Austin’s Euphoria Fest returns for a long weekend of camping and music for its fifth year. The festival was started to create an event that would allow all attendees to be free to experience the transformative nature of music and to truly live in the moment. This year’s line up holds true to the festival’s manifesto, with a diverse collection of talent to appeal to a variety of tastes throughout the four day festival.
Day 1:
Ease into the four day festival by getting settled and exploring on Thursday. Day 1 only has three artists scheduled, so there is plenty of time to get to know your neighbors. Check out local Blunt Force for a little glitch-hop. The duo debuted their new show at the festival in 2014, and is back for their third Euphoria experience. Bass Physics also opens Euphoria with their own blend of electronic- soul, created to bring forth positive vibes and good energy. Close your first day in the Euphoria community with the “world’s funkiest diplomat” and Thursday’s headliner, The Polish Ambassador.
Day 2:
Friday’s artists get the festival in full-swing with electronic beats influenced with a healthy dose of hip-hop. Toddy B and then Brede represent Austin label Gravitas Recordings and the local emerging music scene on the Dragonfly stage to start. Stay at Dragonfly for Marvel Years and then Space Jesus to continue Friday’s funky sound. Crizzly’s Slice Gang preaches pizza love and that Texas trap might just be the next thing as the first openers on the Elements stage before Jay Fresh and Willgood team up to prove anyone wrong who still associates Texas with just country music. For those looking to start off Euphoria with more chill vibes, head over to the main Euphoria stage Daily Bread and Broccoli Samurai for some laid-back jamming, followed by some progressive house by Chicago-based Digital Tape Machine.
As the sun goes down, Wave Racer and G. Jones on the Elements stage bring a little more bass to get you hyped for Juicy J. Over at Dragonfly, Future Rock satisfies those who are looking to get their fix of electro-rock, and Cape Town-based Goldfish proceeds Tycho as the perfect chill pregame leading up to STS9. However, festival-goers have to choose between Andrew Luce at Dragonfly and Jai Wolf at Elements. Both producers closed out 2015 with plenty of buzz as two artists you should know, and either way you can’t go wrong. If Juicy J. is not your thing, STS9 is sure to give you #allthefeels and SNBRN is the perfect alternative for anyone looking to warm up their dance moves before an always- unforgettable performance by Dillon Francis. If you don’t know how to twerk, start practicing.
Day 3:
Start off Saturday exploring some new talent because there is plenty to choose from. Start at the Elements stage for four back-to-back sets from young, Texas producers MPH, Dreamchild, Harris Cole, and Medasin. Skyedyed, up first on the Euphoria stage, is a three-piece live band from Ft. Collins that “blends cutting edge electronic production with live instrumentation”. Translation: If you love Big Gigantic and you plan to see Griz later on this same stage, this is where you should start your day. If you are feeling more old-school vibes, check out DeadEye, a local Grateful Dead tribute band starting off on the Dragonfly stage.
One highly-buzzed about artist, Azizi Gibson, takes the Elements stage at 5:50 and maybe one of Euphoria’s best kept secrets. German in origin, his “west coast” style rap has generated tons of buzz in the new year, making him an artist to watch and one you don’t want to miss during your Euphoria experience. Follow with Branchez if you want/need to dance (and/or waster your battery on SnapChat), check out Luca Lush at Dragonfly for a more trap-heavy twist, or get funky at Lettuce at the Euphoria stage- you may even witness a spontaneous collaboration as Griz is up next. You know that music that just makes you feel good? Griz may call it “future-funk,” a.k.a that music that will make you move.
With a background in hip hop, Shiba San’s set can be expected to be the perfect mic of trap and deep house, so a crowd-pleaser for those who don’t mind a wild crowd and heavy bass following Branchez and right before Eric Prydz on the Elements stage.
Saturday’s dilemma is deciding between Griz, Eric Prydz, and Autograf. Eric Prydz is a house music O.G. and his recent shows have been accompanied with one hell of a light show. Autograf at Dragonfly is good choice for those looking for something unique sound-wise. Picture a mix of bass, glitch, live instrumentals, with a touch of tropical house. Perhaps the best move is to try to see a a mix of your top two.
After a little bit of everything, end the night with bass in your face at the main stage. Even after you though nothing could show up Dillon Francis, you’ll stay up again with your friends and neighbors talking about Bassnectar’s set into the next morning.
Day 4:
Cream Cheese Accident is first up on Sunday at Dragonfly. The Austin band is a tribute to the music of music festival icons, The String Cheese Incident. The main stage starts with another Austin band, Lance Herbstrong, with a smooth, sonic sound or start off raging at Elements with Prismo, a young bass producer who hails from Houston. Motion Potion, a.k.a MoPo, is veteran when it comes to dance music and follows Cream Cheese Accident, and if mash-ups are your thing, check out Aussie duo Mashd N Kutcher at Elements before Waka Flocka Flame gets everyone hype for Crizzly.
If you favor a more lazy Sunday, then keep it laid-back at Euphoria with The Motet’s jazzy mix of American funk before Nahko and Medicine for the People. Another alternative is to experience the five-man vinyl DJ crew known as Flying Turns at Dragonfly, who made a splash at last month’s SXSW. Follow up with SpeechLess and get lost in just the music, no words needed. House music fans should not miss Alex Cruz’s Dragonfly set. The Dutch DJ is a rapidly rising star in the em world and one you will never forget if you like to deep house and chill.
Stay at Dragonfly to keep it deep with a twist at Sabo, and be sure to stay for Big Wild if you count yourself among many devoted ODESZA fans.
Between LOUDPVCK and Lil Dicky at Elements and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Dragonfly, you are sure to be in a light and easy mood as the finals day starts to wind down, but Klingande on the main stage is a set up for a great experience right as the sun sets. Klingande overlaps with Cherub at Elements, but it is possible to do both depending on your mood. Finally, celebrate all the memories made at Above & Beyond for the perfect way to enjoy the final two hours of Euphoria 2016.
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