a foot injury stop her from getting up close and personal with fans.
Festival circuit: Coachella, Sweetlife, and Nocturnal.
Sound: The indie electronic band (pronounced chk chk chk) blends synth with a full backing band (sax, horns, and percussion).
Song: “AM/FM”
Live antics: Nic Offer’s impromptu jazz hands and wild dance-offs with fans.
Festival circuit: Coachella, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo.
Sound: Australian synth poppers spread good times with dance-ready numbers.
Song: “Need You Now”
Live antics: The banging drum intro of “Corner of the Sky.”
Festival circuit: Coachella, Free Press Summer Fest, and Pitchfork.
If you even question whether a Moby DJ set is high energy, see his sexy librarian dancers for proof. Catch him at a rare U.S. appearance in Washington, D.C.
Sound: L.A.-based DJ gets it bumping with hip-hop inflected house.
Song: “My World”
Live antics: New song debuts and lightning-fast turntable skills.
Festival circuit: The Love Festival.
Sound: Miami-based Cuci Amador sings electro funk meant for shaking it.
Song: “Do You Party?”
Live antics: Ruffly baroque-by-way-of-funk costumes and shout-outs to the Porta-Potty queue.
Festival circuit: Camp Bisco.
Dancers get noticed by being heads above the rest.
Sound: Drum and bass boys mash up artful noise effects with a hip-hop backbone.
Song: “Fortune Days”
Live antics: Three DJs on deck shutter beats that make everyone nod in sync.
Festival circuit: Re:Generation.
Party people, make some noise.
Sound: Jesse Keeler is the bassist of Death from Above 1979. He and Al-P fuse electro punk and rap for one helluva good time.
Song: “Vuvuvu”
Live antics: Multitaskers smoke cigs and sip brews while spinning for an eager crowd.
Festival circuit: Sasquatch and Camp Bisco.
Festival-goers enjoy the Miami sunshine.
Sound: Close your eyes (briefly), and you’ll be reminded of a young David Bowie.
Song: “Standing on the Shore”
Live antics: Now leave them open and watch the visually stunning Asian warrior-meets-Cirque du Soleil performance.
Festival circuit: Coachella.
Sound: The Toronto dubstep DJs trip out songs by the likes of Radiohead and Moody Blues.
Song: “Rude Boy”
Live antics: Get up front for free T-shirts and schwag.
Festival circuit: Nocturnal.
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