EDC Update: DJ's Announced Today!!

The DJ lineup was announced late this afternoon for Electric Daisy Carnival - Orlando, taking place on Friday and Saturday, November 9-10 at Tinker Field adjacent the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.  Additions will be announced later but probably most of the big names are now released.  There will be 3 stages this year; last year had 4.  Nonetheless, this is an excellent line-up of some of the world's top DJ's including Armin van Buuren and Tiesto!  One day and two day tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.   American DJ's not unexpectedly dominate the lineup but the Netherlands is definitely represented too.  But considering how Swedish DJ's have dominated the charts these past couple years, they are noticeably absent!  NOW UPDATED WITH PERFORMANCE DATES

Here's who was announced today:

Afrojack SATURDAY
AK1200 FRIDAY
Armin van Buuren SATURDAY
Audrey Napoleon SATURDAY 6PM
Bassnectar FRIDAY
Bassrush FRIDAY
Bobby Burns SATURDAY
Borgore FRIDAY
Carl Craig FRIDAY
Cedric Gervias SATURDAY
Chris Lake FRIDAY
Christian Falero FRIDAY
CO/OP SATURDAY
Cosmic Gate FRIDAY
Crizzly FRIDAY
Dallas K FRIDAY
Danny Avila FRIDAY

Delta Heavy FRIDAY
Discovery Project DJ's SATURDAY
DJ Icey SATURDAY
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike SATURDAY
Figure FRIDAY
Fury FRIDAY
Gaiser FRIDAY
Hook N Sling SATURDAY
Krewella FRIDAY
Laurent Simeca FRIDAY
Leroy Styles SATURDAY
Liquid Stranger FRIDAY
Loco Dice FRIDAY
Louis Dee FRIDAY
Lucky Date SATURDAY
Markus Schulz FRIDAY
Morgan Page SATURDAY
Nerd Rage FRIDAY
Noel Sanger FRIDAY
Pierce Fulton FRIDAY
Porter Robinson FRIDAY
Quintino SATURDAY
R3hab SATURDAY
Richie Hawtin FRIDAY
Schoolboy FRIDAY
Shermanology SATURDAY
Sidney Samson SATURDAY
Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano FRIDAY
Tiësto FRIDAY
Tommie Sunshine SATURDAY
Tritonal SATURDAY
Victor Calderone FRIDAY
Wippenberg SATURDAY
Zawdi MC SATURDAY

READERS, EDC ENDS EACH NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT BUT LOCAL CLUBS ARE STILL OPEN!  RETURN TO THIS WEBSITE ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE EDC FOR A LARGE LISTING OF OTHER DJ EVENTS IN TOWN BOTH NIGHTS!

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY OCT 11
The Social is advertising this event as DJ Peaches Extravaganza but then they're posting "DJ Set" only.  So I don't think we're getting the eyespectacular show that DJ Peaches (CDN) typically brings.  Check this out to get an idea!   ($15)

If you missed DJ Gareth Emery (GB) a couple months ago at Roxy in Orlando, here's your chance to see one of the top Trance DJ's in the world Thursday night at Amphitheatre in Tampa.  ($15)

FRIDAY OCT 12
First time visit ever to Orlando by DJ Sabb (RKS).  The Electrohouse/Tribal specialist has a unique sound that has brought him popularity throughout Europe and more recently in South Beach!  Performing at Senso Supper Club.   ($10)

SATURDAY OCT 13
OK, I've looked around and nothing much is happening around Orlando this Saturday night except......the 8TRAX Reunion at Retro Room!  Featuring 70's Disco & 80's Classics, the music is exactly what you used to dance to at 8TRAX because it's being delivered by former 8TRAX DJ Pete!  Wear your 70's bell-bottoms or 80's skinnies; $Cash Prizes! (FREE)

The EDM Scene: Interviews With 90 DJ's

As my article last week discussed, the Electronic Dance Music scene has exploded in the past few years. But the good is mixed with the bad.  What will it take for the EDM scene to continue to thrive?

The website BigShot recently interviewed 90 notable DJ's from around the world.  It makes for a fascinating look at what is happening and what of the future of the EDM scene.  LINK

PI Update: Yes We Have No Clubs

This past Saturday night in downtown Orlando I ran into a former Pleasure Island manager who for the purposes of this discussion shall remain nameless.  This person still works for Disney and has done well for himself/herself within the company.  I asked about any clubs reopening at Pleasure Island and the response was a definite "no".  He/she said that many great things will be coming to Downtown Disney in the future but could not tell me anything specific and did not know the timetable.  I mentioned the perception out there that Disney can't find any tenants but was told that there are many, many tenants signed up for what's coming.  When I mentioned that Mannequins was ill-suited for anything but the dance club that it was, the response was that it could be torn down.  My response was that the power grid for the entire Island was within the Mannequins/8TRAX structure and that we've been told that it can't be torn down.  That got me a shrug.  This person's knowledge has to exceed mine so I was in no position to argue!  So more tidbits to consider.

