Nocturnal Wonderland
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Nocturnal Wonderland | |
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Genre | Trance music, Dance music, Electronic dance music, House music, Drum and bass, Techno, |
Dates | First Weekend of September (Southern California) April (Texas) |
Location(s) | San Bernardino, California Rockdale, Texas |
Years active | 1994 - 2001; 2003 - present (Southern California) 2010 - present (Texas) |
Website | www.nocturnalwonderland.com |
Nocturnal Wonderland, formerly known as Nocturnal Festival, is a massive electronic music festival that has been steadily growing and brings the biggest names in music and dance to an audience of up to 50,000 musical enthusiasts.
History
Nocturnal Wonderland, for the first time in 2011, is a two-day event that used to occur in early September around Labor Day until 2009, when it was rescheduled to the last Saturday of September.[1] There are usually 5 stages with a total of over 60 different artists performing throughout the two nights. The styles of music heard during the performance are vast and vary in range year to year. Every year there are artists from the trance, drum and bass, break beat, and house genres.
The first Nocturnal Wonderland was held in 1995. In its early years, Insomniac (the production crew responsible for Nocturnal Festival), did not have a steady revenue for this event and the location for the event had to change each year. One of its most famous locations was the Coachella Valley Indio Polo grounds. This is the same location where the now famous Coachella Music Festival is held. In 2002 (Nocturnal Wonderland could not be held because not enough revenue could be generated to secure the event), Nocturnal Wonderland returned to the National Orange Show in San Bernardino after having first taken place at that location in 1998. The Orange Show has been the location of Nocturnal from 2003 to the present except for 2007. During 2007, the event was held in Downtown Los Angeles.
On Labor Day Weekend 2010, Insomniac surprised many fans by introducing Nocturnal Festival Texas held at Apache Pass Fairgrounds in Rockdale, Texas, just outside Austin. This event became not only the first Nocturnal Festival outside of California, but also the first multi-day Nocturnal being held on September 4th through the 5th. Insomniac would further surprise fans by announcing Nocturnal Festival California will also be two days in 2011, as well as returning to the name Nocturnal Wonderland.
Other similar festivals in the Southern California area include Together As One (Produced in conjunction with Go Ventures), Monster Massive (A Go Ventures Production), Beyond Wonderland, and Electric Daisy Carnival.
The Stages
There are typically five stages at the event; however, this number varies depending on attendance and venue size. Nocturnal Festival 2010 utilized six stages with an expanded venue size. Each stage is typically themed with unique props and lighting.
Some examples of the stages are:
"The Labyrinth": This stage has usually been held in a giant warehouse-like building. In 2010, the stage was meant for a wider and taller tent but was switched with Alice's House to accompany more attendees. The decorations for this stage are always the most lavish, with 20-foot (6.1 m) tall stacks of speakers, huge colorful designs, abstract shapes of all sorts and sizes hanging from the ceiling, lasers, smoke machines, and a phenomenal display of lights. In recent years, trapeze artists have performed above the crowd during the shows. This stage typically plays host to the trance genres.
Alice's House: This stage was once held on a huge grass field next to a man made lagoon. It is an outdoor stage and is a wonderful place to come when all the high energy from the inside rooms gets to be too much. This stage features some very chill/groovy house vibes. However, in 2010 the stage became much bigger and was accompanied by more upbeat and energetic house music.
The Upside Downroom: This stage used to play host to various techno and house genres, but it has grown to become a mixed-genre tent. It's not as lavishly themed, but lighting is in no short supply. In recent years, the size has also expanded.
The Sunken Garden: This stage is the most energy intensive of all the stages, with huge speakers, heavy bass, and MCs that freestyle over the music. While other stages focus on the slower, more traditional styles of electronic music such as house, trance, or breaks, this room is dedicated to the electronic music genre drum and bass. This stage is typically hosted by another company founded by Insomniac called 'Bassrush.' Separate Bassrush events are held at various locations nationwide throughout the year.
The Queen's Grounds: This room used to hold all of the attractions until 2009 when it became another stage. The music is typically house oriented, more notably the electro house genres. In 2010 it was held in one of the bigger warehouse-like buildings which housed the main stage for 2008's Nocturnal Festival. Not to be confused with Beyond Wonderland's Queen's Domain stage.
The Big Top Tent: Another mixed-genre type tent playing host to mostly house. As the name suggests, it started off as being one of the only stages held outside in a giant tent. Eventually, the big top tent stage faded away and 2010 saw no incarnation of the Big Top Tent.
