| ::: WMC 2006 | Review |
::: WMC | 1.1 Wet Grooves @ Nikki Beach |
 06.28.2006
Andrew Reid : Scott Ramsay : Simon Jain
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. Airports have that air about them... don't they? The inference that someone is going away, the idea that you are leaving for somewhere else... and oh, what a better place in time to be going anywhere then to Miami, for the showcase known as the Winter Music Conference. The hub-bub of the dance community, a family reunion of sorts where the laymen get to frolic amidst their favourite DJs and producers like it’s nothing at all. Indeed, the whole world will dance to the tracks released and showcased this very week; and generally aside from absolutely ridiculous parties, the best tunes from the conference usually make their way across turntables (err... CDJs) all year long after this. No doubt that the summer anthem you don't know you love yet, was just played to a packed house outside on the beach, with mojitos and Coronas in the air, and of course... with the speakers on full juggernaut mode. God bless this music scene for the way it bring us all together; the Britz, The Canucks, the Scandeez, assorted Euros and a plethora of other worldly representatives mixed in with our host Americans. As the plane descends through the warm Miami sun, we are already dreaming of DJs on the beach, dancing women in bikinis and that unheard track that will last with us forever. This is Nocturnal's 10th year at the conference, and like always, our days will be packed with parties, press conferences and what can only be described as the closest that media events can get to orgies! On to the jamz!......
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 03.24.2006
Our first party was at a South Beach institution, Nikki Beach, for the annual Wet Grooves Beach Party. If you have never been before, Nikki Beach is an absolute must. Half the club is on the sand, and the other is an open faced bamboo adorned room. With two separate areas for DJ's to rip, plus the appropriate decor, this place is simply amazing. Combine that will the notoriously debaucherous event known as Wet Grooves, and you have an absolute gem. With the palms trees standing over us like giants from a foreign land, we listened to the incomparable talents of Mark Farina and Harry Choo Choo Romero with beers in hands. The beats came solid and loud, and before too long we had expended the afternoon to the talents of Benny Benassi, Little Louie Vega, BT and even the Utah Saints. The sun began to slip behind the horizon, and it’s barely past the first afternoon for us which in itself means we have much more to go. As we exit Nikki Beach with massive grins across our faces it is clear to see that we are in for a ridiculous week...
::: Wet Grooves Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 1.2 SAW @ Shine |
 03.24.2006
After a brief stint at the hotel, we quickly parlayed our way to the little hotel entrenched club Shine. Satoshi, Hector and the boys were hosting an evening of the freshest SAW tracks as well as some open bar action; so its a little difficult to say no. Hot tracks and free drinks is an absurdly famous combination. This party would feature the likes of Bush II Bush (you all know the Piano Track), Lexicon Avenue, Audiofly, Guy Gerber, and of course Hector Romero and Satoshi Tomiie...
::: SAW Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 1.3 MN2S @ Amika |
 03.24.2006
Part 2 of our evening’s activities saw us venture over to the gorgeous Amika for our good friends at MN2S’ soon to be legendary annual showcase. With the likes of Tony Humphries, Mark Knight, Jon Cutler, CJ Mackintosh, Michael Gray, Hardsoul, and a live PA from the legendary Barbara Tucker how can you go wrong!!! The evening was nothing short of magical as the soul was turned up high and pure bliss was evident throughout the jam packed venue...
::: MN2S Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 2.1 Ultra Music Festival 8 |
::: WMC | 2.2 Burridge Barrage II @ BED |
 03.25.2006
The annual Ultra Music Festival, the ultimate electronic music showcase, usually attracts anywhere from 50 to 70,000 plus revellers. There were so many fantastic artists playing that day that it was impossible to name them all. We here in the Nocturnal camp highlight the following artists as the ones we felt shone the brightest on this day...
::: Ultra Photos + Review |
 03.25.2006
Lee Burridge has quickly become one of our absolute favourites, and the thought of him championing the decks for a full evening at one of the more intimate and suave establishments in South Beach is almost more then we can bare. The vibe is smoking and the people are... well, raging...
