Just as birds flock south for the winter, dozens of thousands of electronic music fans flee the dissipating winter weather from around the world in favor of the warm rays of Miami Music Week.
The week-long party gauntlet kicks off on March 15 and extends through March 20, take place prior to Winter Music Conference instead of simultaneously. As with every year, MMW promises bigger thrills and more parties than ever before, with hundreds of events and artists descending upon South Beach, Downtown, and beyond for countless hours of shuffling, tanning, and vibing.
There’s no doubt that Ultra Music Festival’s annual Bayfront Park extravaganza on March 18-20 is the highlight of the week for over 150,000 ravers, packing a staggering lineup of talent into its six-plus cutting-edge stages. However, for those looking to supplement their festival experience, we’ve put together our definitive party guide for the 2016 installment of Miami Music Week. From South Beach’s posh superclubs to the underground warehouse ragers in the Wynwood district, we’ve got just about every nook and cranny covered. Peep our picks below.
Smirnoff Sound Collective Miami
Gale Hotel
3/16-3/19
Smirnoff will officially mark the US launch of its Sound Collective platform by transforming South Beach’s Gale Hotel into a living, breathing showcase of the diversity of dance music’s genres. With parties running for four days straight, this year’s debut installment will offer parties featuring performances from Justin Martin, Zeds Dead, Claptone, Gorgon City, MK, Anna Lunoe, and many, many more. The best part? All of the parties are free with RSVP, and Smirnoff will be providing free cocktails for attendees.
Dusky Presents
Treehouse
3/16
Hump day kicks Miami Music Week into high gear with a killer offering from UK house duo Dusky. The pair is joined in Treehouse’s main room with jacking house master Heidi and San Francisco techno collective Honey Soundsystem, while the club’s second room will play host to a very special all-night back-to-back set between Jackmaster and The Black Madonna.
Tickets
Dirtybird Players Back2back Throwdown + Nice Age Label Party
Trade
3/17
San Francisco’s favorite booty-tech sound tribe is headed down to South Beach for its annual Miami Music Week showing, this time giving fans one-of-a-kind B2B sets from the label’s mainstays. Big wigs Claude VonStroke and Justin Martin are joined by Shiba San, J.Phlip, Will Clarke, Kill Frenzy, Ardalan, and more, and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaur’s Nice Age imprint is hosting the party in the club’s other room.
Get Lost
TBA
3/19
Forget everything else in Miami, this is the juggernaut. The 24-hour-plus dance marathon is helmed by Crosstown Rebels owner Damian Lazarus and features five environments and over 50 artists. With 10 successful sessions already notched onto his belt, Lazarus is aiming to go even bigger and better this year, and he’s got a rabid set of fans waiting to vibe with him all day and all night.
Claude VonStroke presents The Birdhouse
Delano Beach Club
3/19
The Big Bird of Dirtybird celebrates the success of his weekly radio show with a daytime pool get-down at the Delano Beach Club. With a roster that includes his labelmate Justin Jay as well as Tiga, Danny Daze, Fur Coat, Jesse Rose, Soul Clap, and more, the bird is definitely the word.
Seth Troxler’s Big Tittie Surprise
Basement Miami
3/18
Get ready to be titillated—Seth Troxler’s bringing his supple house beats to The South Beach EDITION’s Basement nightclub. This year Troxler is bringing along some of the best queer DJs and collectives for the ride, with support from Horse Meat Disco, Honey Soundsystem, and Honey Dijon. Those who haven’t experienced the venue are in for a treat, as the club boasts a variety of unique accoutrements, including a bowling alley and skating rink.
Paradise
Mana Wynwood
3/17
Jamie Jones brings his annual 12-hour blowout back to the Mana Wynwood district for its biggest lineup yet. Boasting indoor and outdoor environments, a fully immersive environment, and one of the best lineups of the week—The Martinez Brothers, Steve Lawler, Bob Moses, Skream, Lee Foss, Stacy Pullen, Patrick Topping, and Cassy are just the tip of the iceberg—Paradise Miami will truly bring the vibes of Jones’ DC10 Ibiza residency to North American audiences.
Nervous Records Pool Party
The Viceroy Hotel
3/18
Celebrate 25 years of the iconic dance music label with a breezy pool party featuring some of the industry’s most seminal artists. Some of the highlights include Boris, Carl Craig, Josh Wink, Oscar G, Roger Sanchez, Stacey Pullen, and Louie Vega.
Nicole Moudaber’s #MoodDAY Pool Party
The Raleigh Hotel
3/17
The percussion queen has enlisted a militia of techno’s most beloved names to take her brand of crushing industrial grooves out of the recesses of the night and onto the lush poolside deck of The Raleigh. Seriously—the lineup alone is enough to convince even the hardest sell, with Pan-Pot, Carl Craig, Damian Lazarus, Endo, and Guti all set to take to the decks.
Ovum Miami
Do Not Sit On The Furniture
3/17
One of dance tastemakers’ favorite labels takes over Miami’s best-named club for its 21st annual MMW showcase. Ovum head Josh Wink headlines the night with support from MANIK and Sean Miller, but we’re already salivating at the promise of unannounced special guests, as Loco Dice turned up by surprise at the 2015 party.
Chuckie & Friends
Nikki Beach
3/20
Dutch house superstar Chuckie is taking over one of Miami Music Week’s most iconic venue to close out the weekend in style. Bringing along an all-star cast of compatriots that includes NERVO, Lil Jon, Sander van Doorn, and more, Chuckie is ready to give revelers a pool party to remember at the gorgeous oceanfront complex.
Andhim’s Superfriends
Treehouse
3/17
German DJ/production duo and noted sausage aficionados andhim take to South Beach’s Treehouse a night of their signature Super House grooves. They’re joined by melodic techno don Kölsch, with H.O.S.H., Roman Flügel, and Super Flu also confirmed. Grab a beer boot and don your best lederhosen: the hills are about to come alive with the sound of (techno) music.
Marco Carola vs. Apollonia
Space Terrace
3/17
Ibiza’s king takes on the French supertrio for a crushing night of scorchers on Space’s famed terrace. With both acts renowned for their extended sets that stretch well into the night (and day), it’s guaranteed to be the perfect use for your comfiest dancing shoes.
John Digweed
Treehouse
3/19
Catch the Bedrock legend in all his glory at the intimate Treehouse club. Sure to be down, dirty, and raw, there’s little else that needs to be said for this other than, “Don’t miss it.”
Revolution Radio Takeover
Wynwood
South Florida’s only EDM radio station heads to Miami Music Week for the launch of its annual Takeover event in the heart of the artsy Wynwood district. The free event is open to all fans 18 and over and will feature food trucks, giveaways, live art installations, and performances from ALX, Jesse Perez, The Cube Guys, and more.
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