Electronic dance music visionaries Insomniac and Tomorrowland are joining forces for the first time ever to launch UNITY at Sphere in Las Vegas.

In the first chapter in a series of collaborations between the two festival creators, the “groundbreaking audiovisual spectacle” will arrive at the $2.3 billion next generation venue for three nights on 29-31 August.

Belgium’s Tomorrowland will merge its Planaxis, Adscendo and Orbyz relams with US-based Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween and Electric Daisy Carnival into an “all-encompassing sensory voyage”, with the promoters “fusing their most iconic dreamscapes into a breathtaking, guided adventure”.

“Through the past decades, we both have strived to create festivals and experiences around the world that foster beautiful, unique communities of individuals,” says a joint statement from the companies. “Music is our universal language, the dance floor our sanctuary, and every one of you, our family. We can’t thank you enough for being such an integral part of the journey with us.

“We join together to create a brand-new experience that harnesses the magic, love, and awe-inspiring moments within our events”

“Now, for the first time in history, our worlds become one. In UNITY, we join together to create a brand-new experience that harnesses the magic, love, and awe-inspiring moments within our events—and there’s no better stage on earth than Sphere.”

The soundtrack will blend dance music anthems with new orchestral compositions and accompaniments, with each show to climax with surprise special guest DJ performances.

UNITY will become the Sphere’s second electronic music headline event following Afterlife presents Anyma ‘The End of Gensys’ Live. The solo project of American DJ and producer Matteo Milleri, Anyma staged a 12-night residency, beginning on 27 December last year and wrapping up earlier this month.

Separately, Dead & Company kicked off their second stint at the 17,500-seat/20,000-cap venue on 20 March, with upcoming 2025 residencies also announced by Kenny Chesney and Backstreet Boys.

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Electric Daisy Carnival’s (EDC) debut in Thailand over the weekend was marred by the suspected drug-related deaths of two foreign visitors.

The two male victims – a 32-year-old American and 28-year-old Canadian – were taken to hospital after reportedly collapsing in separate incidents at the Insomniac-helmed dance music festival in Phuket’s Thalang District on Saturday (18 January), but were later pronounced dead.

According to the Bangkok Post, initial tests to establish the causes of the fatalities were inconclusive, with further examinations due to be carried out.

Held from 17-19 January at Boat Avenue Lakefront, EDC Phuket included acts such as The Chainsmokers, Skrillex, Gorgon City, Fisher, Afrojack, Nicky Romero, Meduza and Tiësto.

Three people were also reportedly arrested for possessing and/or using narcotics at the event after police stepped up security measures in the wake of the deaths. EDC organisers are yet to comment.

“We received a report from the department, where all who died had drugs in their blood”

EDC Mexico is set to take place from 21-23 February in Mexico City, while the brand’s flagship EDC Las Vegas will return to the US from 16-18 May.

Elsewhere, four people died last month after attending New Year’s Eve music festival Pinkfish Countdown 2024 in Selangor, Malaysia. They are believed to have taken ecstasy.

“We received a report from the department, where all who died had drugs in their blood and it has been referred to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre [UMMC] to get the full report,” Subang Jaya assistant commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat told The Star.

Three other people were also taken hospital, including a 30-year-old man who is still being treated at the UMMC.

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Insomniac Events’ longest-running festival, Nocturnal Wonderland, has been cancelled due to the fast-growing wildfires in California, US.

The electronic music-focused camping festival, which was launched in 1995, was scheduled to be held this weekend (14-15 September) at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino.

Acts booked to appear included Kaskade, RL Grime, San Holo, Jesse Brooks, Discovery Project, Apashe, Airglo and Jessica Audiffred, but the event will no longer go ahead.

“While Nocturnal Wonderland was cleared to move forward at the time of our last update, we are saddened to inform you that new fires in the San Bernardino area have ignited over the past 36 hours and are now approaching the Glen Helen Amphitheater,” says a statement from the festival.

“After further discussions with local authorities, due to the impact of the fires surrounding the venue, we will be unable to proceed with Nocturnal Wonderland”

“The health and safety of festival attendees and staff is our highest priority. After further discussions with local authorities, due to the impact of the fires surrounding the venue, we will be unable to proceed with Nocturnal Wonderland.”

Currently, there are 16 active wildfires in California that have burned 613,819 acres.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires throughout San Bernardino and Southern California,” adds the event. “We understand the importance of ensuring that local resources are fully dedicated to managing the fires and protecting the surrounding communities.

“In the coming days, we will share more information on how our dance music community can come together to support and give back to the courageous firefighters and those displaced or affected by the fires.”

