Headhunterz, Coone and More to Headline Defqon.1 2023

The hard dance music scene is set to explode with excitement as Midnight Mafia returns for its eighth installment, “Gangs of the Galaxy,” on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at the Sydney Showground. From 4:00pm to 12:00am, attendees will be transported into the exhilarating world of intergalactic turf wars, where respect is scarce, but the energy is boundless. Experience the ultimate showdown between gangs from across the cosmos, where human and non-human factions collide in a battle for supremacy. “Gangs of the Galaxy” promises a mind-bending journey through space and sound, as revelers reach for the stars in an epic rebellion against the status quo. Prepare to be mesmerized by Midnight Mafia’s most impressive lineup yet, featuring over 10 of the hottest acts in the hard dance scene. From chart-topping headliners to underground favorites, the stage will be set for an unforgettable night of pulsating beats and electrifying performances. As a testament to Midnight Mafia’s commitment to pushing boundaries, the event will showcase its renowned Journey Style Sets, pioneered by HSU. Following the overwhelming success of previous years, attendees can look forward to an exclusive 90-minute journey through sound, promising an immersive experience like no other. Don’t miss out on Midnight Mafia VIII: Gangs of the Galaxy – where music, spectacle, and intergalactic warfare collide to create an unforgettable night of pure adrenaline and excitement. Ticket Information HSU PreSale Release: $159.00 + Booking Fee First Release: $169.00 + Booking Fee Final Release: $179.00 + Booking Fee Hard Copy Tickets: $180.00 (Extremely Limited) Secure tickets online here. PreSale Access: 12:00PM – Friday, 2nd February 2024 General Public Sale: 12:00PM – Saturday, 3rd February 2024

Evolution Events Unveils Dark Chapters: Resurgence, an Unforgettable Fusion of Hard Trance and Hardstyle. Evolution Events has today announced Dark Chapters: Resurgence, a mesmerising event that promises to captivate electronic music enthusiasts with its extraordinary blend of hard trance and hardstyle. Set to take place on Saturday, September 9th, 2023, from 5:00pm to 11:00pm at The Thorn in Thornbury, this immersive experience will transport attendees into a realm of sonic sorcery and relentless beats. The lineup for Dark Chapters: Resurgence boasts an impressive array of talent that will leave audiences spellbound. Atmozfears, known for his enchanting soundscapes, will weave a sonic tapestry that will resonate deep within. Prepare for an onslaught of relentless intensity as Lil Texas takes the stage, unleashing a sonic storm that will leave no soul untouched. And surrender yourself to the relentless beats of David Rust, a master of his craft, who will guide you through a journey into the depths of darkness. In order to secure your place in this unholy rite, pre-registrations are now open until 11:59pm tonight (June 25). Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event that promises to be an experience unlike any other. Visit [registration link] to secure your spot and prepare yourself for a descent into eternal darkness. Additional artists joining the lineup include Dean Dee, Lance, Swae Anbu, and Overdrive, each bringing their unique blend of talent and energy to the stage, further enhancing the immersive experience of Dark Chapters: Resurgence. Evolution Events is a leading promoter of immersive electronic music experiences, pushing boundaries and creating unforgettable moments for fans across the globe. With a dedication to curating diverse lineups and providing top-tier production, Evolution Events continuously strives to deliver unique and captivating events that leave a lasting impact. Event Details Saturday September 9th 2023 5:00pm – 11:00pm The Thorn, Thornbury

The team at HSU Events is set to return to Sydney’s Giants Stadium this September for the another installment of Knockout Outdoor. Knockout Outdoor: Spirit of the Wolf 2023 is confirmed to open its gates on Saturday September 30 and host the largest outdoor hard dance music festival in the southern hemisphere. Knockout Outdoor is set to host over 40+ artists across 3 massive areas in and around the Giants Stadium. As the production and capacity continue to scale for HSU Events, Knockout Outdoor: Spirit of the Wolf is marked as one of the most anticipated dance events for the 2023 calendar year. Festival organisers are set to bring the biggest acts and world class production to Sydney this September. Performing at Knockout Outdoor 2023 is none another than the likes of Headhunterz, Darrren Styles, D-Block & S-St-Fan, Malice, Wasted Penguinz and more. HSU has also revealed the festival will feature three key areas: The Stadium (Main Stage) – Inside GIANTS Stadium. The Biggest Stage & End Show HSU has ever produced! The Pit 2.0! – A huge NEW Open Air Marquee with added production and lighting – RAW/CORE all day long! The Oasis – A custom built stage featuring the best in French/Happy Hard/Uptempo/Classics! Knockout Outdoor: Spirit of the Wolf Lineup Event Information: Event Time: 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM (AEST) Date: Saturday, Sep 30th, 2023 Location: GIANTS Stadium, Sydney Showground Tickets: HSU PreSale Release: $199.00 + Booking Fee Second Release: $209.00 + Booking Fee Final Release: $219.00 + Booking Fee PreSale Access: 12:00PM – May 11th – Thursday General Public Sale: 12:00pm – May 12th – Friday SECURE TICKETS ONLINE HERE.

