by Pearcey Proper
With festival season now in full swing, music fans are met with a variety of options in a consistently ballooning market; with so much money going around, everyone and their grandmas is trying to launch something to get a piece of the action, focusing on getting big name headliners to attract punters rather than craft a unique experience. This is seen more than anywhere else in the EDM subsect. While Insomniac (producers of Electric Forest and the now-ubiquitous Electric Daisy Carnival) have made strides to keep an artistically adventurous spirit to their concept and design, most of the US options, including Ultra, HARD Summer and the consistently maligned (and soon to be reworked) Electric Zoo, have suffered from an increasing homogenization- the same artists playing on similar stages in different cities, with less and less defining character to speak of.
It was because of this that last year’s introduction of Mysteryland USA felt like such a breath of fresh air. The first stateside installment of Dutch company ID&T’s long-running festival series, which in its 22nd year can now be called the most senior EDM festival still operating, it possessed a vibrant creative edge that many of its competitors sorely lacked. With a bold lineup, host of complementary activities and incomparably historic location, Mysteryland looks to be on track for another fun, divergent Memorial Day weekend.
LOCATION
by Andrew Rauner
If you’ve heard anything about MLUSA, you’ve no doubt heard this- it takes place on the original Woodstock grounds. Yes, ID&T managed to lock down the hallowed Bethel Woods in upstate NY, the first festival to do so since that fateful weekend in 1969. While some have turned their nose up at this, especially considering the massively different spirit and vibe of the two festivals, it’s hard to deny the spectacular feeling of camping and dancing on such a legendary site.
For those looking to take some time away from the music to celebrate the history, the Museum at Bethel Woods will be open to all attendees. Beyond the years of history about the site, the Museum will also be playing host to a special exhibit called Peace, Love, Unity, Respect chronicling the growth of electronic music in America over the past 20 years.
VIBE/ ATMOSPHERE
by Pearcey Proper
As anyone who has been to a big-EDM festival can tell you, the overall atmosphere can be hit and miss. The assortment of broravers, teenagers and biddies all using their personal favorite party favor can often make for a powder keg of negativity and ruin the experience for people just trying to have a good time. Additionally, overaggressive security can ruin the mood, as we learned from The Hudson Project last year.
In its first year, Mysteryland by all accounts avoided these pitfalls. First off, it’s 21+, and at the risk of sounding pretentious that just makes for a better festival. You’ll still have people going beyond their limits and a few douchebags, but overall it makes for a more mature audience who is there primarily for the music.
The festival also by all accounts hired staff and security that did a good job keeping everyone safe without employing the “guilty until proven innocent” tactics that have plagued other fests. They were still vigilant and exercised a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal behavior, but did so in a way that never felt stifling or intrusive. Mixed with a noticeable but not overpowering police presence, it was the right way to go about a controversial aspect of festivals.
Together, this makes for an atmosphere that’s comfortable without being unsafe, lively without being overpowering and altogether conducive to making new connections.
STAGE DESIGN
by Pearcey Proper
When MLUS was first announced, the prospect of ID&T putting together even more spectacular stages had many the most excited. Known for the epic, fairytale-esque structures they put together for the NL installments of Mysteryland (as well as its sister festival Tomorrowland), expectations were high for stage design last year. They delivered mightily, delivering the Alice in Wonderland-esque mainstage. Sporting killer sound on top of its mind-bending design, this house of cards provided a great central gathering place for the festival.
While it might have been hard to tear themselves away from that beauty, guests also had the option of the aptly named Boat. A wonderful wooden structure, this stage was the home of trap for the year.
Beyond these, the rest of 2014s stages were tent affairs, offering a little break from the sun along with quality sound.
by Heidie Duteweert
by Pearcey Proper
by Chris Liebing
Stage design is where Mysteryland has always shined, and it’s first year proved that we can hold the US edition to the same high standards. With the exception of The Boat’s return, we can expect most of the stages to be changed up this year. ID&T is keeping the designs a secret, but they have mysteriously teased that the theme of the mainstage will be the battle between good and evil…
MUSIC
To truly appreciate the statement Mysteryland is making with this years lineup, you have to look to the last year’s. Despite sporting a flabbergastingly good assortment of techno and deep house artists on the three stages curated by New York promoters Sunday School, the mainstage artists were an absolute snooze. With plenty of boring Dutch House DJs (Nicky Romero, Dimiti Vegas & Like Mike and Dyro) obvious low-effort picks (The Chainsmokers, Flosstradamus) and a closing set from EDM’s most notorious mime Steve Aoki, this was a completely average lineup that felt no different from any top tier mainstage (especially a shame with the thing looking so damn pretty.)
