Over the next week we will be delivering the in depth expose of our travels. Each day come back to Nocturnal for our day-by-day look back at WMC 2009.
This year was our 12th instalment of the annual Miami classic, and what a busy WMC we had! From the Steve Angello vs Paris Hilton superbrawl, to the lack of a ton of killer, week-defining tracks, to the same old classic Miami doorman attitude, to killer sets from new and familiar faces, to the glorious sunshine, this year was certainly full of stories to tell.
Our usual chaos of running from party to party was in full force this year. 17 events in 6 days and if it wasn’t for the arrogance and/or stupidity of the door staff at Shore Club for Buzzin Fly (“I don’t care about your confirmation from the label, we have our own PR firm and they don’t know who you are!”), and Surfcomber for Pete Tong’s Pool Party (after going to 5 different places, they still couldn’t find the media list) we would have easily tacked on a few more. Even at that we have over 6,000 photos to cull through and provide the best-of-the-best moments from the week.
So to wet your appetite and tease the things to come, watch for our highlights from WMC 2009: Defected’s 10 year celebration @ SET with killer sets from Chocolate Puma, Simon Dunmore, David Penn, and of course Roog!; cool interviews with Jim Rivers and Nic Fanciulli @ GU; Roger Sanchez’s last hour of Release Yourself @ Mansion; stalking Martijn ten Velden and then watching him and Mark Knight destroying Space back 2 back @ Toolroom Knights; attempting a impromptu photo shoot for 44th & Filth @ Hed Kandi Lounge; swag whoring at the A|X suite; hearing gem after gem from the Swedish House Mafia @ Mansion; dragging our exhausted bodies to Om and then finding a new gear of dancing stamina; to capping the whole thing off with our Dutch friends @ Little Mountain.
Kicking off Miami again this year are house music legends Defected Records. Last year's WMC event was the best of the bunch, and the 2009 edition was poised to repeat this lofty feat with an allstar lineup featuring Roog, ATFC, David Penn, DJ Spen & Marc Evans, Chocolate Puma, Yass, Brian Tappert, Studio Apartment, Baggi Begovic, Ray Rox & Daniel Bovie, and label boss Simon Dunmore. And despite the unfortunate no-show of Kenny Dope Gonzalez as originally promised, some amazing music overshadowed that loss in a major way...
For day 2 we definitely needed to take advantage of the bright sunshine and warm weather, so it was off to the Shelborne Hotel to kick it poolside for the DJ Mag Opening Pool Party. Featuring an allstar lineup including heavyweights David Guetta, Steve Lawler, DJ Dan, Josh Wink, Dubfire, James Zabiela, and many more...
To kick off our 2nd evening in Miami, we had a little VIP/Press event hosted by venerable UK label Global Underground. This annual affair is always one of the highlights of our WMC trip, not only for the open bar (although with the drink prices in Miami, it’s hugely welcomed), but for the chance to meet and interview top GU artists from around the globe. For 2009 we had the chance to chat with rising star and re-launcher of the Nubreed series Jim Rivers, and veteran international champ Nic Fanciulli ahead of his new GU mix...
After properly warming up the evening at GU, we headed down the infamous Washington Avenue and made a pit stop at the legendary Cameo Theatre where another GU alumni was celebrating the launch of his latest album “Get Wild!”. Deep Dish’s Sharam played host alongside friend and Miami homegrown talent Cedric Gervais...
::: 2.4 Release Yourself w/ Roger Sanchez @ Mansion
::: 3.1 SAW Recordings Pool Party @ Sagamore Hotel
2009.03.25
Capping off an incredibly busy day 2, we stopped off at the monstrous Mansion for Roger Sanchez’s highly anticipated Release Yourself marathon session. Taking full control of the decks for the entire night, Roger dazzled the thousands in attendance with his trademark big room beats...
It's very easy to get burnt out during WMC, with so many events jam packed into every day if you don’t pace yourself you could miss out. So for Day 3, we decided to keep things a little more low key and only tackle a couple of select events. For the day it was off to our good friends Satoshi Tomiie and Hector Romero's pool party for their SAW Recordings imprint. Situated at the sleek Sagamore Hotel, an intimate but energetic crowd was rocking out to some fine beats delivered by stunning Italian Guendalina Disco resident Dario Lotti...
::: 3.2 Toolroom Knights vs Viva Music @ Club Space
::: 4.1 A|X Music Suite @ Raleigh Hotel
2009.03.26
For the evening of Day 3, we had one main event that would focus our attention on. For the past 2 WMC's, Toolroom has put on one of the best events of week, and this year with the venue being moved to the legendary Club Space we couldn't have been more excited… well only if they were on the terrace...
For Day 4, we had two highly anticipated events on our docket. But to kick things off we took a trip to the classic SoBe landmark the Raleigh Hotel to check out the Armani Exchange Music Suite in the Penthouse. Featuring a week long line-up of the who’s who of electronic music, and broadcast live on XM and Sirius Satellite radio, it was the perfect intimate spot to chit chat with some of the industry elite and catch the likes of Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Harry Romero, and more...
