Connect with us

Editorial

John Summit Teases CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

John Summit smiling during a live performance as he teases a CTRL ESCAPE arena tour following the release of his second studio album.

John Summit Teases CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour following the success of his second studio album

John Summit has teased a possible CTRL ESCAPE arena tour, adding another major live angle to an album cycle that has already been tied closely to his own career story. The tease comes after the release of CTRL ESCAPE, his second studio album, which was released on April 15 and played directly into his former life as an accountant through Tax Day timing, office-style promo, and pop-up events connected to the album’s concept. In the weeks around release, John Summit also kept the rollout moving through special live moments, including a Spotify and LinkedIn office pop-up in New York and an open-to-close Red Rocks set tied to CTRL ESCAPE. The arena idea also has history behind it, since John Summit previously brought the Comfort In Chaos era to Madison Square Garden and three Kia Forum shows, where the orchestral live version of Where You Are showed how his music could expand in a larger concert setting.

What John Summit Has Teased About The CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour

John Summit has teased the CTRL ESCAPE arena tour one month after the album came out, giving fans the first real sign of how the project could move into an arena setting. In the post, John Summit said he had been working on how to bring the album to life “in an arena setting” and said a tour announcement was coming soon. The wording matters because it links the tease directly to the album, not just to another round of tour dates. It also gives fans a clearer idea of what to expect from the next chapter, with CTRL ESCAPE being treated as a full live concept.

The visual side of the tease added more context, with John Summit sharing a stage rendering that showed a packed arena and a larger production layout. EDM.com also reported the rendering as part of the CTRL ESCAPE arena tour tease, which made the post feel closer to an early preview than a casual comment online. That detail fits the way John Summit has handled the album so far, where the music, artwork, office references, and release events have all stayed tied to the same concept. For now, the confirmed point is simple: John Summit is preparing to bring CTRL ESCAPE into an arena setting, with full tour details still expected from official channels.

Inside John Summit’s CTRL ESCAPE Rollout

John Summit treated CTRL ESCAPE like a campaign tied to his own career story, with the album’s April 15 release date giving the rollout its clearest reference point. April 15 is U.S. Tax Day, which made the timing connect directly to his former CPA background and the album’s office-life concept. Before release week, John Summit had already introduced the album through a surprise Los Angeles pop-up, where the CTRL ESCAPE title and release date started circulating publicly. He later posted office-themed promo around the album, writing that it was his “first time in the office” since his accountant days, while confirming CTRL ESCAPE as his new album out April 15. The campaign kept the accounting reference specific without over-explaining it: the title uses keyboard language, the release date pointed to tax season, and the visuals placed John Summit back inside the kind of corporate setting he left before becoming a full-time artist.

The rollout also gave fans several physical touchpoints before the album came out. On April 2, Spotify and LinkedIn hosted an invite-only New York office party for John Summit’s top Spotify listeners, with the event celebrating CTRL ESCAPE ahead of its release through Experts Only and Darkroom Records.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Secret NYC (@secret_nyc)

Coverage from the pop-up also pointed to new music being previewed, including CHICA 305, which gave the event a stronger album connection than a standard branded appearance. Less than a week later, John Summit brought CTRL ESCAPE to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a special open-to-close album pop-up on April 8, giving fans a three-hour set tied directly to the project before its release. Those events gave the rollout two sides at once: the office concept made the album’s backstory visible, while Red Rocks put the project in front of a live crowd before the wider arena conversation started.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by John Summit (@johnsummit)

rt=”0″ data-end=”61″>John Summit’s Arena History Started With Comfort In Chaos

John Summit had already tested the album-to-arena format during the Comfort In Chaos era, starting with his June 29, 2024 headline show at Madison Square Garden. The New York show used a 360-degree stage, lasers, and a larger visual setup, but the bigger point was how the night was structured around John Summit’s catalog and debut album. Pollstar reported that the show sold out with 15,636 fans and grossed $1.5 million, with ticket prices ranging from $29 to $299. The set ran as a long-form solo show, moving through different parts of John Summit’s career before ending with a two-hour Comfort In Chaos section, which made the album feel like the center of the night instead of a few new tracks placed inside a festival-style set. John Summit later uploaded the Madison Square Garden set to SoundCloud, writing that his team had put significant work into bringing the Comfort In Chaos vision to life, which adds more context to why the current CTRL ESCAPE arena tour tease feels like a continuation of a format he has already tried at scale.