Last Sunday, a Vance Joy concert at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl was called off following a heat-related power outage, as the Californian city battled extreme heat of up to 104°F (40°C).

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The families of two women killed in a shooting during last year’s Beyond Wonderland festival in the US are suing the event’s organisers and security companies.

The electronic music festival, which was promoted by Live Nation’s Insomniac subsidiary, was held last June at the 27,500-cap Gorge Amphitheatre, near George, Washington State, about 150 miles east of Seattle.

Attendees Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz were shot by fellow festivalgoer James M. Kelly in the event’s campsite on the evening of 17 June 2024. Three other people were also injured. Following his arrest, Kelly allegedly told police he had ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms, retrieved a handgun and ammunition from his vehicle, which he had parked in the campground, and proceeded to open fire, striking several people and killing the victims, who were walking nearby.

Filed in King County, Washington by law firm Panish, Shea, Ravipudi (PSR), the complaint alleges that Live Nation “woefully fell short” in enforcing its policies prohibiting the possession of drugs and weapons on its premises and campgrounds.

“Never should someone’s life be taken so senselessly and tragically at a music event”

According to PSR, it is seeking to hold Live Nation, Insomniac and the security companies working the event “accountable for their egregiously deficient conduct and security protocols that resulted in the tragic deaths of these two women and injuries to three other people”.

“Live Nation has the means and the duty to make sure security is the highest priority for their concert patrons,” says a joint statement by the Escamilla and Ruiz families. “Never should someone’s life be taken so senselessly and tragically at a music event.”

Live Nation is yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.

Kelly, a member of the US Army, has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges in connection with the shooting and is due to go on trial in August.

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Insomniac CEO Pasquale Rotella says he is “at a loss to comprehend” the deadly shooting at the promoter’s Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge festival.

Two people were killed and three others hurt in a shooting in the camping area of the US electronic music festival near George, Washington State, on Saturday (17 June) evening.

The suspected gunman, who police say began shooting “randomly” into a crowd at the campsite, was eventually captured and taken into custody.

“On behalf of the entire Insomniac family, we extend our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the victims,” says Rotella in a statement posted to Instagram. “The loss of two lives, as well as the injuries sustained by others, is an incredibly heartbreaking tragedy.”

“It is our understanding that the incident stemmed from an isolated situation that escalated”

Rotella went on to provide an update on the incident based on the information currently available.

“We know that the shooting took place in the furthest campground from The Gorge Amphitheatre, which is designated for overflow camping and located a half mile outside the perimeter of the main festival grounds,” he says. “It is our understanding that the incident stemmed from an isolated situation that escalated, leading the assailant to flee the area. An officer-involved shooting then occurred to neutralise the threat.

“The Gorge has been successfully hosting events for decades. The circumstances of how and why this incident occurred are under investigation.”

Information about shooting victims and the suspect has not been released amid the ongoing investigation. But while the sold-out festival’s second day was called off in the wake of the tragedy, Rotella addresses why its first day was not curtailed.

“Many have questioned why the festival continued during and after the incident”

“Many have questioned why the festival continued during and after the incident,” he says. “We made the decision to keep the festival open at the request of law enforcement once it became evident that there was no ongoing threat to the safety of attendees.

“This was also done to ensure that the majority of attendees stayed away from the campground area where the incident took place. Our staff worked in close coordination with local authorities to secure the area, while also preserving it for investigators to conduct their work in a smaller, isolated section.”

He adds: “This tragedy has deeply affected me. As the organiser of this event, my intention has always been to bring people together and celebrate our shared love for music and community. I am at a loss to comprehend how individuals can commit such heinous acts.

“Throughout 30 years of organising events, we have brought together millions of people without any incidents of this nature. I hold a profound love for our community and deeply value the principles that define our culture. This incident stands in stark contrast to everything we stand for – it goes against the spirit of unity, love and respect that we strive to foster within our community.”

“Everyone on site plays an important role in our safety”

Meanwhile, security at this weekend’s Electric Forest festival is being stepped up in response to the shooting. The event, which is co-produced by Insomniac and Madison House Presents, is being held at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan, from 22-25 June.

“We want to reassure you that HQ works year-round with large-scale event security professionals including Michigan State Police, and local law enforcement agencies, and FBI, to provide a safe environment for our patrons, staff, and artists,” tweets the festival. “We have been in detailed discussions with these teams over the last 24hrs for increased safety oversight and protocols. This presence will be visible to all attendees throughout the festival site and campgrounds.

“In addition, we will have specialised Festival K9 Units on site. These highly trained dogs and their skilled handlers have undergone rigorous training in firearm detection amidst a large crowd and in challenging environmental conditions. Everyone on site plays an important role in our safety. We support the importance of the mantra ‘See something, say something’.”

