One thing we can say about Area15 is that it keeps its dance card full. At any one time, the experiential complex has a rave-worthy amount of live EDM events on deck. Its latest one, with deep house UK label Anjunadeep, might be its most exclusive yet.
Open Air, Anjunadeep’s widely regarded outdoor concert series, will make its Las Vegas debut on July 19. Exclusive to just six U.S. cities this year, Open Air puts dance enthusiasts on a path to discovery with a robust lineup of artists hand-selected for each destination. Last year’s showcase at Denver’s 9,545-seat Red Rocks Amphitheater even sold out, making Anjunadeep the first record label to ever achieve that. Judging by how fast early bird tickets for Las Vegas’ date have sold out, we’re well on track to see that happen again.
Noah Kessler, head of entertainment at Area15, says the Las Vegas camp reached out to Anjunadeep first about bringing Open Air here, recognizing it as an obvious fit. Anjunadeep label manager Dom Donnelly said in an email that they also had Vegas on their “wish list.”
“Because it’s home to some of the world’s best electronic music events,” Donnelly said. “It’s a city that draws people from around the world to celebrate electronic music culture, which makes it ideal for what we do with the Anjunadeep Open Air series.”
A household name since 2005, Anjunadeep has put out more than 600 releases, including remixes from the euphoric house duo CamelPhat, rising female star Tsha and “minimal techno” DJ Boris Brejcha. Open Air gives us a glimpse of that star power when it tours each year. But anyone who’s been to one of Area15’s massives can attest to their stellar curation, too.
Last year’s spaced-out alien rave Galactic Zoo, held in the outdoor A-Lot where Open Air will be, brought heavyweights like Noizu behind the decks and a record number of attendees under the stars. And notable DJs like CloZee, Frameworks and Shallou have also packed out Area15’s venues with their vibrant, dopamine-dealing beats.
“The owners of Area15 are extremely passionate about electronic music. So that really helped us to have a solid foundation,” Kessler says. “The whole space is very electronic and colorful. I think that fits very well within the realms of electronic music.”
Open Air will build on that with a stacked bill of rising and established house and techno artists from the Anjunadeep family, including Eli & Fur, Marsh, Durante, Joseph Ray and many others.
“We wanted to showcase the full range of the label’s sound, from the softer and more melodic vibes of Nicky Elisabeth, who’ll be getting the day started for us, through to the peak-time energy of Dosem and Luttrell, who close the party with a special [back to back] set,” said Donnelly. “All three artists have new albums coming out this year on Anjunadeep, and fans will be getting an early taste of what’s to come.”
Before the show, Anjunadeep Kitchen will also host Luttrell’s Happy Hour: Las Vegas, a free pop-up event featuring a show near Area15’s Liftoff at 7 p.m. Think of it as an appetizer to the bass-heavy main course.
Donnelly said the label is rounding on 20 years in the deep house scene, but vows to keep it coming fresh.
“Our focus is always on signing emerging artists we believe in, releasing music that we feel is timeless, and doing everything we can to foster community around it,” he said. The music landscape is so saturated these days, but quality cuts through, and our unique community provides our artists with fans for life.”
ANJUNADEEP: OPEN AIR July 19, 9 p.m., $45. The A-Lot at Area15, area15.com.
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