Club Reports: Vixen Bar, Suite B Lounge

Vixen Bar on a Saturday night; you know it's gonna be EDM!

Arrived early enough to finally catch DJ Funkbaby on the controls!

Small club, small dance floor.......big crowd!

Mannequins was represented!

Dancing to the Breakbeats!

Never a shortage of pretty girls at NLP DJ events!

DJ Matrix taking over.  I must be mistaken but did I hear some Hip Hop?

Always a good time at Vixen!

Over to Suite B Lounge, another place for guaranteed EDM!

The legendary DJ Dave Cannalte (Mannequins, AAHZ, Promo Only) making a very rare appearance putting out House/Progressive!

By midnight the club was packed!

With plenty of people dancing!

Most of Cannalte's music selections were non-vocal.

Unfortunately no AAHZ Reunion this November since Kimball Collins is in Thailand.

Spotted:  DJ Chris Fortier (AAHZ) with friend.  He says that next year's AAHZ Reunion, which will be held on July 2nd, will be the last one!  Say it ain't so!

Anyway, a good time was had by all!

8TRAX Reunion Reminder

A reminder that next Saturday night, October 13th, 8TRAX lives again at Retro Room as we present the 8TRAX Reunion!  Former 8TRAX DJ Pete Haynes will be in the House spinning 70's Disco and 80's Classsics, 8TRAX style!

Do you remember this 8TRAX seating area?  Do you remember the great music?  It doesn't get more authentic than this.  DJ Pete promises great cash prizes for best 70's & 80's costumes!  And admission is free!  Retro Room is on US 192 in "West Kissimmee", one mile east of US 27.  (Thanks to DJ Pete & DJ MadManRay for the great pics!)
**UNOFFICIAL EVENT**  RETRO ROOM AND SAVE PLEASURE ISLAND BLOG ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.  8TRAX IS A TRADEMARK OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND IS USED HERE TO PUBLICIZE AN EVENT FOR FANS OF THE FORMER NIGHT CLUB.   

Club Reports: The Groove, Latin Quarter

Have not been out to The Groove on a Thursday night since they ended their 80's Night at The Groove event last January.  Was originally coming here this Saturday until I saw Dave Cannalte was playing downtown.

DJ/VJ King (Motion, Rock'n'Roll Beach Club, BET Soundstage, PI Live) spinning mostly Top 40 videos.

Only 35 patrons in the place around 10:30pm but that would grow closer to midnight.  Some of the best videos were remixes produced by DJ King for Crooklyn Clan.

Although on this rainy Thursday night it never got particularly crowded.

If you miss Motion, The Groove is the place for you!

And a good time was had by all!

Thursday night at next door Latin Quarter means Ladies Night meaning ladies drink free!

DJ Leony (Sirius/XM BPM, Club Phusion/iHeartRadio, RadioDanz, Terrace 390) on the boards spinning Salsa, House and Reggaeton.

More crowded than The Groove but the weather kept things slower than usual.

Leony will be spinning Latin House, House and Reggaeton downtown at Terrace 390 next Saturday night, October 13th.  Won't be able to cover that since my 8TRAX Reunion at Retro Room is that night.

Pleasure Island vs CityWalk

So many readers keep posting comments about how CityWalk is now the place to go since Disney closed the Pleasure Island clubs.  Indeed, CityWalk (and to a lesser extent Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando) are the places closest to Pleasure Island in concept featuring multiple night life venues mixed with restaurants.
So we can't forget CityWalk's bold move in 2008 inviting Pleasure Island annual passholders over to give them a try.  Bring in your PI AP they said and they'd issue you a CW AP valid for 6 months. This was directed generally at Orlando locals, the ones most likely to hold annual passes and the ones most likey seeking out a new home in a post-PI era.  Did it work?  To a large extent, yes.  It seems that Pleasure Island regulars scattered in a number of different directions but I continue to find the largest contingents at CityWalk. 

I think CityWalk did blow one opportunity by not offering their own AP's after the 6-month deal expired.  Unless you have an expensive Universal Premier Pass which includes the theme parks, they don't offer locals any kind of pass which would defrey the expense of visiting. Nonetheless, CityWalk has boomed since Disney handed them their local and tourist nightlife revenue.  I'm told that revenue was then funneled into the construction of Wizarding World of Harry Potter which in turn generated so much revenue for Universal overall that it is funding the other additions that are coming.  Universal has been able to capture at least one day of many Disney visitors' stays, a huge loss for Disney.  And it's all beause they closed Pleasure Island!     