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Two people were killed and three others injured following a shooting in the camping area of US electronic music festival Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge.

Police say a gunman began shooting “randomly” into a crowd at the event’s campsite, several hundred yards away from the concert venue, at around 8.25pm on Saturday (17 June).

The suspected gunman was eventually captured and taken into custody. No further details have been made available, pending an investigation. Information about shooting victims will not be released until the on-site investigation is complete, and the victims’ families have been notified.

The Insomniac-promoted festival was held at the 27,500-cap Gorge Amphitheatre, near George, Washington State, about 150 miles east of Seattle.

Speaking at a press conference, Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, tells reporters: “We don’t know what the motives were or what the intentions were of the shooter and we’ll have to wait and see if we can find that information out later on.”

“We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the local authorities and staff who acted quickly to manage the situation”

The sold-out festival continued as planned on Saturday night, but its second day was cancelled in the wake of the tragedy. DJs on the bill included Marshmello, Afrojack, Andy C, Sub Focus, KX5, Dillon Francis and Justin Hawkes.

“Due to the incident that took place in the overflow camping area last night, we regret to inform you that Day 2 of Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge has been cancelled,” says a statement from organisers. “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the local authorities and staff who acted quickly to manage the situation. Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends and all those affected by this tragic event.”

The incident came just a week after a 35-year-old man was killed and another injured in a shooting at a concert in Spring Valley Park, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Meanwhile, Indianapolis debuted “gun-free zones” policy at Elevation Group’s WonderRoad Music Festival, headlined by Weezer and Jason Isbell, in Garfield Park over the weekend. IndyStar reports that “gun-free zones”, announced by the city in late May, would involve the city helping private groups who have leased a public space for an event to enforce a gun-free policy by sending additional law enforcement, which the city is allowed to do under Indiana law.

It notes that last year’s Music Midtown festival in Atlanta, Georgia, was cancelled amid an apparent conflict between the festival’s no guns policy and an appeals court ruling that made it more difficult for private companies to ban firearms on public property leased for short-term events.

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Vibee, the new music-led destination experience company, is teaming up with dance promoter Insomniac for a three-day immersive experience in Cabo, headlined and curated by Tiësto.

Tiësto – Chasing Sunsets will take place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, from 9–12 November and will feature multiple performances from the Grammy-award-winning artist.

The weekend is also said to include “exclusive sets from some of the hottest artists in the world, beach activities, pool parties, local cultural excursions,” and more.

The home base and headline venue will be ME Cabo, the five-star resort located on the beach, near the marina in Cabo San Lucas.

The weekend’s home base and headline venue will be ME Cabo, the five-star resort located on the beach

Additional weekend events will take place at ‘sought-after’ Cabo hot spots such as Mango Deck, Funky Geisha, Taboo and SUR.

Live Nation-backed Vibee was officially launched last week, promising “unforgettable immersive trips for music lovers in the most sought-after destinations around the world”.

The company says its mission is to amplify fan-to-artist connections through three core areas: curated experiences, festival integrations, and Las Vegas residencies.

Vibee has already announced a partnership with Live Nation-backed Insomniac to produce EDSea, a premium cruise and music festival experience, and Hotel EDC, a Resorts World takeover during the 2023 edition of Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas.

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Live Nation has announced the launch of music-led destination experience company Vibee.

Vibee promises to build “unforgettable immersive trips for music lovers in the most sought after destinations around the world”, and has already confirmed partnerships with LN producers including Insomniac, C3 Presents and Country Nation.

Targeting cross-generational and genre diverse audiences, the firm will offer everything from multi-day events and activations on land and sea, to bespoke festival & residency packages.

“We are poised to deliver a range of once-in-a-lifetime destination experiences for every type of fan in vibrant locations all over the world”

“Vibee was founded to build indelible memories between fans and their favourite artists in a new way,” says Vibee president Harvey Cohen. “We are poised to deliver a range of once-in-a-lifetime destination experiences for every type of fan in vibrant locations all over the world.“

The company says its mission is to amplify fan-to-artist connections through three core areas: curated experiences, festival integrations, and Las Vegas residencies.

Curated Destination Experiences: Vibee will create extraordinary multi-day events with today’s top artists in the Bahamas, Mexico and more that also hit a wide variety of fans’ passions and interests, including gourmet dinners & spirit tastings, artist conversations & panels, health & wellness classes, limited edition artist merchandise and memorabilia, and more.

