Global Dance Festival: Wolfgang Gartner’s view of Colorado’s Red Rocks. | Photo: Simon Alexander
From the Red Rocks to the Urban Jungle, dance fans were in for two servings of America’s Best DJ fun. This past weekend, the America’s Best DJ Summer Tour Presented by Pioneer DJ & DJ Times took a dual-pronged approach, with stops in both New York City and Denver, CO.
Right outside the Mile-High City of Denver, CO, Global Dance Festival returned to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater for its twelfth installment. With the smell of cannabis in the air, the festival ran from July 18-20 and featured three stages of a bass-focused lineup. Headliners included Adventure Club on Friday, Destroid—the collaborative project between Excision, Downlink, and KJ Sawka—on Saturday, and Zedd on Sunday.
Global Dance Festival: ABDJ nom Wolfgang Gartner performs to the Denver crowd. | Photo: Simon Alexander
Four America’s Best DJ nominees played the amongst the famed landscape at the festival this weekend, with Gabriel & Dresden and Carnage throwing down on Friday while Alvin Risk and Wolfgang Gartner held down the fort on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Global Dance Festival: The legendary view of Colorado’s Red Rocks was on full display. | Photo: Simon Alexander
Back in New York, a birthday celebration was in order at Marquee on July 18 for Sleepy of married nominee pair Sleepy & Boo. The resident DJ duo and talent bookers hosted their signature Sleepy & Boo + Friends party, with some surprise birthday festivities that even included roaming dancers dressed as unicorns.
Marquee: Married duo Sleepy & Boo celebrate Sleepy’s birthday.
We’ll be heading back to Marquee tonight for a special first-to-last performance from ABDJ nominee Sharam. The Deep Dish member will take to the decks at 11 PM and play until the early morning hours for an all-night set that’s sure to take the Friday crowd on a journey through the dark world of house.
DJ Times will host a dedicated America’s Best DJ table at the club to collect votes and hand out copies of the magazine. Each voter will earn a chance to win prizes from sponsors Pioneer DJ and G-Shock, as well as a trip for two to Las Vegas for the America’s Best DJ Award Ceremony/Closing Party on Oct. 12, at which the DJ having earned the most votes will be crowned and presented with a gold-plated Pioneer DJM-900nxs mixer.
Global Dance Festival: Dedicated fans cast their vote for America’s Best DJ. | Photo: Simon Alexander
Fans can also vote online for up to five of their favorite DJs at www.americasbestdj.us to earn another chance to win prizes.