Every year our good friends MN2S put on one of our most heralded shows for WMC. This year, the venue moved to the illustrious Nikki Beach and was an all day all night affair featuring a staggering line-up. Armand van Helden, ATFC, Funkerman, Yves Larock, David Penn, Danism, Jay-J, Robert Owens, Ron Carroll, Tedd Patterson, and more graced the decks in this absolute showcase of house music...
After our disappointment during the day, we really needed a pick-me-up that night, and with our sole attention focused on the Swedish House Mafia at Mansion, we were certain that we'd get the musical fix we so desperately needed. And as if Axwell, Angello, and Ingrosso heard our cries… they delivered in spades...
After an amazing and late Friday night, Saturday was off to a slow start. But our barrage of incredible events wasn't about to end anytime soon. For Day 5 we were off to the annual Pacha Pool Party. Once again hosted at the Shelborne Hotel, this year's event featured an awesome line-up of talent including legends Todd Terry and DJ Jazzy Jeff...
For night 5 it was off to another one of our most anticipated events every year... OM! For the third year, Om was hosting a massive event at the luxurious Karu & Y, which featured one of the most unique and gorgeous club settings that we've ever seen. Boasting an all star line-up including Kruder & Dorfmeister, Mark Farina, Colette, DJ Heather, DJ Sneak, Samantha James, DJ Fluid, and countless more, we knew there was no way this night would disappoint...
We had been blessed with beautiful weather all week, so it was only fitting that on our final day the heavens would open up and the rain would fall. Sad it was as the Sunday boasted the best line-up of the week at the Beatport Pool Party and we were looking forward to having amazing beats under the sun. So as the rain lifted and we mustered up enough energy we stumbled over to the National Hotel to check out the scene...
As the sun set on our final day in Miami we had one last mission to fulfill. In an almost tradition-like fashion our final event was the Little Mountain Recordings showcase hosted by none other than Sander Kleinenberg. Inside the intimate Shine at the Shelborne Hotel, the LMR party is always a great place to close out Miami. For this year's edition the line-up boasted new comers Denis Ruyer, James Nidecker and headlined of course by Sander himself...
Every March, thousands of superstar DJs, industry leaders, and revellers alike travel to South Beach to indulge in the mecca of dance music for North America, which is the Winter Music Confernece. Now in it's 24th year, the conference has grown into THE place to be to see the world's best all in one place, all at the same time. And with this explosion of attendance, for newcomers and veterans alike it's difficult to sift through the hundreds of events that take place in the week of Miami Music Mayhem. That's where Nocturnal comes in, every year we carefully select the premium events that are the must haves to thoroughly enjoy your stay. See you in South Beach...
2008.04.22
The 23rd Annual Winter Music Conference ran from March 25-29th, 2008 in gorgeous Miami, Florida. For the 11th time Nocturnal made the trek down south to bring you unparalleled coverage of this seminal event in electronic music for North America. Check out our Essential WMC 2008 section for over 1000 photos and reviews of the hottest events for the week that was Winter Music Conference...
For the past 10 years Nocturnal has made the trip to the sunny southern tip of America, South Beach Miami for the annual Winter Music Conference. Over the years the conference has grown from a once intimate gathering of the heads and tastemakers to North America's version of Ibiza all compressed into a six day period! Nocturnal had a whirlwind trip hitting an unprecedented 22 events in 6 days!!! We shook it with Toolroom, Cr2, Subliminal, Pacha, MN2S, Om, Mnus, Wet Grooves, Blow Media, Burridge Barrage, Juicy Beach, Little Mountain, the BBC Radio 1, and many more and will bring you over 1000 photos from an absolutely action packed WMC 2007...
There is a pleasant smirk on our faces, one derived from the small connections our lives have made to the life of travelling DJs. Although, no rockstars or world wide headliners, the fact that we are heading to the airport on no sleep from a gig has got us feeling giddy. Just a taste... just a taste indeed...
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::: Nocturnal Top 50 » 2009.02.06
Cunnie Williams' classic joint "Saturday" on Peppermint Jam is remixed and refreshed for 09 and lands in our #1 spot. Leading the charge is super-Dutchman Fedde le Grand with his trippy, blippy take. Hollis P Monroe's gorgeous "This Way" rises to 2, Justin Michael & Phonic Funk f. Maiya's "Take Me To The Sky" rockets to 3, while Blackcoffee and Chris Lake continue the pressure up to 4 and 5 respectively. Rounding out the top 10 are tracks from Felguk, Late Night Alumni, Patch Park, Timmy Vegas & Bad Lay-Dee, and Discount Rhinos 10... ::: Nocturnal Top 50
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2009.04.17
The need to know 