@johnsummit

comfort in chaos @ madison square garden

♬ original sound – john summit

The Los Angeles run pushed that idea further, with John Summit playing three sold-out nights at the Kia Forum on November 14, 15, and 16, 2024. The 17,500-capacity venue gave Comfort In Chaos a bigger West Coast headline moment, with the sound system selected to carry the full range of John Summit’s tracks while still giving the crowd the force expected from a dance show. The Forum dates also added one of the clearest examples of how John Summit can expand his music for a larger concert setting, with a live orchestra joining him for the opening of Where You Are. He had previewed the orchestra element before the first Forum show, and the performance later became Where You Are (Orchestral Version) – Live At The Forum, released with HAYLA and Maddix in November 2024. That moment matters for the CTRL ESCAPE arena tour angle because it shows that John Summit’s arena plans are not limited to bigger screens and larger rooms. The Comfort In Chaos run already showed him using headline arenas for longer set structure, live arrangement changes, guest vocal moments, and album-focused production.

@kickzster John Summit opening up The Forum with a Full Orchestra 😍 TOP MF TIER ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 #johnsummitforum #johnsummitkiaforum #johnsummitkiaforumla #johnsummitla #johnsummitforumla #kiaforum #kiaforumla #johnsummitlosangeles #johnsummittour #johnsummitlive #johnsummitshow #johnsummitconcert #johnsummitmightrave #johnsummitmusic #johnsummitcomfortinchaos ♬ original sound – JC | Festivals | Creator

What A CTRL ESCAPE Arena Tour Could Mean For John Summit

A CTRL ESCAPE arena tour would put John Summit’s second studio album into the same headline format that helped Comfort In Chaos grow beyond a standard DJ set. The bigger question is how far that format could go this time, especially if the tour expands beyond the U.S. and takes the CTRL ESCAPE concept into international arenas. With the album already tied to office visuals, Tax Day timing, pop-ups, and the Red Rocks album set, John Summit has enough material to turn the show into something more structured than a regular club or festival appearance. The Comfort In Chaos era also gives fans a reason to look for more than screens and lasers, since the Kia Forum run included the orchestral Where You Are moment with HAYLA. That opens the door for similar live elements, reworked intros, guest vocals, or album-specific arrangements if John Summit chooses to scale the concept further. Full tour details are still to come, but the tease has already made the next step around CTRL ESCAPE one of the most closely watched parts of his current album cycle.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

With 13 years in the EDM scene, Preetika has built a strong presence around festivals, club culture, and electronic music. Based in Bangkok, she covers all things EDM in Thailand and beyond, with a focus on both local and international talent. She has attended major festivals including Tomorrowland, Ultra Japan, and Creamfields Hong Kong. Since working as a writer for EDM House Network, she has interviewed artists such as Blasterjaxx, James Hype, W&W, R3HAB, Alok, and many others. Her experience and consistent presence in the scene make her a trusted voice for EDM coverage.

Editorial

MiNT XL: Leeds’ Newest Nightclub Opens With A Bang

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

MiNT XL opens its doors in Leeds with a sold-out party for 2,500 ravers, as Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear launch the new nightclub

MiNT XL officially opened its doors on Friday, 25 September, with a sold-out opening party featuring names like Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear. 2,500 ravers gathered in the heart of Leeds city centre to experience the latest addition to the city’s rich rave culture, marking a memorable beginning for MiNT XL.

Taking over the former nightclub, PRYZM Leeds, MiNT set themselves the challenge of giving the venue a new identity through their own production and iconic signature. In an interview with EDM House Network earlier this year, MiNT marketing manager, Mikey McMahon said they wanted people to walk into MiNT XL and feel like they were part of something forward-thinking. There is no doubt they have achieved this, with the opening night already setting MiNT XL apart from other venues in Leeds.

Credit: David Dumitru

Credit: David Dumitru

Exploring The Venue’s Layout

Arriving at the venue, you could feel the excitement in the air as people made their way into the club. Music was bumping through the walls and the night was just getting started. Walking inside, the dark environment immediately made it feel like a rave and not a regular nightclub.

Heading up the stairs from the entrance, we reached the main hall of the venue, which houses two of the three rooms at MiNT XL, as well as an open-air terrace. The ‘Clubroom’ was the first room people encountered on the floor, while the main room, also known as the ‘Ballroom’, sits to the left of the hall.

