The 9 Best WMC Parties of 2009

March 19, 2009 5:17 PM
by Michael Maryanoff

It can become a bit difficult to sort through the best parties of WMC 2009, but hopefully this list will be a bit of help. Even though there are many other parties worth checking out, here s the bucket list.

#9 Best WMC party 2009
Pete’s Pool Party
Talent: Steve Lawler, Pete Tong, James Zabiela, Erol Alkan and more.
Venue: Surfcomber

Even though there are many big names for this party, it’s the variety that makes Pete’s Pool Party so appealing. It’s got something for everyone. If you aren’t into house, you can pop out to lunch during Cedric Gervais’ set. If techno isn’t your thing, you can have a coffee while Dubfire is behind the decks. With Pete Tong as the MC, the party isn’t likely to go sour, which is why it comes in on our list of the best parties for WMC.

For more information on this event click here.

#8 Best WMC party 2009
Juicy Beach
Talent: Robbie Rivera, James Zabiela, Axwell, Tocadisco and many more.
Venue: Nikki Beach Club

Juicy Beach is a house lover’s paradise under the sun. This party has been a mainstay for a while at conference, and this one is most likely going to be better than the last. As a label, Juicy has always put out great music, but granting their talent a pair of decks will really show us what they’ve got. Last year’s party was definitely one of the best at WMC, and this year should be just on par.

For more information on this event click here.

#7 Best WMC party 2009
Swedish House Mafia
Talent: Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Axwell
Venue: Mansion

Apparently, the best place to be at a Swedish House Mafia party is behind the DJ booth, because while other DJs emotionlessly spin records, seemingly hypnotized by the spinning marquee of their CDJs, the SHM opts instead to jam pack the booth with gorgeous women and alternate between the decks and the party. That itself puts it on our list as one of the best parties for WMC. It doesn’t sound very professional, but the chemistry in the booth can be felt on the dance floor, and that is what matters in the end.

For more information on this event click here.

#6 Best WMC Party 2009
Sasha and Digweed
Talent: Sasha, John Digweed, Guy J
Venue: Mansion

Both are legendary in their own regard, but their chemistry when they’re both behind the decks is not to be taken lightly. As a bonus treat, they’ll be accompanied by Guy J, an Israeli DJ making serious waves on the club circuit. Couple that with Mansion’s enormous sound system and it makes for one hell of a night and one of the best parties for Winter Music Conference.

For more information on this event click here.

#5 Best WMC party 2009
Beatport Pool Party/ Remix Hotel
Talent: ATFC, The Martinez Brothers and many more.
Venue: The National Hotel

If you happen to be a techno lover, you might want to sleep in for this one, but if house is your thing, and you aren’t planning on sleeping into the wee hours of the afternoon, this is one you might not want to miss. It’s got everything the modern house head needs, from the soulful and eclectic sound of Little Louie Vega, to the no-holds-barred stylings of ATFC, the New York big-room house of Dennis Ferrer and The Martinez Brothers, the bumpy old-school goodness of DJ sneak, and the fun and up-tempo pace of Laidbuck Luke. I’d recommend getting there early because and bringing some sunscreen because there isn’t a name on this bill you can afford to miss.

For more information on this event click here.

#4 Best WMC party 2009
Super You & Me
Talent: Laidback Luke, Diplo, A-Track
Venue: Louis Bar and Lounge

Anyone who has seen Laidback Luke knows what a good party he puts on. His mixing style is aloof-but-tight and his tracks up-tempo, but out of all the parties he’ll be attending this year, it’s the supporting acts that make this one so interesting. Laidback Luke has been long associated with house acts, such as David Guetta and the Swedish House Mafia, but for this event he’ll be playing alongside the likes of Diplo, A-Track, and other such DJs that are usually associated with neon sneakers rather than indoor sunglasses.

For more information on this event click here.

#3 Best WMC party 2009
Lights Out
Talent: Steve Lawler
Venue: TBA

Even though Steve Lawler makes his living on the party circuit, he is a very serious guy when it comes to music. While some people might be content to take shots of Patron in the booth and throw on the latest chart-toppers, Lawler make sure to create a night that is programmed impeccably and deliberately from the first beat to the last. He’s so serious about bringing good music to people, that he even brought Robert Owens to sing at his Lights Out party last year, much to the dismay of confused WMC-goers who consider a six-month-old song a classic and couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. Sadly, he isn’t bringing him back this year, but no WMC is complete without a visit to Lights Out. This event is without a doubt one of the best parties for WMC.

#2 Best WMC party 2009
Welcome to Miami at Nikki Beach
Talent: Steve Lawler, Audiofly, Nic Fanciulli, Luca Bacchetti, Guy Gerber
Venue: Nikki Beach Club

There is no doubt that Nikki Beach is a cool spot to party, with sand, sun, and surf just a few steps away, but if you pair that with a mind-numbing lineup of talent, it makes for more than the average afternoon of sipping mojitos. You can expect performances from the likes Steve Lawler, Audiofly, Nic Fanciulli, Teifschwarz, Guy Gerber, Luca Bacchetti, Gel Abril, Tom Novy, and Chris Lake. I would list every big name act but I think I might get carpal tunnel syndrome, so just check out the flyer. And the best part is that if you really want to sleep in, it goes from 11AM until 5 the next morning, so you’ve got all day to check it out. Futuremob has a hand in this one, and they’re parties are always some of the best for WMC.

For more information on this event click here.

#1 Best WMC party 2009
Dig Deeper
Talent: Danny Howells
Venue: BED

Dance music fans usually have to make a compromise between seeing a big name DJ spin a short set of unreleased track for an hour, or catching their local residents spin some good, but not groundbreaking tracks for hours at a time. What’s great about Dig Deeper is that, even if it is for one night, we don’t need to make that compromise. At Dig Deeper, Danny Howells gets to enjoy the rare luxury not presented to globe-trotting DJs, and that is the ability to spin for nine straight hours and dig deeper into his crate for those rare gems that only the master class have yet the public never gets to enjoy. This is without a doubt one of the best party experiences of Winter Music Conference.

For more information on this event click here.