With so much awesomeness on this year’s Summer Camp lineup, it can be hard to focus on any one genre… but as our fellow Camp Counselor Eric showed with his preview of the funk options at this year’s festival, it becomes clear how stacked these themes are once you take some time to put them together!
With so many talented electronic acts and DJs to pick from on this year’s lineup, we (Camp Counselors Alex D., Jason, and Kyle) decided to work together to focus on 15 of the EDM acts we think SCampers shouldn’t miss this Memorial Day Weekend… so grab a cold drink and a snack, and let’s dig in!
GRiZ
We are thrilled to see GRiZ back on the lineup for the second time! Grant Kwiecinski is the one-man show responsible for some of the funkiest EDM experiences you’ll ever have. Good luck finding a DJ having more fun on stage as he adds his own saxophone jams while dancing along to some mega-groovy production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f32OQmfVvJo
Fun Fact: In January of this year, GRiZ launched his own record label, All Good Records. The label also features Summer Camp 2015 artists The Floozies and Manic Focus.
TURBO SUIT
Since their 3rd appearance at last year’s Summer Camp Music Festival 2014, the ever-evolving (and dancetastic) Turbo Suit has grown to make a new name for themselves in the scene. We mean that literally – the band, at the time called Cosby Sweater,
has since changed their name and re-vamped their game.
What remains is an incredible funky electronic trio comprised of the swinging saxophone and EWI howling of Nicholas Gerlach, production wizardry of David Embry,
and the drum prowess of Jeff Peterson (click here to read Alex’s interview with him). Suit up early and come to the Thursday Pre-Party for a very special set, featuring Joel & Andy of Umphrey’s McGee, as well as other surprises.
Fun Fact: Before joining Turbo Suit in the spring of 2014, drummer Jeff Peterson held down the kit for and was a founding member of Roster McCabe, and for a short period was playing with both bands.
EOTO
The String Cheese Incident rhythm masters Michael Travis & Jason Hann make up the End Of Time Observatory, or EOTO as they’re known. This duo is famous for live composing all of their shows improvisationally (is that a word?), and the guys do not plan their setlists.
The 100% live and improvised results always make for an adventure that will take you from deep house dubstep through hip-hop and back, looped around some experimental guitar riffs and who knows what else…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Towtg5wiqgc
Fun Fact: EOTO’s 2015 Summer Camp performance will make this their SEVENTH in a row!
CHERUB
The electro-pop duo is set to make their 3rd consecutiv eappearance at Summer Camp this year, and Big Gigantic fans will recognize their vocals from the hit song “The Night is Young”.
https://soundcloud.com/biggigantic/the-night-is-young-ft-cherub
Cherub’s sound has veered away from dubstep, however, and lands much closer to R&B and pop, utilizing both synthesizers and live instrumentation. Plan for a lot of dancing and champagne – you’re in for a good time at a Cherub show.
Fun Fact: Cherub duo Jason Huber and Jordan Kelley met in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at a show Jason was DJing under the name Schtompa.
THE FLOOZIES
Brothers Matt and Mark Hill make up the Kansas duo, who’ll also be making their 3rd consecutive trip to Summer Camp. Older brother Matt live produces during shows (with some extra flourishes from his guitar), while the younger Mark holds down the drum kit. The Floozies have a vibrant funk influence that results in what we’ve found to be the ultimate dance party.
http://youtu.be/tJ2s2frWrh8
Fun Fact: Much like EOTO, The Floozies do not plan their set lists before shows.
A-TRAK
Born Alain Macklovitch, A-Trak is a Canadian DJ, turntablist, record producer, and music label executive. A-Trak first began gaining popularity with his talented scratching in the early 90’s, and became known for merging the sounds of rap and electronic music through his remix work!
Fun Fact: He won the DMC World DJ Championship in 1997 at the age of 15, making him the youngest and first Canadian winner of the competition.