The second floor is a great extension of what the main floor has to offer, hosting the venue’s third room, ‘Cage’, as well as an additional bar with sofas and seating for those wanting a quick break from the dancefloor. The VIP area is also located on this floor, providing a comfortable chill-out space with its own bar and seating area.

Credit: David Dumitru

Credit: David Dumitru

The Rooms at MiNT XL

1. Ballroom

The largest of the three rooms, the ‘Ballroom’ is a warehouse type of space hosting the headlining names on MiNT XL’s line-ups. Some of the lighting features that stood out as soon as we walked into the room included the large ring structure above the dancefloor, as well as the linear rigs placed horizontally across the ceiling, which rotate to create a wave-like effect through light.

Another standout piece of the room is the newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system, delivering bass that pumps through your body and an overall premium sound quality. The same system can also be found in the other two rooms, where its impact is even greater due to their smaller capacities.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

2. Cage

Probably the most interesting room of the three, and our personal favourite, ‘Cage’ delivers an experience like no other. Its design feels unique and fresh out of the box, while still maintaining a lush feel. Throughout the opening night, the room was lit up with orange lighting, creating a somewhat comfortable atmosphere amid all the chaos going on.

Credit: David Dumitru

Credit: David Dumitru

‘Cage’ also has a few sofas placed around the room, helping complete its luxurious feel. The cherry on top, however, is the fact that the space will often welcome DJs playing on vinyl. We had the chance to witness this live, and let me tell you, seeing the artists flip and swap records behind the decks totally elevates the experience.

Credit: David Dumitru

Credit: David Dumitru

3. Clubroom

With a large light panel on the ceiling covering the centre of the dancefloor, ‘Clubroom’ is an ode to MiNT Warehouse, the brand’s second ever venue. Sharing similar characteristics, the room brings the MiNT Warehouse spirit to MiNT XL, carrying over the energetic vibes that have become a trademark of the brand.

While the room has a great design from a production perspective, the air conditioning isn’t felt as well in some corners, often making it a very hot space.

Credit: David Dumitru

Credit: David Dumitru

4. Terrace

An open-air space with a nice view of some of Leeds city centre’s tallest buildings, the terrace is a well-arranged spot for those who want to unwind a little and take a breath of fresh air. Located close to the ‘Ballroom’, the path to the terrace can, however, become very busy at times.

Credit: David Dumitru

Credit: David Dumitru

The Music at MiNT XL

The venue opened with the brand’s own event series, ‘system.’, taking over the decks. Across the three rooms, a well-curated line-up delivered the soundtrack to MiNT’s new beginning.

From the perspective of EDM House Network, our highlights were Foehn & Jerome at the ‘Cage’, Craig Richards B2B Francesco Del Garda at the ‘Ballroom’, and then back to the ‘Cage’ for a vinyl session with Fumiya Tanaka.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

Beyond the opening night, a wide range of renowned DJs are set to follow at MiNT XL, with the likes of Ewan McVicar, Riordan, Morgan Seatree and a Worried About Henry (WAH) takeover among those already announced. While so far only electronic music events make up the calendar, organisers have said they are excited to expand into new genres and live music.

Atmosphere Inside The Venue

MiNT XL operates a no-phones policy at all events, meaning attendees can fully immerse themselves into the music. Having experienced an event with such policy for the first time, it was impressive to see how big of a change it makes.

Seeing people living in the moment and having fun truly gave everyone a taste of what some mean when they say ‘raving was better in the 90s’. The no-phones policy genuinely made the night feel like a time machine that teleported us back to a time when people used to socialise and not chase Instagram clout at raves.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto

With three state-of-the-art rooms, a 2,500-capacity venue, a sound system that blows the roof off and a no-phones policy, MiNT XL has real potential to become one of the best nightclubs in the entire UK. The opening party was not just the green light for a new venue in Leeds, but felt more like a statement that MiNT XL is here, and for good.

The club season is only just getting started, with a packed list of upcoming events already lined up at MiNT XL.