EDC Thailand marks a new chapter for the electric sky, set to dazzle in just six months. EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) is set to make its debut in Thailand, bringing its iconic festival experience to the stunning shores of Phuket. The inaugural EDC Thailand will take place on January 17, 18, and 19, 2025, at the picturesque Boat Avenue Lakefront. What began as a humble underground event in Los Angeles has grown into a global phenomenon. EDC now hosts festivals in major cities including Las Vegas, Orlando, Mexico City, Tokyo, and EDSEA, and Thailand is the latest addition to this illustrious list. Each EDC event uniquely combines top-tier electronic music, intricate light displays, massive art installations, and a profound sense of unity and love among attendees, who are affectionately known as Headliners. The announcement of EDC Thailand in early July sent waves of excitement through the EDM community. The official confirmation came via the creation of an Instagram account for the festival, with the first post stating, “Hello #EDCThailand. Hello Thailand. Stay tuned for official updates! EDCThailand.com.” Founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella had previously hinted at this new location during an interview for the EDC Las Vegas 2024 lineup announcement. He mentioned, “And then we toured around the world. I mean we’ve been to China, Thailand,” followed by a noticeable pause, realizing he had let slip this exciting news. The official dates were announced a month later, solidifying plans for the festival. “We’ve been all around the world and are excited to invite you to our next EDC chapter! Presenting #EDCThailand: Jan. 17+18+19, 2025 at Boat Avenue Lakefront, Phuket. We cannot wait to create unbelievable memories with all of YOU under the Electric Sky, Headliners!” read the post from EDC. As the countdown to January 2025 begins, fans from across the globe are eagerly making plans to attend this historic event, as reflected in the enthusiastic comments on the festival’s social media posts. The Thailand chapter promises to be a significant milestone in EDC’s storied history, offering an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

Ultra Japan has announced the first phase of its lineup for the festival’s 9th edition in Tokyo. Scheduled for September 14-15, Ultra Japan will bring some of the most sought-after acts in techno and house music to Odaiba Ultra Park. This year’s festival will feature two stages – the Ultra Main Stage and the Resistance Stage – both packed with electrifying performances by renowned dance music icons. The Ultra Main Stage will host trance legend Armin Van Buuren, electronic music stars Afrojack and Alesso, as well as Steve Aoki. Additionally, ISOxo and Knock2 will join forces once again, known for their unique blend of trap and bass house. The Resistance Stage, focusing on techno, will feature top-tier artists such as Eli Brown, Richie Hawtin, and Anfisa Letyago. Fans can also look forward to performances by Massano, known for his melodic techno, Hot Since 82, and progressive house artist Miss Monique. The lineup is further bolstered by Subtronics, Brennan Heart, and Disco Lines. Ultra Music Festival, a global leader in music events, hosts festivals in approximately 20 countries, including Brazil and Australia. Japan was added to the roster in 2014 and has attracted around 100,000 attendees in past years. With this initial lineup announcement, Ultra Japan 2024 promises to deliver two days of exceptional music and an unforgettable festival experience. Passes for Ultra Japan are now available. For more information and future lineup updates, visit the official website. In the meantime, prepare for an epic celebration of dance music and check out the festival’s official recap video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqdBBYwJRWQ  

