EDC Orlando – Day 1

By in Festivals

It’s the second weekend in November and that can only mean one thing: Electric Daisy Carnival. And here we were for Day 1. They have a very efficient entry system that begins with three stations. First there is the ID check.
Followed by a Ticket Scan station followed by a Security search.
And just like that, we were IN!
And this is what it’s all about: Electronic Dance Music.
We began the day at the secondary main stage: circuitGROUNDS. This is located at Tinker Field immediately adjacent Camping World Stadium.
The opener DJ Sloth (USA) was on.
The Orlando-based DJ was playing a Heavy Bass set which is what this stage is famous for.
Just a few early-arrivals on the dance floor.
View from the VIP skydeck.
DJ Sloth posing after his set.
Located where it was last year at McCracken Field, the stereoBLOOM stage.
When you’re the opener, empty dance floors are a reality.
One of our favorites though, DJ Edgar V (USA).
He would deliver a mostly House set.
And now, there it was! The kineticFIELD main stage.
It was impressive in daylight. Wait till you see it after dark!
Every year Insomniac offers a DJ contest called Discovery Project with the winner getting to perform here at EDC. This year’s winner was playing during our visit: DJ Nuans (USA)
His set was mostly House music.
The fourth of five stages is the neonGARDEN stage.
Made up largely of shipping containers, the setup was pretty impressive.
The opener here, DJ Alex Kennon (I/E).
His set mostly House and Tech House.
Oh oh, parade coming through!
Back to the main stage!
Those Brazil fans in yellow were here to support one of their own!
DJ Doozie (BR)
His set too was mostly on the House side.
Over to the circuitGROUNDS.
DJ YDG (USA) was on.
Dubstep, of course.
First time seeing him play!
No “art car” stages this year. Over the years at EDC-Orlando we’ve seen the Boombox Art Car, Wide Awake Art Car, Rynobus Art Car and last year only, the Anniversary Art Car. This area above where the Rynobus Art Car was located is now where these shipping containers are stationed and help create a sound barrier between circuitGROUNDS and stereoBLOOM. There are a couple of pass-throughs to travel back and forth without having to go around.
A crowd had now gathered at stereoBLOOM.
DJ Jackie Holander (USA)
Her set a mix of Melodic House and House.
There are 5 stages of music this year but so far have only shown you four. The fifth stage is called Casa Bacardi but they don’t begin until 2PM daily.
The DJ booth is upstairs and faces the back yard of the casa.
Those arches were imported from the original Casa Bacardi in Puerto Rico.
On the decks, DJ Lyon808 (USA).
As one might expect, the music here mostly Latin House.
Since capacity is limited on the roof, there can be waits up to 10 minutes to get up here.
In our Festival Fashion article last week, we mentioned that “fluffies” might be returning to the scene. Considering we saw dozens and dozens of fluffies last night, we can safely say “they’re back”.
Back to the main stage.
DJ Hypaton (I) was in the perch.
This was a very EDM set.
Not as many totems as we’ve seen in years-past but saw a lot of international flags.
State flags too!
At the neonGARDEN, DJ Avison (USA).
He played a really good House set.
So good that we took our first union-mandated break of the day in a shady spot.
We saw Alesia! Actually, she saw me and remembered me from taking her pic at Sunset Music Festival in Tampa last year!
We met so many peeps! Some we knew and some were new.
It was already 3:30PM and we needed to get back to the mainstage to see if he was really here!
And OMG, he was! The mysterious DJ Pickle (USA).
His set, all EDM hits.
There’s speculation that he’s really DJ MAK J (USA) but no one really knows!
Everybody shufflin’.
Back to Casa Bacardi.
For DJ duo Parra and Hara (USA).
Their set a mix of House and Latin House.
The dance lawn was getting a crowd.
Another parade passing through!
This time we followed them across the Daisy Lane Bridge.
To stereoBLOOM where a crowd had gathered.