Vibee celebrated a successful sold-out weekend at Rock the Ocean’s 2023 Tortuga Music Festival earlier this month

Vibee, which celebrated a successful sold-out weekend at Rock the Ocean’s 2023 Tortuga Music Festival earlier this month, is partnering with Insomniac to produce curated experiences and festival integrations including premium cruise and music festival experience EDSea. It is also planning Hotel EDC – a Resorts World takeover during the 2023 edition of Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas.

Vibee Hotel Experiences will be hosted at festivals including Lollapalooza and ACL Festival, which include accommodations at a premier hotel partner properties along with VIP treatment for the weekend, while Las Vegas Residencies will feature unique packages to enhance the fan experience for sought after Vegas residencies, including concierge services, VIP access, and exclusive fan opportunities.

In the coming months the company says it will announce numerous curated events including a boutique autumn trip to the Bahamas with a legendary artist, a four-day Cabo adventure with one of the world’s top DJs, and a bespoke country music weekend in Nashville.

The full list of upcoming events confirmed so far includes:

May 19-22: Hotel EDC

June 16-18: Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge

June 24-25: Day Trip Festival

June 23-26: BEACH IT!

August 3-6: Lollapalooza 2023

August 11-13: TidalWave Music Festival

September 21-25: Format Festival

Oct 6-8: ACL Festival

Oct 13-15: ACL Festival

November 4-8: EDSea

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Alda, the Amsterdam-based company behind leading EDM events including AMF, New Horizons and more, is expanding to Croatia.

The Dutch promoter, which is 50% owned by Live Nation-backed Insomniac, today announced it has opened an office in the capital, Zagreb.

In addition, Alda and Insomniac have also planned a new seven-day festival in the Croatian city of Pula, on the Adriatic coast.

The event, titled Secret Project Presents Pula Music Week, will take place in and around one of Europe’s oldest amphitheatres between 30 June to 6 July.

Peggy Gou, Solomon, Disclosure, Tale Of Us, Boris Brejcha, Charlotte de Witte and Black Coffee will each host their own evening. Support acts will be announced at a later date.

“Croatia will be the epic centre for the European dance industry for the foreseeable future”

Project Presents Pula Music Week is the second new festival Alda and Insomniac have launched together, after Saga festival in Bucharest, Romania.

Allan Hardenberg, director and co-founder of ALDA, says: “In the two years that the festival world has been on hiatus, we have of course not been idle. We’ve made plans for when it could all be done again… and that’s now! Earlier this month we officially opened our office in Zagreb, Croatia will be the epic centre for the European dance industry for the foreseeable future.

“There are so many options here, especially for destination festivals. With the Pula Music Week, music lovers can enjoy not just one evening, but a week of the very best DJs in a unique location, where they are provided with everything they need.”

Alda is behind events including A State of Trance in Utrecht, New Horizons in Germany (a JV with CTS Eventim) and Amsterdam Music Festival, the Netherlands’ largest indoor music festival.

Insomniac, meanwhile, has produced more than 2,000 events since 1993, including Electric Daisy Carnivals in North America, Japan, China and Mexico, and Nocturnal Wonderland, the US’s longest-running dance music event.

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Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) promoter Insomniac Events has partnered with leading 3D platform Unity on a “brand new, persistent metaverse world”.

The link-up, which promises to create “the next generation of live entertainment”, will focus on expanding dance culture from the physical world to the virtual, teaming Insomniac’s vision and creativity with Unity’s cutting-edge technology.

“It is an honour to be partnered with an incredible company like Unity on this new journey,” says Insomniac founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella. “Our vision is to create a social experience in which everyone is a Headliner – where stories and music unite us in discovery, love and a true sense of belonging.

“Unity is helping us create a world’s first experience for our community as we work together to deliver the next level of what the metaverse can be for entertainment and music.”

“Pasquale and his team are revolutionary and always looking to expand their vision”

Unity’s platform creates and operates interactive, real-time 3D (RT3D) content, allowing creators “to make their imaginations come to life”. The company’s SVP and GM of sports and live entertainment Peter Moore will go into more detail about the partnership and what it means for live music during a talk at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. this Sunday (13 March), which will also feature a video message from Rotella.

“Partnering with Insomniac Events is a fantastic opportunity for us here at Unity,” adds Moore. “Pasquale and his team are revolutionary and always looking to expand their vision and bring extra value to their community. This partnership is the beginning of a long relationship that we believe will usher in a new level of interactive and immersive experiences within the world of live entertainment.”

Insomniac brought EDC to the metaverse last October, becoming the first-ever music festival hosted in Roblox. Taking place in a virtual space dubbed the Insomniac World Party, it was held concurrently with the physical festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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