Talent
Nocturnal has featured artists from around the world, including:
2012
California:
- 12th Planet
- 16 Bit Lolitas
- Cubatron Core
- Above and Beyond
- Alesso
- Andy C
- Arty
- ATB
- Axwell
- BassJackers
- Bassrush Experience
- Benny Benassi
- Boom Jinx
- Cedric Gervais
- Chris Lake
- Cosmic Gate
- CRIZZLY
- Culture Shock
- Damian Lazarus
- Damien Tenaglia
- Darin Epsilon
- Dash Berlin
- David Steven
- DECO
- Deniz Koyu
- Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
- Dirtyphonics LIVE
- Discovery Project
- Downlink
- DROOG
- Dub FX
- EDX
- Fedde Le Grande
- Flinch
- Funkagenda
- Fury
- Group Therapy
- Gui Boratto
- Hamilton
- Jamie Jones
- Joachim Garraud
- John Dahlback
- John Digweed
- Little Boots
- Lone MTN & Buddha
- Manufactured Superstars
- Mark Knight
- Mat Zo
- Mediks
- Morgan Page
- Myon & Shane54
- Neon Indian
- Nicole Maudaber
- Norin & Rad
- Orbital
- Planet of the Drums
- Pretty Lights
- R3HAB
- Royksopp
- Sean Tyas
- Sebastian Ingrosso
- Showtek
- Simon Patterson
- Skeptiks
- Snareophobe & Starfighterz
- Soundprank
- Sub Focus DJ Set
- Super8 & Tab
- The Prototypes
- Torqux
- TYDI
- Umek
- Wide Awake Art Car
Texas:
- Nero
- Calvin Harris
- Steve Aoki
- Tiesto
- Hardwell
- Mt Eden
- Cosmic Gate feat. Emma Hewitt
- Pendulum
- Loki
- Chromeo
- Chase & Status
- 12th Planet
- Cookie Monsta
- R3HAB
- EOTO
- Borgore
- Datsik
- Sebastian Ingrosso
2011
California:
- Avicii
- Kaskade
- Showtek
- Dirtyphonics
- 12th Planet
- Fedde Ie Grand
- PeaceTreaty
- Mark Knight
- Aly and Fila
- Dirty South
- Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano
- D.Ramirez
- Manufactured Superstars
- Nicky Romero
- Trent Cantrelle
- Gareth Emery
- Arty
- W&W
- Marco V
- Bunny of RITM
- Fei Fei
- Calyx and Teebee
- Marky
- Jaguar Skills
- S.P.Y
- Icicle
- Marty Party
- Deco
- Trouble
- Sebastian Ingrosso
- Gabriel and Dresden
- Morgan Page
- Michael Woods
- Wippenberg
- Glen Morrison
- Cosmic Gate feat. Emma Hewitt
- Simon Patterson
- Sean Tyas
- Kyau and Albert
- Lisa Lashes
- Joaquin Bamaca
- Breakage
- Loadster
- TC
- Original Sin w/ MC Armanni Reign
- Sigma
- Circuit
- Clutch
- Bass Kleph
- Savoy
- Eddie Thoneick
- Angger Dimas
- Bassjackers
- Fareoh
- Lee Burridge
- Victor Calderone
- Green Velvet
- Pleasurekraft
- Layo and Bushwacka!
- Tiefshwarz
- Droog
Texas:
- Avicii
- Kaskade
- Bassnectar
- Chase & Status
- Above & Beyond
- Excision
- Pendulum w/ MC Verse
- Crystal Castles
- Porter Robinson
- Zed's Dead
2010
California:
- Steve Angello
- Ferry Corsten
- Markus Schulz
- Eddie Halliwell
- ATB
- Menno De Jong
- Chase & Status
- Caspa
- Skream
- Benga
- AK1200
Texas:
- Tritonal
- Armin van Buuren
- Girl Talk
- Kid Cudi
- Bassnectar
- Rusko
- 12th Planet
- Dirtyphonics
- Above & Beyond
- Wolfgang Gartner.
2009
- Ferry Corsten
- Christopher Lawrence
- John "00" Fleming
- Rank1
- Filo & Peri
- Joaquin Bamaca
- Laidback Luke
- Dirty South
- Green Velvet
- Bart B More
- Treasure Fingers
- Paul Oakenfold
- Rabbit In The Moon
- Dj Dan & Donald Glaude
- The Glitch Mob
- Freq Nasty
- Kill The Noise
- Roni Size + Dynamite MC
- Pendulum + MC Jakes
- Planet of the drums
- TC
- Evol Intent
- Simon Bassline Smith + Youngman MC
- Hazen
- Subflo
- MC's(Messinian, Dino, Question Mark)
- Switch
- Rusko
- Drop The Lime
- Feadz
- Skream
- Benga
- Dj Falcon
- Frankmusik
- Foamo
- Eli Smith
2008
- Above and Beyond
- Infected Mushroom
- Christopher Lawrence
- Cosmic Gate
- Dubfire (of Deep Dish)
- Sharam (of Deep Dish)
- Kaskade
- Second Sun
- Kayu and Albert
- Claude Vonstocke
- Uberzone vs Bassbin Twins
