Photos: The Sites of EDC Orlando

“Come in peace, or don’t come at all,” a mantra that the veteran raver turned festival mogul, Pasquale Rotella has not only lived by, but also introduced millions of others to it through events hosted by his company Insomniac. Just a few weeks ago the Sunshine State (albeit it was a little more cloudy than sunny that weekend) welcomed the Insomniac family for its fourth installment of Electric Daisy Carnival: Orlando.

Upon a smooth and quick entrance on day one, you were greeted by the fun and energetic clowns of Team EZ, which every headliner has come to know and love. This year there were a few changes made to Tinkerfield’s EDC; coming from the opposite end of the country, was the Kinetic Cathedral which debuted this past summer at EDCLV. Orlando however was the start of a genius idea, Daisy Dollars, in which patrons loaded the bracelets that were mailed to them with money via credit card or cash (reload station available on the grounds). The layout was made up of three stages; the NeonGarden, Circuit Grounds and the Kinetic Field. Adding to the landscape, there were five rides including the popular Ferris Wheel facing the Kinetic Field, water refills station throughout the property, and infinite amounts of what we all seek when nature calls, elysium, otherwise known as bathrooms.

The stages this year though spread far apart, were rather easy to get to. Nestled right next to a lake, with Buddha as the main centerpiece this little temple known as the NeonGarden was home to the Trancefamily on day one and a haven for the House Heads and Shape Cutters day two; hosting artists such as Amine Edge & Dance, Andrew Rayel, Route 94, Indecent Noise and Green Velvet. Circuit Grounds, looked over by two giant geckos, ravers rushed to the stage to catch deep drops of Oliver Heldens, the dirty hip hop-electro smash of Flosstrodamus, and what was arguably one the best if not the best sets of the weekend, Above & Beyond, not only did Orlando get some much needed group therapy, but they were lulled by the sounds of music from their upcoming album We Are All We Need. Lastly, the Kinetic Cathedral, made its way to Orlando and headliners praised at the sigh of the stained glass windows and giant owls watching them as they danced their worries away to headliners like Dash Berlin, Knife Party, Yellow Claw, BloodyBeetroots and Headhunterz. There’s no doubt that this year’s EDC Orlando was a hit, but as the Godfather of Rave, Pasqual says, it’s just one stop on the road to VEGAS!

Words by ANDRES CANTEY
Photos provided by Insomniac.