1. As a tribute to the late Avicii, Tiësto dedicated more than 15 minutes of his main-stage set to play a medley of the DJ/producer’s most popular tracks, complete with a video montage. The Dutch superstar even brought singer Aloe Blacc out onto the Kinetic Field stage to sing live on Avicii’s 2013 smash hit, “Wake Me Up.” The only thing missing was a moment of silence, which could have been very impactful.
2. Over at the Cosmic Meadow stage, hardstyle/trap duo Yellowclaw—playing their fifth EDC in row—also brought out a special guest: viral sensation and foul-mouthed teen Danielle Bregoli (“Cash me outside”), now going by rap-performer name Bhad Bhabie, to perform two of her songs. However, many in the crowd weren’t feeling it and offered up lukewarm applause at the end of her appearance.
3. New to EDC this year: the Rainbow Bazaar, featuring a variety of cool vendors selling an assortment of rave gear. There was even a booth called Shiny Things, where one could buy adorable, handmade Kritter Klips—furry, sequined, kitty-ear barrettes—and a portion of that sale is earmarked to help the environment.
4. One problem with that new open-air, faux-warehouse structure for Neon Garden I reported on yesterday: Only a limited number of people could fit within the house/techno stage’s boundaries, as opposed to the crowd being able to extend as far back as its size warranted during previous EDCs. Like Friday night’s set by Cirez D—Eric Prydz’s more underground alter ego—Saturday’s Green Velvet performance was both so popular that security had to block off the stage’s entrance, leaving many fans stuck outside the contained dance area.
5. The return of producer/DJs Gabriel & Dresden was an overwhelming success. The crowd at the Quantum Valley trance stage stretched out past the back of the truss structure. Fans even knew all the lyrics to the duo’s new tracks, singing along to vocalist/collaborator Sub Teal’s beautiful vocals.