Friday 9 October – Marsolo Invites: Marsolo + more TBA

Saturday 10 October – Airspace: Notion, Kyle Starkey, Camille Doe + more

Saturday 17 October – Mint XL Presents: Cam Stockman b2b Tommy Phillips

Friday 30 October – Airspace: Riordan, Stef Davidse + more

Saturday 31 October – Ewan McVicar Presents: Halloween – Ewan McVicar, Special Request, Olive F

Saturday 7 November – Mint XL Presents: ALISHA, Robbie Doherty + more

Saturday 14 November – Mint XL Presents: Morgan Seatree + more TBA

Friday 20 November – Framework Presents: Ben UFO, Papa Nugs + more

Saturday 21 November – Jampacked Would Tour Leeds Edition: Jamback, Anil Aras, A For Alpha

Saturday 19 December – Framework x Mugpie Presents: Christian AB, Unai Trotti + more

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Continue Reading

Amsterdam Music Festival News

EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

Charlotte de Witte playing at 808 Festival beneath blue stage lighting in front of a large crowd

EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss worldwide as major events fill the month across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America

October 2026 brings another busy month for the EDM festival calendar, with events taking place across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the US, 808 Festival, Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, Niteharts, Head Trip, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, BOO! Seattle, BOO! Arizona, and Hocus Pocus Miami fill the month. Meanwhile, EDC Korea and Chill O’posite Festival add major dates in Asia and Africa. No Art Lisbon and AMF represent Europe, while EDC Colombia and Ritvales bring two large weekends to South America. Here’s a full look at the EDM festivals taking place throughout October 2026.

808 Festival

Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

808 Festival returns to BITEC in Bangkok from October 2–3, 2026 for two days across two stages. The Phase Two lineup includes ILLENIUM, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, W&W, Argy, Ben Nicky, 999999999, Mesto, and KAAZE. Meanwhile, JUSTUS, RIVO, Dorian, Ian Asher, and Mary Droppinz are also confirmed. Several special performances are scheduled, including Adam Beyer B2B Chris Avantgarde and Nifra B2B Will Atkinson. Giorgia Angiuli will also perform live. More artists are still due to be announced before the festival returns to Bangkok in October.

Breakaway Utah

Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: America First Field, Sandy, Utah

Breakaway Utah brings the Breakaway Music Festival series to America First Field in Sandy, Utah, from October 2–3, 2026. Friday features John Summit, Tiësto, Max Styler, Jackie Hollander, Ray Volpe, LAYZ B2B TYNAN, and Trivecta. Hershe, Heyz, Roddy Lima, Soraya, and Obayashi also appear on the first day. Saturday then brings Chris Lake, Audien, Bonnie X Clyde, Frank Walker, Kasablanca, and Mojave Grey. In addition, Kaskade will play a sunset set, while Gorgon City B2B MPH adds another collaborative performance.

We Belong Here Central Park

Dates: October 2–4, 2026
Location: Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York City, New York

We Belong Here Central Park heads back to Wollman Rink in Central Park from October 2–4, 2026. Friday opens with MEDUZA³ and a sunset set from LP Giobbi. On Saturday, Ben Böhmer plays a sunset set before Stephan Bodzin performs live. Sunday closes the weekend with Steve Angello and a sunset club set from Bob Moses. Elsewhere on the lineup, Ashibah, Eve Lauren, and Tripolism are also confirmed. The wider program includes Aftours, Amanda Simpson, Anthony Romano, Malcolm Zeller, Sanvero, Sebi Luca, and several more artists.

EDC Korea

Dates: October 3–4, 2026
Location: INSPIRE, South Korea

EDC Korea returns to INSPIRE on October 3–4, 2026, with house, trance, techno, bass, and hard dance across the weekend. Saturday includes DJ Snake, ILLENIUM B2B Dabin, Ben Nicky Presents Xtreme, Brennan Heart, Coone, and Dimension. R3HAB, Sara Landry, Subtronics, and SVDDEN DEATH are also confirmed. Meanwhile, Bassrush Experience and an Insomniac Records Takeover appear on the Saturday program. Sunday features 999999999, Alok, Aly & Fila, Argy, FISHER, Kayzo, Nifra, and Tiësto. TOKiMONSTA, Vini Vici, W&W, and Wooli also join the second day.

Experts Only at the Gorge

Dates: October 3–4, 2026
Location: Gorge Amphitheatre, Washington

Experts Only at the Gorge brings John Summit’s Experts Only brand to Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington on October 3–4, 2026. John Summit leads the weekend alongside Cassian, Daniel Allan, Devault, Hamdi, Jackie Hollander, and KETTAMA. Before the main event begins, the EO Base Camp Pre-Party is scheduled for October 2. Layton Giordani is currently confirmed for that party, with additional names still to come. Across the full weekend, the music covers house, techno, and bass with a compact lineup centred on the Experts Only roster and its regular collaborators.

