Here are the top 10 acts we recommend checking out at this weekend's HARD: Day of the Dead, in order of preference...
1. RL Grime
This Los Angeles native is the king of the trap scene, even though his music has moved on from the genre he helped invent. His live show is always on point and has gotten better and better through the years as he has honed his skills and created more and more massive tunes. One major reason you don't want to miss this show, is RL has the best visuals in the business-- by fellow Angeleño SUSBOY. At pretty much any electronic music festival, there are SUSBOY's visuals and then there's everyone else's and the dropoff is quite steep.
2. ZHU
No one knows anything about this artist except for the couple of tracks he wowed Soundcloud with earlier this year. All requests for interviews and more information have been blocked. His debut at HARD could suck, it could be a once in a lifetime chance. May as well take the chance.
3. SOPHIE
So Sophie is playing at the same time as RL Grime which is a conundrum. Best bet would probably be to try to hit both, RL For the mainstage madness and SOPHIE for some incredibly weird and challenging sounds on a smaller stage. SOPHIE is one of the most cutting edge names in bass music and the only other LA performance so far has been a Boiler Room show (above), so try to catch at least some of this one.
4. Gesaffelstein
Hard techno is coming back and this sleek Frenchman is at the forefront. His hard edged tunes and debonaire stage presence were on display earlier this year in Hollywood, and both sold out shows got rave reviews from fans. We were there, and it lived up to the hype and beyond. Considering it's a "Day of the Dead" show, he should bring the pain, and the thumping beats.
5. Djemba Djemba
Another LA artist who deserves a big crowd with an earlyish set. His Boiler Room show was a thing of beauty, and he knows how to rock a crowd with a mix of experimental music, the latest in bass, and hip-hop.
6. Eats Everything
If you're looking for the House Party, start here. Eats Everything from the UK can play tiny clubs or huge festivals, and every time it's a party. If you want to dance with friends, this is a good idea for Saturday.
7. Salva
He's got a new album, he drops incredible mixes, and he's based in LA. Meet up with the homies for the Salva show and no one will leave disappointed, especially if he brings some special guests with him.
8. Booka Shade (Live)
For the slightly older fans who came of age before the word EDM really existed, but who missed out on the original rave scene, Booka Shade was a god. Making danceable yet melodic and interesting music, his live show is a good time but not mindless 4 on the floor overkill.
9. Sweater Beats
Sweater Beats makes smooth tunes that you'll need to wind down. We don't know much about his live show but it ought to be a good place to groove and relax in-between more aggro sets.
10. Cam'Ron
Yes, Cam'Ron is playing HARD with RL Grim as his DJ. You should check this out, as it might be a bit weird but it could be the freakout party you need to end a huge weekend.
Need more info? http://www.harddayofthedead.com/