This Weekend In Techno Town

WEDNESDAY OCT 3
Breaking out at Coachella and Ultra in 2010, Pretty Lights (USA) is an electronic music and lighting extravaganza which is now too large to fit into HOB where he played last year!  Instead, he's on stage tonight at UCF Arena!   ($44)

For fans of 80's Punk Rock, former Sex Pistol front-man John Lydon leads Public Image Limited (USA) in concert tonight at Firestone Live.
($30 door)

FRIDAY OCT 5
White people pretending to sing like they're Black, trio Hyper Crush (USA) visits club Vain this Friday night doing a genre called Electrohop.  ($10)

Senso Supper Club continues to bring in top notch international DJ talent and this Friday they do it again as DJ/Producer EDX (CH) will be spinning Progressive House and even some Dubstep from the back of the room!  ($15)

SATURDAY OCT 6
Downtown this Saturday night, the legendary DJ Dave Cannalte (Mannequins, AAHZ, Promo Only) spinning 90's style House / Progressive at Suite B Lounge! If you liked the AAHZ Reunion last May, this is for you!   (Free until 11pm, then $5)

And if you need another reason to head downtown this Saturday night, look no further than Vixen Bar for DJ's Matrix, Jdub & Funkbaby taking their turns doing the Breaks!   (FREE)

Pimp My Ride!

For a contest yesterday in the office where I work, employees were told to take their manager's chair and pimp it out decorate it to reflect his or her personality.  I was the recipient of the winning entry above, a sporty model complete with a boom box playing David Guetta & Deadmau5, headphones and Pleasure Island flyers!  Dangling CD's and a flashing strobe completed the look.  An awesome effort by my peeps!
Hmmm, not sure what they're inferring about my personality though! 

Comment Moderation

Readers:  Ever since our roving reporter Thommy had his iPhone stolen in Moscow, the Blog has been innundated with spam in the Comments sections originating primarily from Russia and Ukraine.   Blogger is able to stop most of it but too much sneaks through and has to be individually deleted.  To try to put a stop to this, I have enabled Comment Moderation.  When you (or a spammer) posts a Comment, it will go into a queue for me to review before it posts.  I'm hoping that after some period of stopping all spam that it will stop. 

In the meanwhile, please continue to post Comments and I will get them published several times each day.  Will try to return to immediate Comment-posting asap.  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

Guetta Blasting!

When Mannequins closed in 2008 there were few other options in Orlando playing Electronic Dance Music. As the reality set in about PI, people kept asking me where I would be going after the final night.  I can recall my research trip downtown to try to find alternatives.  There were just a few; Bliss on Saturdays, ICON occasionally, Firestone once-in-awhile, Zinc Bar.  Hip Hop dominated the local club scene.  It also dominated radio and I think I would have ultimately gone insane were it not for satellite radio!
  


Things began to turn in 2009.  Previous Blog articles have discussed my theory on why Hip Hop has largely fizzled-out in favor of EDM. But credit from me and industry experts goes to DJ David Guetta (F) who collaborated with former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland (USA) on the song above. Guetta had had previous hits but this song made him a household word.  It was the turning moment in the resurrection of Dance music that an entire generation under 30 (and over 40 for those previous to this scene) now embraces over all other genres.  It has created DJ-culture as the new hottest celebrities!  It has also given new life to what was a sickly record industry.  Guetta gets the credit for helping make Top 40 the collection of Dance music that it is today, often with former Hip Hop artists providing the vocals!  

So it shocks me to no end how many professional DJ's and so-called "house-heads" have turned on Guetta and called him a sellout because his music is so formula, so danceable, so popular that they can't stand it.  His work has given a lot of people careers as DJ's and he has helped generate billions in profits for many individuals and companies.  EDM had stayed viable in Europe but until Guetta, it was close to nothing in North America.  People need to get off his case and give credit where credit it due.  If he's making piles of money along the way, so are many others along for the ride. Be grateful and knockoff the Guetta blasting! Downtown Orlando now:  it's hard to find a club not playing EDM!    
  

PI Update: Island of Bleakness

Saturday night in September on beautiful Pleasure Island as captured by our roving reporter Thommy.

 

The parking lots are jammed, Downtown Disney is jammed, Pleasure Island is jammed!  But for Pleasure Island, you and I know that this represents failure.  You see, all these people made the choice to come here yet relatively few of them are stopping to buy something, relatively few of them are stopping to get a drink, relatively few of them are stopping, period!  But Disney management does not look at this as failure. They think this represents success.  They still don't think the decision to close all the revenue-generating comedy and dance clubs was a mistake.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars in nightly revenue traded for a few thousand dollars!  They will absolutely not acknowledge the error because they actually don't believe that it was one.  With that in mind, the likelihood of some sort of October announcement about what's coming to Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island seems to becoming bleaker by the moment.  You see, 4-years after they closed everything, apparently local Disney management still doesn't have a clue!