Starlight Festival

Dates: October 8–11, 2026
Location: Giza and Cairo, Egypt

Starlight Festival brings four days of events to Giza and Cairo from October 8–11, 2026. The main festival is held near The Pyramids of Giza on October 9–10. A welcome party takes place in Cairo on October 8, followed by a farewell party on October 11. The first main day features Adriatique, Indira Paganotto, Pete Tong, Vintage Culture, and WhoMadeWho with a hybrid DJ set. Awen, BiiA, Charlie Sparks, and Coco & Breezy are also confirmed. On day two, Charlotte de Witte, Michael Bibi, and Enrico Sangiuliano lead the lineup. Meanwhile, Deer Jade, Fiona Kraft, Floyd Lavine, Layla Benitez, and Olympe also perform.

Chill O’posite Festival

Dates: October 8–10, 2026
Location: Dahab, Egypt

Chill O’posite Festival brings electronic music, live performances, and hybrid sets to Dahab from October 8–10, 2026. The lineup includes 47 Soul, AIWAA, and Aly Fathalla performing live. Blacky, Jad Halal, Nico Morano, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Tia, and Tony L Issac are also confirmed. Several B2B sets appear across the three days. These include BĪSU B2B Welson, Borio B2B Shika, and Kotoe B2B Madmotormiquel. Meanwhile, Chitati, Karamell, Menna Hussein, Molotof, Netam, and Nubatronic add more live performances to the program.

Niteharts

Dates: October 9–11, 2026
Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California

Niteharts will run for three days at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego from October 9–11, 2026. Presented by ISOxo and Knock2, the festival covers bass, trap, electronic, and alternative music. The lineup includes Knock2 B2B DJ Snake, ISOxo, ISOKNOCK, RL Grime, Hamdi, 2hollis, and LYNY. Porter Robinson will also perform a DJ set. Elsewhere, Flava D, Jane Remover, Frost Children, Devault, Underscores, and Daine are confirmed. Nitepunk, Control Freak, Borne, Yaego, and Thaiboy Digital & Swedm® also appear across the weekend.

Head Trip

Dates: October 10–11, 2026
Location: Empire Polo Club, Indio, California

Head Trip makes its debut at Empire Polo Club in Indio on October 10–11, 2026. Saturday features Calvin Harris, Under Construction: FISHER + Chris Lake, and Peggy Gou B2B Four Tet. Seth Troxler B2B Ben Sterling is also confirmed for the first day. Sunday follows with Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, and Dom Dolla B2B KETTAMA. The Blessed Madonna and DJ Harvey also perform on Sunday. Meanwhile, Floating Points’ Sunflower Sound System will be featured throughout the weekend. Presented by Goldenvoice, the new two-day festival adds another major electronic music event to Indio’s calendar.

EDC Colombia

Dates: October 10–11, 2026
Location: Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia

EDC Colombia holds its inaugural edition in Medellín on October 10–11, 2026, at Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot. Saturday features Above & Beyond, Alesso, Alok, ARTBAT, Astrix, Chase & Status, and deadmau5. ILLENIUM, Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex, Miss Monique, and Richie Hawtin are also confirmed. In addition, Dreamstate Presents and Factory93 Presents appear on the festival program. Sunday includes 999999999, Afrojack B2B Green Velvet, Armin van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, and CamelPhat. Kaskade, Nico Moreno, Restricted, Subtronics, Sullivan King, and Vintage Culture also perform on day two.

No Art Lisbon

Dates: October 10, 2026
Location: Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Lisbon, Portugal

Following a sold-out edition last year, No Art Lisbon is back in the Portuguese capital on October 10, 2026. The one-day lineup includes Adriatique, ANOTR, Jennifer Loveless, Klin Klop, and SG Lewis. Franky Rizardo B2B Mau P adds a collaborative set to the program. With six acts currently listed, the event keeps its schedule more focused than many of October’s multi-day festivals. The Lisbon date also adds another European stop to No Art’s 2026 calendar.