PAPER DIAMOND
Alexander Botwin (aka Paper Diamond) started out as the bassist for Pnuma Trio in 2004. After Pnuma Trio he began his solo career as a DJ under the name Alex B which then became Paper Diamond as of 2011.
https://soundcloud.com/paperdiamond/sets/the-rain-drops-ep
Fun Fact: Alex is the owner of the Boulder, Colorado record label, design company and store Elm & Oak.
KREWELLA
Krewella’s music is a mish-mash of self-produced electro house and dubstep, with influences of many other styles, EDM and otherwise, blended in. The group is known for high energy live shows and a fiercely loyal Chicago following that we expect to see out in full force during their performance, one of the first in Illinois by the group since introducing a live band in to their show down at Ultra this spring.
https://soundcloud.com/krewella/somewhere-to-run-preview
Fun Fact: Both Yousaf sisters have “6-8-10” tattoos to commemorate June 8, 2010, the day when they agreed to give up their careers, schooling, and any other intentions for their lives, to dedicate all of their time to their joint music career.
CLAUDE VONSTROKE
First time Summer Camp performer Claude VonStroke is the DJ many are most excited about at this year’s festival – known for his American House and techno influences, we’re sure his set will be bumping. If you are looking to do some non-stop dancing, make sure to check him out this Memorial Day Weekend!
Fun Fact: Claude VonStroke owns the much-beloved Dirtybird and Mothership labels.
BIG GIGANTIC
This is Big Gigantic’s 4th Summer Camp appearance, so we don’t need to spend much time introducing the group to you SCampers! As you’re all aware, if it’s a dance party with a side of sax and drums you’re looking for, this is THE act you don’t want to miss.
One thing we WILL mention – the potential for collaboration. Between the Big G’s history of joining other talented musicians onstage (see Dom performing with Umphrey’s McGee in 2013 below) and the 2015 Sunday Late Night Show in the Red Barn being billed as “Big Gigantic and friends featuring Cherub, Griz and more” we’re on the edge of our seats with anticipation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y8fkx0DBag
Fun Fact: Both Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken of Big Gigantic have impressive backgrounds in music that likely surprise those skeptical of EDM – Lalli holds a Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and Jeremy has been a touring musician with a range of impressive acts in many genres, including the Victor Barnes Bluegrass Band which is currently in hiatus.
PAUL OAKENFOLD
With a career spanning thirty five years, Paul Mark Oakenfold has a vast catalog of material that’s bound to keep scampers dancing.
Fun Fact: Oakenfold has been voted the #1 DJ in the World twice, in 1998 and 1999, by DJ Magazine.
DIGITAL TAPE MACHINE
Since making their debut in the summer of 2010, Digital Tape Machine has developed quite the following. Their 2015 Summer Camp performance will bring something new, as their lineup has undergone significant changes since last year – most notably, Umphrey’s McGee’s Joel Cummins and Kris Myers will no longer perform with the “Progressive Electronic Dance Music” group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJP_Q8ETO-4
Fun Fact: The Chicago based super group started off as by making a score for a video game, then decided to try playing the tracks live and it snowballed from there.
KILL THE NOISE
First time Summer Camp performer Kill The Noise is an act worth getting excited about. Born Jake Stanczak, his style weaves Electro House, Drum and Bass, Dubstep, and Drumpstep together to get his crowds moving. Hailing from Rochester, NY, electronic fans alike will not be disappointed by catching his set at this years Summer Camp!
Fun Fact: Kill The Noise took the stage with Korn to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2012.
SNAILS
SNAILS’ is a Montreal-based producer and DJ who pushes a forward-thinking brand of dance music combining hip-hop rhythms, dirty bass lines and off-kilter sound design. With artists such as Diplo, Skrillex, and Flosstradamus backing him, you know it’s good!
https://soundcloud.com/officialsnails/funk-with-me-ft-big-gigantic
Fun Fact: His first tracks appeared online in 2012 on Canadian label Kannibalen Records
.
These are just handful of the EDM acts you will not regret seeing this Memorial Day Weekend – it’ll be a challenge of epic proportions to fit them all in, so be sure to dig deep when the Vibe Tent’s schedule is finally released, and let us know what electronic acts YOU are excited to see this year!]]>
