[divider]Staff Recommendations (By Day)[/divider]
Day One: Day One of the festival always feels like somewhat of an initiation. Since it’s the earliest event of the day, and since there’s nothing else going on during this time, we recommend attending the OPTICAL Kick-Off Party at the Re-Bar, which will feature live audio from Seattle-based musicians Raica and Kid Smpl, as well as prolific Atlanta producer Richard Devine, all with accompanying visuals.
However, for our must-see of the night, we have to give it up to amazing producer and DJ Nicolas Jaar, a more recent addition to the lineup, whom will be supplying a two-hour DJ set at the Showbox from 10:30P.M. to 12:30A.M. After this, we recommend heading to Q Nightclub and capping off your first day with some great beats from Seattle producer and Soulection signee Sango, whom will be playing until 1:15A.M.
Day Two: Day Two is one of the more stacked days of the festival, but it’s also perhaps the one with the highest amount of tragic scheduling conflicts, and your picks will ultimately come down to what you’re in the mood for. If you’re craving some slow-paced techno with a strong emphasis on mood, Bob Moses at Neumos will be right for you, and if that tickles your fancy, consider sticking around after that for The Acid and their mind-alteringly abstract take on dance and beat music.
For those looking to do some dancing that want to be led by one of the most essential DJs in modern dance music, don’t miss The Black Madonna‘s set at The Crocodile from 10:15P.M. to midnight. Composer and electronica eccentric Dan Deacon‘s set at The Showbox isn’t to skip out on if you’re looking for a really fun, upbeat set with a huge emphasis on audience interaction, and Portland producer and singer-songwriter Natasha Kmeto‘s set is recommended for those who want a soft, intimate tearjerker of a live performance.
Day Three: Day Three features three of the best performers you can see all festival; it’s just a shame that they’re all playing at the same time. If you’re into IDM, and wish to see one of the most stellar and seminal artists in that style, you’ll hate yourself for missing Autechre‘s hour-20 set at the Showbox. Meanwhile, power electronics artist Pharmakon‘s set at the Crocodile is perfect for those who curse the existence of their eardrums, and wish for the last thing they ever hear to be one of the most experimental and adventurous artists in modern day electronic music. If neither of those sound appealing to you, we recommend acid house heavyweight Recondite at Neumos instead.
Prior to that, we strongly recommend seeing Raster-Noton signee Dasha Rush open up the Lucid Dream showcase at Neumos, and modern techno stalwart Laurel Halo play before Autechre at the Showbox.
Day Four: One of the more mouth-watering days of the festival, for sure. We recommend starting out the night with ambient drone master Tim Hecker turning the Triple Door into a dark, atmospheric dystopia. Past that, Kompakt and Ghostly signee Dauwd at Neumos is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for some very ambient and grim electronic music, though we recommend leaving his set a tad early so you can be there for Manatee Commune at the Showbox, a fantastic local beat music producer with a strong emphasis on pleasant soundscapes. Last but not least is our must-see for day four, Bonobo‘s DJ set capping off the Sublime showcase at the Showbox.
Day Five: The last day of a festival always feels like a tearful goodbye, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see some great music in the process. While we recommend going to the entire dB in the Park showcase, seeing as it starts and ends before any other showcases that day, DJ J.Phlip is a can’t-miss during this showcase. Afterwards, be sure to catch the Seattle-based folktronica artist Briana Marela at the Triple Door during the second Optical showcase. Then, you’re faced with a horrible dilemma: choosing between seeing AWE at the Crocodile and Thievery Corporation at Showbox SoDo. Choose wisely.
Then, for a great festival cap, we strongly recommend seeing Nordic Soul (Decibel founder Sean Horton), Anna Langley, DJ Tennis, and Roman Flügel back to back at the Re-Bar.
(Recommendations curated by five staff members at Dance Music Northwest.)
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