AMF

Dates: October 24, 2026
Location: Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

AMF returns to Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on October 24, 2026, for its annual one-night event during Amsterdam Dance Event. The 2026 lineup currently features Afrojack, Amelie Lens, Armin van Buuren, ARTBAT, D-Block & S-te-Fan, Korolova, and Marlon Hoffstadt, with more artists still to be announced. David Guetta is also confirmed to bring The Monolith to the AMF stage, adding his large-scale live production to this year’s edition. The festival is scheduled from 8 PM until the early hours of the following morning, continuing AMF’s long-running place on the final Saturday of Amsterdam Dance Event and bringing several different sides of electronic music together inside one of Amsterdam’s largest venues.

Escape Psycho Circus

Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: Southern California

Escape Psycho Circus returns to Southern California on October 30–31, 2026, for two nights of electronic music across five stages. Friday’s The Big Top lineup includes Benny Benassi, Cascada, Cloonee, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, KREAM, MORTEN, NERVO, and Steve Aoki, while Bassrush hosts Sewer District with Excision, Getter, Kai Wachi, and Level Up. Feeding Grounds brings harder styles with AniMe, Coone B2B DJ Isaac, Darren Styles, Frontliner, Lady Faith B2B LNY TNZ, and Showtek, while The Cage features Adam Ten, DJ Tennis, Jamie Jones B2B Franky Rizardo, and Joseph Capriati B2B SOSA. Saturday continues with Alok, Disco Lines, Galantis, Ian Asher, JOYRYDE, Maddix, and Zedd at The Big Top, alongside Adventure Club, Dabin, Dr. Fresch, Liquid Stranger, 999999999, Funk Assault, Indira Paganotto, Nina Kraviz, Richie Hawtin, Avalon Emerson, Champion, DJ Heartstring, and Malugi across the other stages. With house, bass, hard dance, and techno spread across the Halloween weekend, Escape Psycho Circus closes October with one of Insomniac’s biggest seasonal festivals.

BOO! Seattle

Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: WAMU Theater, Seattle, Washington

BOO! Seattle returns to WAMU Theater in Seattle, Washington, on October 30–31, 2026, with three themed stages and more than 50 DJs and performers across Halloween weekend. Friday’s lineup includes AMP, Casey Club, Champion, DJ Heather, Elderbrook with a DJ set, Gramatik, GRiZ, James Hype, Levity, LYNY, OMNOM, Ravenscoon, TroyBoi, Walker & Royce, and Westend. Saturday continues with A Little Sound, AZYR, Cloonee, Getter, Hannah Laing, Hershe, It’s Murph, Kayzo, Morgan Seatree, Sara Landry, Subtronics, Taiki Nulight, Taylor Torrence, Wuki, and YDG. With house, bass, techno, and harder electronic styles spread across two nights, BOO! Seattle gives the Pacific Northwest another major Halloween festival option at the end of October.

BOO! Arizona

Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona

BOO! Arizona takes place at WestWorld of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, on October 30–31, 2026, with two themed stages across Halloween weekend. Friday’s lineup includes 2DY4, Capochino, Deorro, Fieldz B2B Mile32, Hydes, Kompany, Maddix, Marie Vaunt, PEEKABOO, Restricted, Sippy, Virtual Riot, Zedd, and Zoe Gitter. Saturday continues with ACRAZE, Aja Cruz, Alyssa Jolee, The Chainsmokers, Dombresky, Gravagerz, Heyz, James Hype, Jay Prior, JSTJR, Level Up, Luci, Papajan, Samplifire, Seven Lions, and TRYM. With house, bass, techno, and harder electronic styles spread across both nights, BOO! Arizona gives Scottsdale another large Halloween weekend event at the end of October.

Hocus Pocus Miami

Dates: October 30–November 1, 2026
Location: Factory Town, Miami, Florida

Hocus Pocus Miami returns to Factory Town in Miami, Florida, from October 30–November 1, 2026, for three nights across five stages during Halloween weekend. The lineup includes Chase & Status, ChaseWest, Cassian, Gorgon City, Indira Paganotto, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Kerri Chandler, Layton Giordani, Marco Strous, MEDUZA, Odd Mob, Prospa, Purple Disco Machine, Seth Troxler, Skream, William Kiss, and Yanamaste. Several collaborative sets are also listed, including Funk Assault (Chlär B2B Alarico) and Vic Prydz >>> Franky Rizardo, while Apollonia, Ayybo, Azzecca, Beltran, Berbrakka, Chris Stussy, Cole Knight, Danny Daze, DJ Boring, Hudson Mohawke, Jayda G, Malugi, Mary Droppinz, Salomé Le Chat, Slam, and VTSS appear elsewhere across the three-night program. With house, techno, bass, and underground electronic music spread throughout Factory Town, Hocus Pocus Miami extends the Halloween festival calendar into the first night of November.

