Two households, both alike in dignity. The name you know, Insomniac, produces Electric Daisy Carnival, the electronic dance music festival that draws more than 500,000 attendees annually. Insomniac’s European cousin, Tomorrowland, produces an EDM fest of nearly equal size every year in Antwerp, Belgium. If you’re aware of the two festivals—maybe even attended both—you’ve no doubt wondered what it would be like to see these two standard-bearing fests go b2b. We’re about to find out.
Insomniac x Tomorrowland: Unity, beginning August 29, is a series of nine shows that draws on the creative energies of both organizations and channels it through the world’s most technically advanced music venue. (Even their mascots—Insomniac’s owl, Tomorrowland’s butterfly—are mixing it up; you can catch them having a meet-cute on the venue’s iconic exosphere.) Described in a press statement as “a transformative journey through music, storytelling and technology,” Unity promises hours of dazzling visuals, immersive sound and headlining sets by superstar artists—equal parts EDC and Tomorrowland, swirling together in a massive psychedelic snowglobe.
Opening weekend brings drum and bass powerhouse Chase & Status on August 29, the progressive house mastery of Kaskade on August 30, and the relentless techno of Eli Brown on August 31. Everyone seems prepared to scale up their enthusiasm to match their surroundings. “I’m beyond excited to step into Sphere and work with the canvas stretching 160 feet above me,” said Kaskade in an email statement. “This venue offers a one-night home for my music like we’ve never had. Immersive sound and visuals [are] an extension of the path I’ve been on for years, but now this will take it to a whole new level. I can’t wait to take everyone on a ride.”
French trap mastermind DJ Snake opens the next weekend of shows on September 19, followed by the future house of Alan Walker on September 20. September 26 brings an amazing tech-house b2b of Meduza and James Hype, followed September 27 by LA-based “heaven trap” duo Slander (Derek Andersen and Scott Land). And the series ends strong with hard techno maven Sara Landry on October 17 and experimental dubstep/riddim scientist Subtronics, who’s literally living a wish: “In 2023 I posted it was a dream of mine to play Sphere, and here we are now,” the Philadelphia DJ said via email.
“It’s going to be so special, in a truly immersive way, and to do it with two of my favorite promoters as well—I can’t wait,” Landry said. The Amsterdam-based creator of “witchy warehouse techno” is fully in the spirit of the occasion: In a recent Instagram post, she’s levitating Sphere between her hands like a crystal ball.
Unity won’t replace Electric Daisy Carnival or Tomorrowland, despite its high-tech upgrade. There’s something to be said for experiencing techno outdoors; Earth is, after all, the first immersive environment we know. But the opportunity to experience a festival-sized vibe in a contained, controlled space is too enticing for both attendees and performers to pass up. “Ever since this venue opened its doors, we have been plotting on how to make something special happen,” said Slander in a statement. Insomniac and Tomorrowland are opening that circle.
INSOMNIAC x TOMORROWLAND: UNITY August 29-31, September 19-20 & 26-27, October 17-18, 11:15 p.m., $114+. Sphere, unityxsphere.com.
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