GRAMMY.com: White Wonderland New Year's Eve Gala
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This article was featured on GRAMMY.com here.
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Insomniac Events, founded in 1993 by Pasquale Rotella, has swelled to a multimillion-dollar coalition currently responsible for 12 annual major music festivals in more than 12 cities, including Seattle, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Fla., and Los Angeles. Most recently, Insomniac brought 2012 to a proper close with some of the world's premiere DJs and electronica producers for the second annual White Wonderland New Year's Eve Gala at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Dec. 31.
This year, with the appearance of EDM giants such as Avicii, Hardwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, Bingo Players, Madeon, and Above & Beyond, it came as no surprise that this event was the perfect end to an amazing year for EDM. Dancing and celebrating together in the mandatory all-white attire was a truly magical way to make each guest part of the overall experience, while ringing in a new year of possibilities.
Musically, White Wonderland had an artist for nearly every shade of the EDM spectrum. The convention center was divided into two main stages, showcasing both traditional and new electro club classics from the DJ decks and massive speaker walls onto the dance floor. My personal highlights included current 55th GRAMMY nominee Avicii's unique rendition of "Seek Bromance," a track that catapulted him to fame, and Madeon's mix of his 2012 hit "The City," featuring the infectious vocals of Zak Waters. But a moment I won't soon forget is when Ingrosso requested that everyone crouch down as low to the floor as possible and wait while he transitioned into a drumroll of sounds. Everyone obliged as you could see all the way to the back walls of the convention center, even from the crowded center of the pit.
The music continued to build and the anticipation for the drop grew louder every moment. And when the beat finally hit, the most intense moment of the night ensued as everyone jumped to their feet and danced in unison while taking in the final hour of the night.
Not only was the White Wonderland lineup diverse and esteemed, the entire event production was on par with the best, featuring a mesmerizing light show, twisting aerialists, towering stilt walkers, a pyrotechnics countdown to the new year, and confetti snow throughout the night. And if you didn't care to brave the incredible task of driving through the crowd to get to the front of the stage, floor-to-ceiling screens framing each stage projected all the action.
The unforgettable event was truly a combination of a safe environment and incredible lineup that made for great way to spend the last night of 2012.
For those looking to experience a large-scale EDM event in 2013, tickets for the Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas (June 21–23) go on sale Jan. 9.
(Brent Burns is the dance/electronica GRAMMY.com Community Blogger.)