DJ Riordan (GB) was playing during a visit.
Another House set.
Not far away, circuitGROUNDS was getting lit.
Turning up the Bass, DJ Jon Casey (ZA).
He had played at EDC-Las Vegas earlier this year but this was our first time seeing him play. His set mostly Dubstep last night.
DJ Hamdi (GB) was beginning his set as we walked away. Couldn’t stick around because there was yet another set we needed to see…..
At the neonGARDEN, a back2back set from DJ Honeyluv (USA) and DJ Bontan (GB).
They would go back-and-forth one song at a time.
First time seeing Bontan but we first became acquainted with Honeyluv at the Countdown Orlando Invasion show in early 2022 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds.
During their set, day turned into night.
Caught a few minutes of DJ Nic Fanciulli (EAK/GB).
His set more on the Tech House side as this stage began the transition from House to Techno.
All the stages have food and beverages nearby.
We spotted Blog-favorite Sarah P. in one of them!
Also nearby, a literal shopping mall of independent vendors selling their wares.
Orlando-based DJ Diplo (USA) was playing at kineticFIELD as we passed by but did not stop.
Back to the Casa where there was a crowd dancing.
For DJ ALMISTIC (USA).
Her set too a mix of House and requisite Latin House.
We’ve seen her several times downtown playing at clubs such as Elixir Bar shown here.
She had the crowd bouncing.
Let’s take a trip down Memory Lane.
It begins at one end with this tunnel.
Cool lighting makes this hidden passageway a popular route between Casa Bacardi and stereoBLOOM.
It’s a bypass around the lake on the EDC grounds. These Jersey barriers keep any alligators away.
EDC is an electric wonderland at night!
We spotted EDC Bear!
At circuitGROUNDS, DJ Jessica Audiffred (MEX) was playing Heavy Bass but we couldn’t really get near.
We had seen her up close at EDC-Orlando in 2018 when she played inside the Boombox Art Car.
More Peeps after dark!
Spotted in VIP: The “Rave Mommas” were in the house!
So much YES!
As the clock got later, neonGARDEN had become impassable.
And all that hair could only mean one person!
DJ Nicole Moudaber (LEB/GB)
Some House at times but now mostly Techno!
Packed to the rafters!
Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes! It was time for a 3 hour back-to-back set from these two!
The king of Techno…..DJ Carl Cox (GB).
DJ Vintage Culture (BR)
The euphoria in the place was palpable!
Insomniac‘s Factory 93 brand means Techno Techno Techno!
Carl Cox had played at Vanguard in 2021 but our favorite set of all-time was this one in below-freezing temps at the outdoor Igloofest in Montreal in January, 2017.
First time getting to meet Vintage Culture.
He had played at EDC-Orlando in both 2021 and 2022.
We were invited up into Camping World Stadium. DJ’s have private cubbies up here and the big names even get private suites.
Some great nighttime views of kineticFIELD from up in the stadium.
We missed the fireworks and drone shows though.
Looking east, a nice view of the Orlando skyline.
Quick final visit to stereoBLOOM for the Waxtroda set.
That’s the joint collaboration between DJ Matroda (HR) and DJ Wax Motif (AUS).
It was so crowded up here…..
…..but nothing like down there!
Time for one more set before heading home! At the mainstage, DJ Fisher (AUS).
He was pretty animated last night. Actually, he’s always pretty animated!
He was actually the third Australian in-a-row to play this stage last night since he was preceded by Alison Wonderland (AUS) and Timmy Trumpet (AUS).
This was as close as we could get, lol. He played through his catalog of hits last night including “Atmosphere”, “Girls” and “Losing It”. Give the people what they want, we always say.
Packed to the rafters.
We’re skipping Day 2 today for another event tonight but will be back out here on Sunday. Big thanks to our friends at Insomniac for the access. At Day 1 of EDC-Orlando, a good time was had by all.