Ritvales

Dates: October 31–November 1, 2026
Location: Parque Norte, Medellín, Colombia

Ritvales returns to Parque Norte in Medellín, Colombia, from October 31–November 1, 2026, for two days covering techno, trance, house, melodic electronic music, and live performances. Saturday’s lineup includes Aly & Fila, Anetha, Ayybo, Carl Cox with an extended set, Ciaran McAuley, Dubfire, Guy J, Kobosil, LAVERN, Mauro Picotto, Paul van Dyk with an extended set, Somewhen, SPFDJ, Sven Väth, Tripolism, and WhoMadeWho with a hybrid DJ set. Sunday continues with Adam Beyer, Ben Böhmer live, Cloonee, Collabs 3000 (Chris Liebing B2B Speedy J), Crystal Waters live, Eli Brown, HI-LO B2B XXXXXX, I Hate Models, Klangkuenstler, Lilly Palmer, Massano, Marcel Dettmann, Oliver Heldens, Seth Troxler, Stephan Bodzin live, Supergloss, Victor Ruiz, and X CLUB. Stage hosts across the weekend include 44, Carl Cox Invites, and SHINE Ibiza, giving Ritvales one of the broader electronic lineups spanning the final day of October and the first day of November.

From major North American festivals including Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, and BOO! Seattle to international events such as 808 Festival, EDC Korea, Starlight Festival, EDC Colombia, AMF, and Ritvales, October 2026 brings electronic music festivals to cities across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Halloween events, city festivals, multi-day weekends, and one-day shows fill the month, with lineups covering house, techno, trance, bass, drum & bass, hard dance, melodic electronic music, and more.

Visit our EDM Festival News section to stay updated on the latest announcements and lineup releases.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Continue Reading

Editorial

The Story Behind The Amplified Pianist’s ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

The Amplified Pianist releases “Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix),” a cinematic track telling the story of a man transformed into a cyborg.

Taking narrative-driven music to the next level, The Amplified Pianist releases ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’, a track that tells a futuristic yet powerful story through its emotional and cinematic sound.

While the release is entirely instrumental, its elements tell the tale of a man who becomes a superhuman cyborg as part of a scientific experiment, in an attempt to secure his family’s future, at the cost of his own humanity.

The contrast between trance and piano reflects Icer’s transformation, showing that although technology takes over, a part of his human nature remains deeply rooted in his soul.

Speaking about the release’s perspective, The Amplified Pianist says: “Piano and strings represent the humanity that remains beneath the machine, while driving progressive-trance rhythms, evolving synths, and mechanical textures embody his irreversible transformation.”

In the beginning, the song follows Icer’s journey towards becoming a cyborg, while the breakdown unveils the man behind the steel. Classical piano notes express emotion and give character to the story, reflecting the initial motivation behind Icer’s decision to take part in the experiment.

Once human, his transformation becomes unavoidable, and the track shifts its focus to the dystopian part of the story. Building towards the main drop, trance synths slowly take over the production, preparing for the climax as Icer’s transformation reaches its endpoint. Heavy kicks, rolling basslines and orchestral electronic leads drive an aggressive drop, marking the success of the experiment the protagonist is part of.

Although Icer’s identity is now defined by steel and mechanical gestures, the track’s story returns to the human side that remains beneath the transformation.

“At the heart of the track is a recurring three-note motif, Icer’s musical identity. It persists through every stage of the transformation—a reminder that no matter how completely the machine takes over, something human remains underneath,” explains The Amplified Pianist.

The Amplified Pianist: What’s To Follow ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’

Having recently released ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’, the Paris-based DJ and producer has a busy schedule for the months ahead. His next release, ‘Shockwave’, is set to drop on 23 October and is a collaboration with trance producer JARR Head. Similar to ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’, the upcoming release features classic trance elements within its story-like structure.

Beyond ‘Shockwave’, The Amplified Pianist is also working on six other projects, including a trance remix of Mozart’s ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ and a collaboration with Stretch, Tomorrowland’s mainstage MC.

To get a taste of what The Amplified Pianist has in store next, stream ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’ now, available worldwide on major platforms.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Continue Reading

Trending