- Junkie XM
- [Joaquin Bamaca]
- Freddy B
- [Digitalism] (live)
- DJ Craze
- So Me
- [Le Castle Vania]
- Little Boots
- A1 Bassline
- Will Bailey (Twocker)
- Computer Club
- Kesh
- Eli Smith
- Miguel Migs & Lisa Shaw (live PA)
- Doc Martin
- Manufactured Superstars
- Lenny V
- Planet of the Drums Tour: AK1200 / Dara / Dieselboy / Messinian
- Noisia
- Hive
- Calyx
- Simon “Bassline” Smith
- Calibre
- Alix Perez
- Breakage
- DJ Fury
- Hazen
- Subflo
2007
- The Chemical Brothers
- Paul Van Dyk
- Carl Cox
- Benny Benassi
- Sharam (of Deep Dish)
- Christopher Lawrence
- D. Ramirez
- Hype
- LTJ Bukem
- Friction & SPMC
- Subfocus
- Fresh
- Simon Bassline Smith
2006
- Hernan Cattaneo
- Christopher Lawrence
- Infected Mushroom
- Rabbit In The Moon
- Eddie Halliwell
- Blank & Jones
- Tall Paul
- DJ David Fallica
- The Crystal Method
- Dominic B (of Stanton Warriors)
- DJ Icey
- Uberzone
- Bassbin Twins
- Deekline & Wizard
- Jackal & Hyde
- Kaskade
- Miguel Migs & Lisa Shaw
- King Britt
- Doc Martin
- Julius Papp
- Lilly Anne
- Andy C
- DJ Hype
- Pendulum
- LTJ BUKEM
- Simon “Bassline” Smith
- XXXL & Hazen
- Scooba & Clutch
- DJ Subflo
2005
- Armin Van Buuren
- Pendulum
- DJ Mark Farina
- Uberzone
- Roni Size
- Doc Martin w/ Lillia
- DJ Heather
- Colette
- The Bodyrock DJ's
- DJ Icey
- Jackal & Hyde
- Aquasky
- Simply Jeff
- Storm & Trevor Rockwell
- John Kelley
- B-Side
- Richie Hawtin
- Christopher Lawrence
- Eddie Halliwell
- DJ Dan
- Donald Glaude
- Andy C
- Grooverider
- Fabio
- Simon "Bassline" Smith
- High Contrast
- Tech Itch
- DJ Fury
- XXXL & Hazen
- MC's (GQ, Armanni, Johnny Redd, Dino)
2004
- Kaskade
- Doc Martin
- Rabbit in the Moon
- Andy C
- Greenskeepers
- Hybrid
- Uberzone
- Beatnuts
- Omar Santana
- DJ Sonik 2x4 Chris Kozmik
- VJ Tek
- Perfecto
- Paul Oakenfold
- DJ Irene
- Sandra Collins
- DJ Monk
- Donald Glaude
- Mars
- Dieselboy
- Goldie
- Total Science
- DJ Craze
- Raw
- Hazen
- Garth
- Colette
- Lilly Anne
- DJ Icey
- DJ Hyper
- Simply Jeff
- John Kelley
- B-Side
- DJ Mizota
- Souls of Mischief
- Aceyalone
- Defari
- Supernatural
- Abstract Rude
- Mood
- DJ Craze
- Self Scientific
- Phil Da Agony
- DJ Mark Luv
- DJ Abel
- C-Los
- Odjay Abel
- Mike H. 2x4 Dope Eric
- Nimrod
- DJ Cik
- DJ Mayhem
- MC's (GQ, J Messinian, Armanni, Dino)
2000
- Rabbit in the Moon
- Uberzone
- AK1200 with MC Nctrnl
- Paul Oakenfold with special guest Hernan Cattaneo
- DJ Hype with MC GQ
- Andy C
- Groove Armada
- Brisk
- Adam Freeland
- Donald Glaude
- Simply Jeff
- John Kelley
- Monk
- Fester
- B-Side
- Darren Emerson
- Scanty Sandwich
- Roy Davis Jr.
- Garth
- Jeno
- Barry Weaver
- Jason Blakemore
- Reza
- Alex Ruiz
- Shy FX with MC Skibadee
- DJ Dara
- Fury
- Machete
- Raymond Roker with MC Question Mark
- DJ Tao and Billy Lane with MC L Ski
- Taylor
- Sandra Collins
- Christopher Lawrence
- Doran
- Mars
- Thee O
- Dyloot
- Force Styles
- Hixxy
- Dougal
- Vinylgroover
- DNA
- Unknown
- Simon Apex
- Lost Boy
- DJ Paul
- DJ Promo
- Omar Santana
- Rob Gee
- Ron D Core
- Demigod
- Static
- Eksite
- Sonic
- Alkaholics
- Dilated Peoples
- Kool Keith
- DJ Craze
- A TEam
- Aceyalone Abstract Rude
- Cali Agents
- Planet Asia Rasco
- Peanut Butter Wolf
- Loot Pack
- Zion I
- Ugly Duckling
- Z Trip
- Coolwhip
- Eli Star
- Alien Tom
- Dr. Bombay
- MC Storm Stylee
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References
- http://www.nocturnalwonderland.com/
- http://www.insomniacevents.com
- http://www.bassrush.com
- http://iepolitics.com/2010/03/18/iepolitics-deaths-at-havasu-lake-2/