Global Dance Festival 2015: A Field Guide to Tonight's Event in Chandler

If you follow electronic dance music, no doubt you’re aware that it’s invaded numerous genres since exploding in popularity in 2011, including rap, reggae, rock and pop. Perhaps its most curious crossover, however, has been with the country scene, such as Audien's teaming up with Lady Antebellum or Avicii's producing a track with bluegrass singer-songwriter Dan Tyminski.

This collision of down-home vibes and dope beats will occur once more, albeit in a different fashion, when the Arizona version of the Global Dance Festival goes down tonight at Rawhide in Chandler.

That’s because the GDF, which has sister events in Colorado and Missouri, boasts a “Wild West” theme. And though you probably won’t hear many of the DJs or dance music artists scheduled to perform tonight spinning remixes of country crooners, the festival will feature EDM-style raging taking place within Rawhide’s Western Town theme park. Close to two dozen different performers and artist will serve up big beats on three different stages scattered throughout the venue.


Although this isn’t Rawhide’s first EDM rodeo, pardner, since its hosted big DJ events like Mad Decent Block Party and the Crush Music Festival in the past, it’s the first event to embrace the venue’s shtick.

Besides all the beats being sling, the Global Dance Festival will also offer such attractions and disctractions as mechanical bulls, a rock wall, and even a "kandi station." Needless to say, it’s going to be a busy night with plenty going on, so it might behoove you to be aware of everything involved with attending. With that in mind, here’s our guide to the event, which includes everything you’ll need to know.

Time/Place: Global Dance Festival - Wild West Edition will go down from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, November 20, at Rawhide, 5700 West North Loop Road in Chandler.

Price: General admission is $59. VIP tickets are $99 and will feature a swag bag, souvenir lanyard, quick entry, and exclusive viewing areas.

Lineup: The festival headliners will include Big Gigantic, Cashmere Cat, Deorro, Gener8ion, Gesaffelstein, Marshmello, Mija, NGHTMRE, RL Grime, SBCR, Sweater Beats, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Logan Bohbot, Kyle Redman, Sunna Zaida, and Gesaffelstein. Meanwhile, local DJs like Sean Watson, Dark Mark, Silent J., Brett Ortiz, Goodtimemiller, Bijou, Dj'in Smooth, Joeyyy, and others are also scheduled to perform.

Getting There: Hop onto the eastbound Interstate 10 and take it to Exit 162 and head towards the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. Eventually, you'll want to turn onto Sundust Road and follow the various signs that will guide you to the parking lot. Shuttle service will also be offered from The Graduate hotel in Tempe for $10.

Parking: It’ll run you anywhere from $10 to $20 per car to park at the event.

Age Limits: If you’re over 18, you can attend. If you’re over 21, you can also drink.

Weather: It’s going to be around 70 degrees at the start of the festival and in the mid-50s by the time the last act finished. Dress accordingly or keep dancing to stay warm.

Food and Drink: If you get hungry or thirsty, the Western Town will feature a pizza tavern and a few food vendors, as well as a couple of bars and free water stations.

Bring: A valid ID, hoodie or jacket, and comfy footwear are pretty much a necessity for the festival. In regards to what’s permitted into the event, fanny packs or small backs, empty water bottles or bladder systems, festival totems, inflatable toys, banners, flags, hats, glow toys, flow toys, and costumes are all allowed. And if you’re going to be jonesing for nicotine, cigarettes are okay (as long as the packs are sealed upon entry), as are e-cigs and vaporizers (provided you’re using those without refillable chambers filled with visible juice).

Don’t Bring: Drugs or related paraphernalia, pets or animals, lasers, weapons, projectiles, blankets, outside food or beverages, stickers, or eye drops. Pre-opened cigarette packs, cosmetics, or tampons aren’t allowed either. And while sporting a Native American headdress was pretty popular during Halloween, it won’t be permitted at the festival, bro.

After-Party: If you've still got energy once the festival wraps up at 2 a.m., Mija and Sean Watson will headline the official after-party at the Monarch Theatre. It goes until 6 a.m. and had a $15 cover.


Schedule and Set Times: As we mentioned, the DJs and artists scheduled to appear at the GDF will be spread out over three different stages located along Main Street in Rawhide’s Western Town. And while this likely will prevent everyone from being jammed in front of a single stage, it might lead to choosing between some of your favorite acts if they happen to be performing at the same time. In order to help you plan your evening accordingly, here’s a list of who’s playing but also when and where they’ll be doing it.

ALAMO STAGE:

6:00 p.m. - Goodtimemiller
6:40 p.m. - Bijou
7:20 p.m. - NGHTMRE
8:20 p.m. - Mija
9:20 p.m. - Marshmello
10:30 p.m. - Big Gigantic
11:45 p.m. - RL Grime
12:45 a.m. - Deorro

?TOMBSTONE STAGE:

6:00 p.m. - Logan Bohbot
6:30 p.m. - Sean Watson
7:30 p.m. - Gener8ion
8:30 p.m. - Sweater Beats
9:30 p.m. - Cashmere Cat
10:30 p.m. - Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Midnight - Gesaffelstein
1:30 a.m. - SBCR

OK CORRAL STAGE:

6:30 p.m. - Blossom DJ
7:10 p.m. - Dj'in Smooth
7:50 p.m. - Silent J
8:30 p.m. - Dark Mark
9:10 p.m. - Joeyyy
9:50 p.m. - Sean Watson
10:30 p.m. - Brett Ortiz
11:10 p.m. - Logan Bohbot
11:50 p.m. - Jeremiah Christo
12:40 a.m. - Kyle Redman
1:20 a.m. - Sunna Zaida