Though the city's dance clubs seem to be on the extinction list, smaller lounges, warehouses, and event spaces have filled the void. Miami is a city that can party anywhere, whether it's the graffiti-covered RC Cola Plant or the cramped backroom of Coyo Taco, so there's hope for its dance scene even as proper venues continue to disappear.
If there's one criticism that can be made about Miami Music Week as a whole, it's that it still seems unwelcoming to acts who aren't cisgender men. Though there are women to be found, they are few and far between. Plenty of lineups include all men, but good luck trying to find an all-women one — let alone one that represents dance music's black and queer origins.
But with easily 200-plus parties happening this week, the most frustrating part will be deciding which ones to attend. Make it easy on yourself and forgo the pool parties, which can suffer from bad acoustics, and use that time to catch up on sleep.
Otherwise, here are ten parties worth skipping that scheduled disco nap for. (Find the full list of Miami Music Week 2019 events here.)
Above & Beyond. In what's become a Miami Music Week tradition, Above & Beyond will once again take over the old RC Cola Plant to prove that trance is still very much alive. Last year, the trio released its fourth studio album, Common Ground, which was followed by this year's three-track EP, Common Ground Companion, a continuation of the themes explored on the album. There's also the new collaboration with Armin Van Buuren, "Show Me Love," which debuted earlier this month. The track features a hypnotic beat and perfectly timed breaks that let the sound build to a climax. It's the kind of cut meant to be performed in front of a sea of people. With Seven Lions. 9 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at RC Cola Plant, 550 NW 24th St., Miami. Tickets cost $75 to $150 via tixr.com.
House on 45s. There will always be vinyl purists who say a real DJ can spin records without the aid of newfangled technology. Funkmaster Egyptian Lover will add to that debate when he — alongside Bomboozle (Eli Goldstein of Soul Clap) and local DJ Brother Dan — spins 45s all night long in Coyo Taco's cozy
Update: The Pryda show at Wynwood Factory has been canceled.
Pryda. Ultra is calling Eric Prydz's appearance at the festival an "exclusive," but that's not entirely true: He'll also make an appearance at Wynwood Factory's North Room under his alias Pryda. What's the difference? With Pryda, he normally delves a bit deeper into the sound that perhaps his main and more commercial moniker doesn't afford him. (Eric Prydz is for EDM fans; Pryda is for underground fans.) The show has been sold out for weeks, but rumor has it that a limited number of tickets might be available at the door. Otherwise, your best bet is splurging on table service, which, according to a source, is still available. 10 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Wynwood Factory, 55 NE 24th St., Miami; 786-953-8943; wynwoodfactory.com. Tickets are sold out.
Boys Noize & Friends. A free party featuring Boys Noize is reason enough to get your ass to
Warriors Miami. In the era of the dance music festival and megaclub, it's refreshing to see a party that harks back to dance music's more lawless past when parties used to pop up in undisclosed warehouses. Though Warriors Miami isn't exactly an unpermitted affair, house maestro Steve Lawler and his friends are taking over the former OHWOW Gallery space in Allapattah for a 16-hour music marathon that will feature two stages and 10,000 square feet of dancing space. It's also the rare 18-and-over event. With Steve Lawler, Alex Kennon, Bontan, Josh Butler, Latmun, Kenny Dope, and others. Noon Friday, March 29, at 3100 NW Seventh Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $30 to $80 via eventbrite.com.
Get Lost. This writer has attended this party almost every year since its inception, and, yes, it's worth partying 24 hours straight for. On the bill are the usual suspects, including Damian Lazarus, DJ Tennis, and Guti, mixed with some perplexing choices — and decidedly less underground — such as Diplo and Gorgon City. However, don't doubt Lazarus and Crosstown Rebels' ability to transport partygoers far from the Miami Music Week chaos and into an experience that is still unmatched 14 years later. With Damian Lazarus, Diplo, Claude VonStroke, Danny Tenaglia, Felix da Housecat, and others. 5 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at a
Elrow Miami: El
DJ Harvey All Night Long. Miami is about to lose a dance music institution. The Electric Pickle, Wynwood's pocket-sized dance club, will close after its lease ends in June due to rising rents in the neighborhood. This will mark the final Miami Music Week for the club, and it's celebrating with an impressive lineup all week. However, the most impressive is the open-to-close set by DJ Harvey, who these days regularly plays at large-scale festivals and nightclubs. Seeing him in a space that holds only about 150 people will be a treat. And if you know anything about the history of the Pickle, you know Harvey has played at the venue many times over the club's decade-long run. This set will be one for the ages. 10 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at Electric Pickle, 2826 N. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-456-5613; electricpicklemiami.com. Tickets are sold out.
Virtual Self. Porter Robinson might be one of the smartest producers to come out of the EDM era. While everyone else believed the hype that the EDM bubble would never burst — newsflash: it did — Robinson quietly moved away from bombastic productions and began exploring other sounds, first with his 2014 debut album, Worlds. Just when everyone thought they had Robinson figured out, he pivoted into
Cuttin' Headz: The 24-Hour Party. No
