LIQUID TODD 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Mystic Meadows Stage
DJ Liquid Todd can be heard on two different Sirius XM Radio channels, BPM and Alt Nation. The personable producer has interviewed some of the biggest stars at the biggest festivals across the globe. In addition to his music career, he has written multiple cover stories for the medicinal-marijuana publication, Culture. His early set should get the party started nicely as Todd heats up the crowd with the most popular EDM tracks and pop-rock remixes. JACK GORMAN
BORGORE 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Beatport stage
While much of EDM has subtle amounts of sexiness, Borgore is straight up blatantly nasty. The release of New Gore Order thrust a slew of new tracks to give Borgasms to the Borwhores. Expect to see plenty of filth blowing from the speakers when Borgore takes control, especially when he spits the lyrics to “Nympho.” Ladies this is your opportunity to dance on stage and get a champagne shower while thousands of people cheer you on. JACK GORMAN
DEORRO 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Shadowlands stage
The Mexican-American DJ is arguably the hottest up-and-coming artist on the lineup. His electro-house style helped him break into DJmag’s Top 20 DJs of 2014, but his hit “Five Hours” sounds like a throwback to classic electronica that could be from 20 years ago. Even though Deorro is relatively new to the scene he heads up Panda Funk, an independent music label that focuses on developing talent and distributing their work to a global audience. JACK GORMAN
A-TRAK 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Shadowlands stage
No matter how you define the art form, A-Trak is one of the best DJs on the planet. Whether it’s working the tables with hip-hop beats or blasting out house jams, the man kills it every time he steps in to the booth.
Earlier this year, along with Armand Van Helden, he finally put out a Duck Sauce record – “Barbara Streisand” came out 4 years ago? Where does the time go? – so expect at least a few tunes from that, in addition to whatever the hell else he chooses to play. Whatever it is, it’s going to be awesome. CORY GARCIA
ZEDS DEAD 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Beatport Stage
Not to be with confused with über-played-out radio artist Zedd (“Clarity,” “”Stay the Night”), Toronto natives Zeds Dead have been reinvigorating the EDM scene since 2009 by blending electro, drum-and-bass and dubstep. Expect a super-dancy, bass-laden set sure to be packed with some of the weekend’s sickest samples. SELENA DIERINGER
BASSNECTAR 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Shadowlands Stage
For those of you who missed Bassnectar’s badass set at FPSF 2013, here’s your opportunity for redemption. With a mix of dubstep, trap, and the most unexpectedly awesome samples ever — everything from Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast” to a tripped-out aural collage of the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” — Bassnectar puts on one of the most entertaining shows offered by any current artist of any genre. This set is sure to be a highlight of the weekend. SELENA DIERINGER
FLOSSTRADAMUS 10:45 p.m. Saturday, Beatport stage
The best decision Something Wicked made last year was giving bass music its own stage. Yeah, yeah, those other genres are fine and all, but sometimes you just want to tear things up to trap music. Enter Flosstradamus, who make some of the finest tear things up music around.
If you caught Flosstradamus at FPSF earlier this year, you know things get wild when they take the stage. Taking the stage as one of the headliners? Pray for all the kids in the mosh pit. CORY GARCIA
MICHAEL BRUN 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Shadowlands stage
Brun’s life story almost doesn’t sound real: the 21-year-old pre-med student from Haiti, who is taking a break from school to make electronic music, spun in the same slot at Coachella that belonged to Skrillex on a different night and played the main stage at Ultra in Miami.
If you’re curious, that does in fact make him the most successful DJ from his home country to date. Go give “Sun In Your Eyes” a listen; yeah, his life story is boss, but so is his music. CORY GARCIA
CASH CASH 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Shadowlands Stage
After a summer filled with bass-heavy tracks — seriously, how many times did we all hear “Turn Down for What”? — New Jersey’s Cash Cash keeps their EDM more pop-centric, in the vein of Calvin Harris or David Guetta, with fan favorites like “Take Me Home.” Their set should be a fun palate-cleanser between the harder-hitting acts. SELENA DIERINGER
CEDRIC GERVAIS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Shadowlands stage
#Music #Party #Play #FollowMe #Love #Like #Beautiful #Life #Boys #Girls #Selfie #BiteMe #Dance #Happy #Smile #Candy #Friends #Yum #Summertime #Fun #Sex #Sound #Up #Down #Music #Party #Play #FollowMe #Love #Like #Beautiful #Life #Boys #Girls #Selfie #BiteMe #Dance #Happy #Smile #Candy #Friends #Yum #Summertime #Fun #Sex #JACKGORMAN
MARTIN GARRIX 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Shadowlands Stage
This past summer, U.S. Top 40 radio started playing the hell out of “Animals,” a year-old song created by EDM prodigy Martin Garrix, then 17 years old. Inspired by fellow Dutchman Tíësto, the now-legal Garrix’s set should present a variety of sounds, as his house-centric style continues to develop. SELENA DIERINGER
Story continues on the next page.
12TH PLANET 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Bass Crypt stage
You feel that wub-wub-wub coming from the distance? That’s 12th Planet, one of the last artists added to the festival. The DJ/Producer has worked with some of the biggest players in the genre, including both producing and collaborating on several tracks with Skrillex. Make sure to rock the foam when checking out his dirty, grimy, drum-and-bass influenced beats, because it is highly likely your ears will bleed as he kills you with the wub. JACK GORMAN
ART DEPARTMENT 9:15 p.m. Sunday, Beatport stage
Art Department is one of those groups that gets a lot of love from those folks who write about electronic music who may not necessarily be down with the whole EDM thing. Makes sense, because a song like “Touch You Gently” is not what one thinks of when they think the party sounds dance music is currently known for.
Is their inclusion on the Something Wicked lineup weird? Maybe a little, but if it helps some folks expand their electronic horizons that can only be seen as a good thing. CORY GARCIA
EXCISION 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Bass Crypt stage
If the other headliners on Sunday night are too tame for you to stay out late on a school night, consider spending some time with this dubstep monster before calling it a night. We have no idea if he’s bringing out the “Executioner” stage setup for this festival and its 150,000-watt sound system, but we’re fairly sure things are going to get heavy and dirty and worth being tired Monday morning. CORY GARCIA
MADEON 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Beatport stage
Madeon still isn’t old enough to drink, but it feels like he’s been making magic for years now. While he may not have a breakthrough hit to his name, he’s built a nice catalog of his own songs and some impressive production spots; he’s worked with Coldplay and produced what may ultimately be the last great Lady Gaga song, “Gypsy.”
Yeah, he’s up against Kaskade Sunday night, but he’s still worth your time; you know good and well you’ve sat through enough boring Kaskade sets already. CORY GARCIA
ROCKS OFF’S GREATEST HITS
The Ask Willie D Archives Top 10 Bars Where Your Dog Will Be Welcome, Too The 10 Worst Metal Bands of the ’80s 25 Ways to Know You Spend Too Much Time in Montrose Houston’s Top 10 Hookup Bars
This article appears in Oct 23-29, 2014.
