WMC 2011 – Best Bets

Breaking down the best of the Winter Music Conference events this week

It's well-known that Winter Music Conference split with the Ultra Music Festival this year after a mostly harmonious coexistence over the past decade. Look at it any way you want, but for those electronic music fans who can make it to Miami for both weeks (WMC is from March 8-12, while UMF runs from March 25-27, with events surrounding it all that week), it's pretty much "double your pleasure."
 
Here are the best events from the first wave of WMC:
 

Tuesday, March 8

The Official WMC Opening Party Featuring Def Mix
When: 9 p.m.
Where: The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St., Miami; $10, free with WMC badge.
It doesn't get any more old-school than this, which is what the Conference is all about this year. Check out Godfathers of House including Chicago's Frankie Knuckles (who's had a street named after him in the Windy City by President Obama), Grammy-winning NYC remix master David Morales (known for turning numerous pop hits, including many by Mariah Carey, into dance-floor bombs), and Hector Romero, who brings a Latin flavor to his Bronx-kissed beats.

Frankie Knuckles & The Shapeshifters - The Ones You Love (DJ Meme Remix - Web Edit) by TheShapeshifters

Wednesday, March 9

GoBig at Mekka Miami
When: 10 p.m.
Where:  Mekka, 950 NE 2nd Ave, Miami; $20, free with WMC badge
Huge lineup covers 17 hours and five rooms, with marquee names including Om Records veteran Mark Farina, known for his "Mushroom Jazz" acid grooves; Philly soul DJ King Britt, who founded Ovum records with Josh Wink; NYC's Junior Sanchez, who recently teamed up with Miami homeboy Oscar G in January at Mansion; and dozens more.

King Britt – I can’t wait (Milk&Sugar Club Mix) by Brickhouse Records

Thursday, March 10

Nikki Beach Miami Presents Electric Beach
When: Noon – 5 a.m.
Where: Nikki Beach, 1 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; $25, free with WMC badge
The sexiest party of the week features another 17 hours of nonstop house grooves, both out on the sand and inside. Celebrate German house DJ Tom Novy's birthday, along with "Subliminal Sessions" star Harry "Choo Choo" Romero, Japanese DJ Satoshi Tomiie (who gave us the classic "Love In Traffic"), energetic West Coast DJ Donald Glaude, Deep Dish protege Behrouz and Dirty Vegas' Paul Harris.

Satoshi Tomiie - Lives & Mixes by Electro-Mix-Memory

Friday, March 11

Nervous Presents Made In Miami with Oscar G and Friends
When: Noon - 10:30 p.m.
Where: Shelborne Hotel pool, 1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; $20, free with WMC badge
One of Miami's biggest stars brings his tribal and Latin-tinged sound, along with Ralph Falcon, his partner in Murk ("Dark Beat"); former Miami Heat star center Rony Seikaly, whose skills behind the decks have blossomed to where he scored a compilation mix on Erick Morillo's Subliminal Records label; and other local heroes Jon Cowan, Edgar V and Stryke. Then stick around at the Shelborne for the WeAreOne party starting at 10 p.m., with progressive house stars Dave Seaman and Desyn Masiello.

OSCAR G & RALPH FALCON - Dark beat 2010 (Ivan Gomez & Nacho Chapado remix) by NACHO CHAPADO

Saturday, March 12

Salted Gets Deep
When: 9 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Where: Club Play, 1045 Fifth St., Miami Beach; $20, half-price with WMC badge.
Sexy, soulful deep house is on display as San Francisco star Miguel Migs performs an exclusive set in support of his Salted record label, along with Marques Wyatt, singer Lisa Shaw and eclectic veteran DJ Julius Papp.

Miguel Migs ft Sadat-X - Shake It Up (Miguel Migs Salted Dub Deluxe) by madbrain

Sunday, March 13

Danny Tenaglia & Friends Pool Party
When: 11 a.m. – until ???
Where: The Surfcomber Hotel Pool, 1717 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; $25 before 2 p.m., free with WMC badge
How else to close out WMC, other than with the man who, more than any other DJ, has defined what the Conference is all about? Over the past 25 years (Danny T has missed only one WMC, the very first one) the NYC DJ has introduced the most cutting-edge tracks to Miami, always staying ahead of the curve in terms of new music. He's known for his marathon sets, sometimes touching 16 hours, but who knows how long he'll play?

Danny Tenaglia - Elements The D Tour by Jake Williams

Miguel Migs