2011 has been the year of new clubs, events and experiences for me. In March, I went to Miami for the first time for WMC.. or Miami Music Week as it were. Sunday School's 36 hour event took top party for me with Hernan & Digweed @ Cameo (gorgeous club! think guv meets stereo) as a runner up. I have to give a nod to Electric Pickle for being such a cool underground club... I just wish I had gone for their Get Lost party :(
Heidi @ Sunday School.. favourite set of the week. PERFECT out in the sun Miami for music!
Un-ing-believable.... Hernan Cattaneo @ Cameo
The party I wish I went to... Get Lost @ Electric Pickle
I don't need to tell you about how amazing my first DEMF was. Picking one highlight would be impossible. The best I can come up with is a three way tie between Sven Vath for the music and vibe, Old Miami for the vibe (CZ in a backyard minus the sketch + beer and a bbq) and Fatboy Slim because he's one of the original 5 djs/producers that got me into electronic music about 15 years ago. One MASSIVE check mark off my bucket list.
SVEN!!
Tale of Us @ Old Miami
The Funk Soul Brother!
And my highlight of 2011... partying in England! For London, Fabric took the cake by a mile and The Warehouse Project in Manchester was something I was super glad to see before they move to another location. For 5 years, WHP's home as been in the bricked out parking garage that used to serve as an air raid shelter under Picadilly train station. Definitely the coolest space I've ever partied at (WEMF a close 2nd)
Slam @ Fabric!!
Nero @ The Warehouse Project (not my top choice of artists either :P)
As for Toronto, here are the parties that stood out for me
Paul van Dyk @ The Guv - Unbelievable set from my favourite Trance DJ <3 Picky Veronica called this the best set she's ever heard in the main room.
Lawler Boat Cruise - Killer afternoon that made me not care that I missed his Guv set. Knowing half the people on the boat made for a great vibe.
C&C Boat Cruise - Pretty disappointing that they played inside instead of Green Velvet but the tunes made up for it. Lots of lots of drums <3
Art Department Cruise - I think it's safe to say that anyone who was there has this in their top 5 for the year
Carl Cox @ Stereo - There were some not so great parts but Cox was on fire for most of the 6+ hour set! Didn't leave till 1130AM!
Sasha @ Stereo - *Speechless*
Free Rave - A friend told me about this happening at this open space south of Eastern Ave / next to the Don Valley. Music was pretty bad for the most part but it was without a doubt the coolest place I've ever partied in Toronto. Check out the view...
A low speed freight train passed by just behind the railings there above the DJ at one point. I'd love to see Platform, Zero Percent or another promoter throw a party here with proper DJs next summer.
C&C @ Guv (Thriller) - Showed up at 3AM and paid $40 just to see them... worth every penny. This guys can't visit Toronto enough. I desperately need to see them (or just Chus) at Stereo.
Carl Cox Warehouse Party - Not even really a Warehouse but a fabulous party none the less. Can't wait to see what Carnivale has in store for 2012!
My trips to England, DEMF and Miami made me realize how much Toronto needs a few more clubs that cater to our scene. Kudos to all the promoters throwing parties in fresh spaces - Carnivale, Platform, Box of Kittens, Zero Percent, Break and Enter. I really hope to see more and more of this in 2012!
Biggest let down - Carlo Lio & Dubfire @ Comfort Zone. So disappointing. The set lacked energy and direction. Steve Lawler takes runner up for his set after the boat cruise.
Biggest fail of the year - Not biting the bullet and spending whatever a scalper wanted to see Chemical Brothers @ Ultra in Miami. Their movie is going to be torture to watch :(
kotsy
quote:
Originally posted by Endlesswave
Jon was your first pic of Marco V at Guv? His was the set of the night IMO.
Looks like Carola @ FW
Sasha
i have no idea what happened in clubland :p
mnemonic.
Man, I wish I went to Heidi at Sunday School. Ah well.
Hernan Cattaneo made up for it that week. Pure class.
Sasha at Stereo in June was devastating.
Robert Babicz at 6 Noble Street was out of this world.
