Photos provided by Insomniac Events
It really wasn’t a question of if, it was a matter of when. EDC Las Vegas 2020 looks to be postponing.
North America’s largest music festival sold out back in September in less than 48 hours, thanks in part to the irresistible appeal of securing passes for only a $10 deposit. As festivals continue to delay or cancel due to the spread of COVID-19, many wondered when EDC would be added to the list. With the original May 15-17 dates now just over a month away and the timeline for social distancing moving further and further, the hard reality became impossible to ignore. On April 1st, sources told Billboard magazine that EDC organizers Insomniac Events are looking to move EDC Las Vegas to October 2-4. No April Fool’s prank here. This information was also corroborated in a tweet by industry insider The Festive Owl – which while not official, has always been very credible.
Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella, already one to be fairly active on social media, has been especially engaged with the festival community as of late, hosting virtual festivals in the wake of Beyond Wonderland‘s postponement in March. His most recent Instagram post, while not directly focusing on moving EDC, definitely seemed to hint at it – possibly with the intention of softening the inevitable blow.
One of the biggest things to note is that those October dates currently align with several other major music festivals, including Dirtybird Campout, Austin City Limits, and Phoenix Lights. Coachella has also been rescheduled for the following two weekends. While this may or may not impact the ability for artists to perform, it absolutely will affect the attendance, production crew, and staff available to work at either event. Production and visuals may also take hit. There are only so many available lasers out there. September and October are already busy months for festivals. As depicted in an ever expanding calendar, more and more events will continue to fill what are already packed weekends.
There’s no way around it. Festivals are going to look very different this fall. Some of the crowds may seem a little sparse, as ticketing companies that were once able to operate at different ends of the year are now be in direct competition with each other. There is also the economic hardship aspect to consider. Many people attend several of these events each year, and now they are soon to be faced with the schedule conflict to end all schedules conflicts. How these production companies appeal to their concert goers will be apparent in the coming months, but I see two things happening. One, production teams capitalize on the opportunity to create an intimate experience for a more specific audience. Or two, pull out all the stops and draw people in with completely unique all out production. Either way, these companies will be fighting for our ticket sale in a way we haven’t seen before. It’s been said many times at this point, but that first festival back is going to be off the chain.
On the bright side, Vegas in October has highs in the 80s, and that early in the month most of the pools are still open.
More details are most certainly on their way. Check out EDC, Insomniac, and Pasquale on their social accounts to keep up to date.
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ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL LAS VEGAS
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