Australian breakout drum and bass producer Luude today announces the launch of his new imprint No Instruction in partnership with his long standing management company Cloak, distributed by Virgin Music. The new imprint is about creating legitimate moments for artists using the live platform and global network of the team. Luude shares “we want to throw good parties, put out records we like from people we like and we want to have a good crack at doing all those things as best and big as possible.”  To mark the debut, No Instruction presents its first release, ‘Fun In The Sun,’ by Luude & Perth based producer Harry Bee. The left field club heater has quickly become one of Luude’s most requested songs of the year, with videos of the record posted across ID pages amassing over 3 million views and generating widespread anticipation. The track perfectly encapsulates the essence of No Instruction, it’s a bit weird and made for the dancefloor. Sharing his excitement about the release and the launch of the label, Luude shares “I’m really happy to be launching this imprint with a collab featuring one of my best mates from Australia – having an outlet to do things like this is sick. We’ve got some mental records coming from some of my favourite producers,  some parties around the world, we’re doing vinyl and just going back to doing things for the club, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Cloak, the management team behind No Instruction, emphasises the label’s mission to embrace creativity and innovation, “people told us this was a stupid idea, launching a new imprint by releasing a collab with one of Luude’s mates from back home – with some pretty high-profile collaborations that could have been first. But being able to do things like this is what this label is about. The fact that it’s been one of the most requested tunes of the year for Luude is testament to the fact that buzzing records can come from anywhere.” In addition to its innovative approach to music, No Instruction will launch with a series of underground parties across the UK, Europe and Australia throughout 2024. The inaugural event, a secret pop up party at a very coveted London location, will kick off on July 31st, featuring performances by Luude, Bushbaby, Efan, Willo and Denham Audio. Australian producer Luude has firmly established himself on the global stage with back-to-back hits like ‘Down Under’ and ‘Big City Life,’ which have sold millions of copies and earned multi-platinum certifications worldwide. His achievements include an ARIA award for Best Dance Release, a nomination for the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist award, “Best International Artist” at the 2022 Drum and Bass Awards, 3x BBC Radio 1 Hottest Records, and multiple platinum, gold, and silver certifications. Luude’s relentless touring and dynamic performances, including his recent sold out run with Chase & Status across Australia and New Zealand, have cemented his status as one of Australia’s most in-demand artists. Luude & Harry Bee’s new single ‘Fun In The Sun’ is out now on No Instruction. Follow No Instruction across socials for info on all upcoming shows and releases.

Roughly 100,000 people will experience Anyma’s unprecedented, six-night residency, delivering the Sphere’s first-ever electronic dance music shows. The acclaimed Italian DJ and producer will be the first electronic dance music artist to perform at the world’s largest spherical structure, the $2.3 billion Sphere. Following the announcement of a landmark New Year’s Eve headlining show, the venue added five additional events due to “incredible ongoing demand,” according to a press release. All six concerts, scheduled from December 27th to January 1st, sold out in less than 24 hours. Anyma, co-founder of the Afterlife label and touring brand, is renowned for his haunting and immersive visuals that push the boundaries of live electronic music. His residency at the Sphere will feature his signature blend of techno with innovative visual elements, utilizing the world’s largest and highest-resolution wraparound LED screen inside the giant orb. This residency marks a significant milestone for the Sphere, which has previously hosted only a few legendary rock and jam bands such as U2, Phish, Dead & Company, and The Eagles. As Anyma prepares to deliver an EDM-fueled spectacle in this iconic venue, he has promised “the best show” of his career. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anyma (@anyma)

Cercle Odyssey to Offer a No-Phone Experience for Deeper Audience Connection The esteemed Parisian production company and event organizer, Cercle, is set to unveil an innovative concert series under the title “Cercle Odyssey.” Imagine entering a vast concert arena where you are encircled by enormous screens. These screens, towering up to 40 feet high and stretching as far as 180 feet, envelop the audience with high-definition visuals that harmonize seamlessly with the music. This setup is designed to make attendees feel as though they are part of the performance, rather than mere spectators. To enhance audience engagement and foster genuine connections, Cercle Odyssey will implement a strict no-phone policy. This decision aligns with a growing movement within the electronic dance music community, where many prominent artists and organizations are advocating for increased presence and interaction during live events. Scheduled to debut in 2025, Cercle Odyssey aims to bring its unique, immersive experience to dance music enthusiasts worldwide. According to Billboard, this 360° spectacle promises to draw fans closer to the distinctive experiences that Cercle is known for offering. “My current obsession is to create the shortest connection between the music played by the artist, the video narrative that we will present live on the screens, and the audience’s emotions,” said Derek Barbolla, Founder of Cercle. “I want to connect these three things together at the deepest level and I believe this is still underdeveloped in the entertainment industry. If, by the end of a Cercle Odyssey show, I see people on the dance floor literally moved to tears, then I will consider it a success.” For more information about Cercle Odyssey, watch the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMoaFnrCQQA