Art Basel Miami 2024 was a wild ride from start to finish. From sipping cocktails under the stars to getting lost in the grooves at Factory Town, this week was packed with unforgettable moments. Whether it was live art that left me in awe or DJs delivering electric sets that had me glued to the dancefloor, every experience felt like a story waiting to be told. Here is how my journey through Art Basel unfolded…
Thursday: Art Meets Music At ‘The Deck’ & Factory Town
My Art Basel week began with The Miami Guide’s party at The Deck Island Gardens. I was extremely impressed by how well-executed this event was. It featured complimentary canapés and drink tokens, paired with breathtaking skyline views.
The live art and painting sessions were a highlight, with artists like Yas Cohen and IC3Y adding their outstanding talents to the evening. A live DJ and musicians, including an exceptional saxophonist, elevated the sonic ambiance, creating a fantastic start to Art Basel.
Later that night, Factory Town took things to another level with stage takeovers from GOLFOS (Dennis Cruz B2B PAWSA), Mayan Warrior, Eastenderz, plus Seth Troxler B2B Victor Calderone and friends at the new ‘Chains Stage’. Usually at these multi-stage venues you bounce around between stages and there’s maybe one or two you vibe with most at any given point in time. This was not the case on Thursday; every single act at every single stage delivered a top-tier set.
Walking by each stage, it was impossible to not get sucked in for at least 30 minutes before dragging yourself out to hit another, with FOMO on the back of your mind. But then you would get to that other stage and that FOMO would dissipate instantly.
We started off the night at Mayan Warrior at the Park stage for DESIREE, who is 100% on my radar after her amazing set. Then we got trapped in the best way possible at The Chains stage for Seth Troxler B2B Victor Calderone. These two beloved veterans erased any sense of time from the crowds’ minds, and before we knew it, two hours had zoomed by.
Then it was off to the Eastenderz takeover at the Cypress End stage. East End Dubs unleashed a wave of groovy house anthems, as expected. He was followed by Josh Baker, who was the shock of Art Basel night one, taking gold as the best set at Factory Town on Thursday night (with Seth and Victor closely behind).
Securing the bronze spot was Ben Sterling and Carlita going back to back for Mayan Warrior. The coalition of their signature sounds and mixing styles was a great match for the insanely detailed and beautifully designed stage.
We close out the morning at GOLFOS who reigned in the sunrise with chart-topping minimal hits like PAWSA’s “Dirty Cash (Money Talks),” which had everyone singing along.
Friday: From Cyclops Cove To Afro House
I kicked off Friday cruising north to Boca Raton for the third edition of Subtronics’ iconic bass music festival, Cyclops Cove. While not an “official” Miami Art Basel event, this festival is definitely worth diving into for any ravers that were there or ones that wish they could have made it.
I was lucky to get there just in time to hear Steller’s recent track “FUNKSTEP!” and latest anthem with Jessy Covets “Chasing Butterflies” at the mainstage. Her fusion of funk and wubz was so uplifting and resonated perfectly with her colorful and vibrant visuals.
Steller was followed by VEIL B2B Khiva who blessed the crowd with a blend of all corners of bass music, opening their set with a lethal ID that had us roaring.
Rusko threw down a barrage of drum & bass and previewed a ton of upcoming music. His smiley psychedelic visuals fit his unshakable happy energy. He was a mad man behind the decks, bringing an unrivaled intensity and hopping across the stage in his socks.
Shifting up the vibes, Dirt Monkey ripped a house set that made him the stand-out performance from Day 1. It was as if his legendary wub-fueled signature sound drove into a head-on collision with Dirtybird-styled underground house music.
Although I wanted to see the headlining performances, it was time to drive back to Miami for Deep Root Tribe’s Afro House takeover at Toe Jam Backlot, headlined by the label’s founder Francis Mercier. If you live in Miami and haven’t been to Toe Jam Backlot yet, you are totally missing out.
This venue is incredibly immersive and filled with palm trees, Tiki Huts, and other features that reflect the Miami vibe. They had a cool room with a ton of mini-art canvases that were all unique and affordable at $25 a piece. At the main-stage, Francis Mercier played a percussion-packed extended set full of Afro House heaters like his remix of “Yamore.”
Saturday: Rest & RESISTANCE
Saturday was mostly spent resting the legs and gearing up for the remainder of Art Basel weekend. As midnight approached, we headed to M2. When it comes to performers, lighting and visual production, sound quality, and the global DJ talent it brings in, M2 has become my favorite club in not only Miami but all of the East Coast.
Sandwiched between sets from top-notch selectors Sam Shure and Denis Horvat, Mind Against headlined this special Art Basel show hosted by Ultra’s RESISTANCE. As I mentioned, so many components come together throughout M2 to create a one-of-a-kind experience for attendees. World-class dancers and acrobats wore futuristic helmets that had their own lighting displays.
Bright green lasers shot across the club as Mind Against put on a masterclass in taking their audience on a journey across underground techno and house. Highlights from their set include a mesmerizing edit of RÜFÜS DU SOL’s “Break My Love.”
Sunday: Cyclops Cove Finale & Factory Town Magic
On Sunday, it was back to Boca for Day 3 of Cyclops Cove 3. Before diving into my favorite performances, I’d like to shout out my favorite vendor at the festival, Daytripper. What makes this rising fashion brand special is that many of its options are also solid choices for everyday wear. As a big movie and cinema lover, I went with the purple and pink tie-dye shirt themed around Jurassic Park.
Daytripper embodies unique, USA-made apparel, empowering ravers and other customers to embrace their individuality and roots. Committed to sustainability, the brand uses recycled fabrics and ethical practices to combat pollution in the fashion industry. Every piece is handcrafted with care, from cutting and sewing to artwork, ensuring one-of-a-kind designs and sweatshop-free production. On top of the shirt I got, they also had a wide selection of sweatshirts, pashminas, hats, fans, sunglasses, and more.
️ (@marisa_kinneer)While there were many outstanding performances throughout the weekend, the crown has to go to Tape B, who showed out for his home crowd in the best way imaginable. With his high school about five minutes away from the venue, Tape B threw down a melting pot of bass-fueled edits, spine-tingling IDs, and wubbed-out flips from his own catalog.
My favorite track was an unreleased Levity edit of “Sweet Dreams” that left the crowds’ collective jaw on the ground. Of course, there was a ton of remixes that bridge rap, hip-hop, and wubs blended in.
Heading over from Tape B’s set to the second stage for a Wubaholics takeover, we made it just in time to see Evalution close out his performance in remarkable fashion. He played some anthems from his brand-new EP, Press Play, that dropped this past Friday on WAKAAN. He also mixed in some classic rock meets new-age bass edits that had the crowd thundering.
Next up was Gunpoint, this was a sleeper pick that came highly recommended to me. I had already heard a ton of great buzz surrounding his project but was still embarrassed to not be highly familiar with his music after experiencing his set live.
From the opening track, it was clear the Gunpoint was not messing around. He took full control over the crowd, wreaking havoc with bone-shattering riddim and dubstep. He guided us into a pit of bass-powered chaos, which ended up sparking a literal pit, that many of the ravers moshed in throughout the set. It is safe to say I will not be missing a Gunpoint set the next time I get the chance.
Unfortunately, like Friday, my time at Cyclops Sunday was cut short and I headed back to Miami to finish Art Basel at Factory Town. We split our time between Elrow, the new Chains stage, and Infinity Room. At Elrow, confetti rained down while thumping tech house basslines rung across the Park stage.
ChaseWest laid down a banger of a set at the Chains stage. His song selection was on point, and it was hopeless to try to stand still while in his musical presence.
We capped the weekend off by witnessing the final hour and a half of Adriatique’s extended set. The crowd was beyond thrilled when Jon George from RÜFÜS DU SOL made an appearance. As the sun rose, this globally renowned duo played their unreleased melodic techno remix of “In the Moment” from RÜFÜS DU SOL’s new album, in addition to a dreamy edit of “Lately.”
Coupled with visuals that were just as beautiful as the sound, I could not have asked for a more magical ending to my first Art Basel.
Main photo courtesy of @luisdcolato (Gunpoint picture) and @swggrbck (Toe Jam Backlot picture)
The post My First Art Basel Miami: An Epic Melting Pot Of Music And More appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.