::: Burridge Barrage Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 3.1 Om Listening Party |
::: WMC | 3.2 Robsoul @ Beach Plaza |
 03.26.2006
Three days in, and you feel like you have been here for a week. There is just so much going on that it's hard to decide what it is you feel like doing. Most people opt for the big parties every time. Tiesto @ Mansion, Deep Dish @ Space, Carl Cox @ Crobar, Ultra... you get the idea. After years of coming here, our method always includes us stopping off at smaller parties with the more intimate vibes...
::: Om Photos + Review |
 03.26.2006
Right in the garden of the Beach Plaza Hotel was the ideal venue for some mid-afternoon shenanigans as Robsoul Recordings and Basic NYC hosted a killer party for that fine French label. Among the leafy palms and man made waterfall and pond, several hundred party goers revelled to the delectable house sounds of none other than DJ Heather...
::: Robsoul Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 3.3 SOUL Mgmt Party |
::: WMC | 4.1 Stealth VIP @ Hotel Victor |
 03.26.2006
SOUL Mgmt Recordings were hosting a label showcase packed with DJs that most of you in North America probably wouldn't recognize. As only a fraction of the club was actually filled we decided to situate ourselves out on the back patio, where to our delight was formidable DJ/producer Sharam Jey. Utilizing a blend of house and bumpier tech-house selections, Sharam was apt at keeping the dance floor moving...
::: SOUL Mgmt Photos + Review |
 03.27.2006
One of the newer boutique hotels to rise on world famous Ocean Drive, The Victor Hotel is a gem space situated right in the heart of South Beach. Boasting a slick entranceway and enough décor to earn the term swank, the Victor’s main party attraction would be its spacious and styling patio. On this evening, it was adorned with the hustle and bustle of industry types such as Steve Angello, Hardsoul, Laidback Luke, DJ Dove, the obligatory press darlings and of course the sweet sounds of Roger Sanchez’s Stealth Records...
::: Stealth Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 4.2 Star*69 @ Opium Gardens |
::: WMC | 4.3 Om @ Mansion |
 03.27.2006
If someone hasn’t already told you to visit Opium Gardens on your South Beach travels; then consider this a friendly reminder that you should. It’s a simply stunning venue that boasts a dance floor with no roof, coliseum seating that leads to several smaller rooms around the venue; and a plethora of bars to ensure that you’re always relieving your thirst. Tonight, we were ready for the sick tribal stylings of the Star*69 camp, and as we entered the venue nice and early were greeted by the enigmatic Saeed Younan...
::: Star*69 Photos + Review |
03.27.2006
Normally playing host to “big room” DJs like Tiesto, Sasha & Digweed, and James Holden its often lost on the masses Mansion’s ability to create a groovy and tight atmosphere. One that replaces the hard driving sounds of progressive and trance, with the inviting and warm sensations of funk and big room house music, courtesy the legendary San Francisco imprint Om...
::: Om Photos + Review |
| ::: WMC | 5.1 R3 @ The Clevelander |
::: WMC | 5.2 Stealth @ Club Space |
 03.28.2006
The Conference is coming to a tale end, and we feel as though we may have consumed triple our weight in Mojitos, Coronas and varying strengths of vodka Red Bulls! That being said, we decided to opt out of most of the endeavours blaring throughout the afternoon, and instead find some quiet time at the beach. After a full day in the sun, hammering back bevies with some Toronto peoples, it was time to hit some monster Daiquiris whilst getting crazy with Chus & Ceballos at the Clevelander for the R3 Ventures Pool Party...
::: R3 Photos + Review |
03.28.2006
First off, we have to say that heading out of the South Beach area and going downtown to the ever notorious Club Space, isn't always the best of endeavours. Depending on the night, the type of crowd there, and how many people have been dicks already to the doormen are just some of the factors that can make this night tedious. But on this night, our guestlist was honoured, a line up rarely existed even though the venue was very busy, and the staff were extremely hospitable and professional. Special thanks to Olga from Stealth and a gracious door staff @ Space for making this one of the smoothest and most pleasant experiences we’ve ever had in Miami...
::: Stealth Photos + Review |
::: Nocturnal 