This year, bookers have locked down a much more interesting stable over the course of the two days. While noted party producers Diplo and Dillon Francis will be DJing the close of Sunday night, what’s surprising is that most of these are live sets. Between tropical house dons Robin Shulz and Kygo, French pop wunderkind Madeon, drum and bass wizard Netsky and the fantastic indietronica duo The M Machine (who we interviewed recently), these are great names who will actually be playing instruments. The closers of Saturday night are truly the icing on the cake though. In a very surprising move, Australian synthpop duo Empire of the Sun will play before the irreplaceable Porter Robinson (another shameless interview plug here) closes things out. Having a full band lead into such a conceptually ambitious live set is a very bold move for a festival that has traditionally skewed more towards party sounds, and speaks great deals for the organizer’s musical intentions going forward.
by Andrew Rauner
Beyond these great mainstage acts, The Boat will play home to a variety of talented artists, with Saturday’s lineup including the wonderfully weird Beats Antique, Minnesota, Savoy and Manic Focus, before closing out with Griz and Gramatik (making for the exciting possibility of a Grizmatik set in between!) The Boat’s second day brings it back to its bassey roots as Bro Safari takes over for a curated lineup, featuring performances from ETC!ETC!, TJR, Doctor P and, for whatever reason, ILoveMakonnen.
Though Sunday School is gone this year, techno will still be in the spotlight with curated stages from Matthew Dear, Adam Beyer and NY superclub Verboten. Boasting superstars like Maya Jane Coles, Nicole Moudaber, Lee Burridge, Damian Lazarus, The Martinez Brothers and Matador, there is enough great techno on display that you could choose to see just that for the whole weekend (as some of the genre’s devoted fans undoubtedly will.)
by Pearcey Proper
In addition, weekly NY party Girls+Boys will be curating one of the best lineups on Sunday, featuring the two of the top tropical house artists, Bakermat and Kingande, as well as Bondax, Anna Lunoe and Sweater Beats. Finally, those looking for deep house will also be in for a treat, as America’s premier label for it, French Express, will be curating a stage, putting groovy acts like Moon Boots and Perseus.
If all of that wasn’t enough, those camping will also be invited to a friday night party, running long enough to basically qualify as an extra day of the festival! The early evening will feature lively sets from A-Trak, GTA and Tropkillaz, while the late night will go deeper for some great techno, with Richie Hawtin, Josh Wink and Maceo Plex taking the decks. With camping being a pricey addition to a ticket, these extra sets go a long way in giving bang for your buck.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Another way Mysteryland sets itself apart is the activities it provides besides the music. The chief one here is the Healing Garden, which will push guests to get in touch with their inner tranquility and spirituality. People visiting will be exposed to everything from sonic therapy to exploration of sacred geometry and, of course, meditation sessions.
The Healing Garden will also play home to a variety of speakers, with NPR education writer Anya Kamenetz hosting. Topics will be varied, touching on sex-positivity, conceptualizing crisis situations and diversity in the global music festival scene among other things. There’s also the possibility that artists will drop by, as Moby did last year.
by Andrew Rauner
Art will be spread throughout the festival, with pop-up installations, live paintings and a variety of performance art projects. Robotics aficionados will be able to check out The Gamelatron, the world’s first fully robotic orchestra, while those looking to embrace some childhood fun can check out a 25-ton version of board game Mousetrap.
Finally, ML is bringing back the Smorgasburg food festival, offering awesome dishes from some of New York’s best eateries. Offering great gourmet dishes at affordable prices, this is above and beyond the increasingly improving standard of festival food. Vegetarian, Vegan and gluten-free options will be available, but there will also be plenty of greasy meat if you’d prefer it.
TICKETS
Alright, down to the nitty gritty. A base-level wristband (known as a Nomad Weekend Pass) for those looking to sleep offsite will run you $214 ($250 after fees) while the addition of a Holy Grounds camping pass will bring the total to $309 ($362 after fees). Those looking to live the VIP lifestyle, which includes dedicated viewing areas, private bathrooms and access to VIP bars, will pay $369 ($432) or $459 ($537) with camping. Tickets can be purchased here and are going fast.
Also of note is that Mysteryland is a cashless festival. Credit will be stored on via RFID chips in guests’ wristbands in the form of Birdie Bucks, which have an exchange rate of 9 BB per 20 USD. Birdie Bucks can be purchased in advance or onsite via machines, and unused value will be refunded at the end of the festival minus a $5 fee.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While still not for everyone (especially with it’s high price tag) Mysteryland provides an overall experience that’s different from most of the increasingly-tired EDM festivals on the scene. Sporting one of the best lineups of the year and a consciousness of its patron’s experience that many of the other big dogs don’t, this could be both the antidote for people who are over the kitch of EDC and Ultra but still interested in the music, as well as a good introduction for non-EDM heads looking to explore the genre.
All photos taken for Mysteryland.us. Allston Pudding will be attending Mysteryland as press—stay tuned for a review and photos!