Fairmont at Li'ly... Blew me away. Way to go Jake Fairley. You rock.
lol, jeez. I think that's 2/3rds of the events I went to in 2011, yet I still feel totally satisfied with what I saw. Excellent, excellent year for me. Tons of fun. :) Bring on 2012!
Guest
OH TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT BABICZ AT FW
Killer ing music and vibe. Another party for the books in 2011
samhouse
Damn tough one here...
In a year where we continued to slow down the number of events we attend there were definitely a few stand outs:
Party of the year
Chus and Ceballos Canada Day Boat Cruise: Killer vibe on this boat. We just had a blast all morning.
Other Notables
Steve Lawler Boat Cruise: Wow Lawler was on form here. South Street Players for the win!
John Digweed @ Guv: So great to see that John could still bring it.
Give it to me Old School BPM Festival Edition: at a beach club in Playa, Addy and Joe Manzone tore this club to shreds. Gonna miss going back in 2012 but can't wait till 2013.
Carl Cox Warehouse: Banging all friggen night. Best part about this night was the old faces too!
D-Unity @ Stereo: Just cuz I got to party in the Stereo booth all night...this was epic. They killed it too :)
Armin @ Guv 15 Year: Probably the only trance set all year that I really enjoyed. Hearing Personal Jesus in the Kool Haus was an epic moment.
Parties I wish I went to
Maya Jane Coles @ Wrongbar: I've been loving her stuff this year and made me sad that I missed this.
Villabos and Luciano Warehouse: I didn't really care to see Villabos so much but Luciano is amazing and I would have loved to see him. Hope he comes back soon.
Marco Carola @ Footwork: Don't like these terrific Thurs night parties. It is impossible to take off work and I can't do the going out and then to work thing anymore.
Union @ Footwork: Bah...see above (Carola).
Favourite Producer of the year
DJ Chus: Hands down! Everything he touches is gold.
Disappointment of the year
Victor Calderone: Generic boring tech house on the labour day boatcruise. Victor!!! what happened :(
Fav Local of the year
All of them have been outstanding. Kudos Toronto on once more upping the ante and setting the bar even higher for next year. I have my favourites of course but I'm not going to list em as I truly feel that Toronto as a whole has made me proud to be from this city.
All in all an outstanding year :)
Orko
I had an absolutely fabulous time Saturday nights, in my bed.
She_Fitz
quote:
Originally posted by jon jon
I think the runner up party for me has to be Lee Foss and the "Modern Love Affair vol. 1" at Footwork, ushering in a new era in dance music for me... this guy was insanely hyped and delivered no problem.. Lee Foss is the real deal
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This was the only party I was in Toronto for this year but it definitely was an all around good time.
Graham - I agree Circo Loco at TV Bar is IMO the first non-DC 10 circo loco party that has been successful. Such a good decision to get up and go.
We had a really good ride this year in NYC. My top 3 parties Ben Klock at Good Units in February. Maceo Plex, Dyed Soundorom, Guti and David Squillace in May on the XVI rooftop and Seth Troxler and Shaun Reeves this past weekend at Good Units.
Honorable Mention definitely goes to Paul Ritch and the Junkies (Val) at Santos Party House in April.
2012 shows no signs of slowing down!!!!
Otaku2K
My year was between Toronto and Montreal this year and I had to say my top three parties all happened in mtl, Sasha at Stereo, Cattaneo at Circus, and Klock at Stereo. Digweed at Guv and Deko-ze 'ol' school' was the only party that for me can compete with the times I had in Montreal.
And seriously, someone in Toronto have to step up their game. Either Guv stop booking hipster or bow to god , or someone open a club, i.e Boa/Sonic. As much I do like the bookings at FW, I just don't like the structure of it at all. Great Clubs should be built on the fundation from a square, not a narrow rectangular hallway.
The Highroller
quote:
Originally posted by She_Fitz
Maceo Plex, Dyed Soundorom, Guti and David Squillace in May on the XVI rooftop
:eyes:
jon jon
quote:
Originally posted by Endlesswave
Jon was your first pic of Marco V at Guv? His was the set of the night IMO.
