By Chesney Hearst, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – While much of Rio focuses on Carnival, blocos and samba, again this year major names in electronic dance music genre will play at Marina da Glória for the 5th edition of the Rio Music Conference (RMC) Festival. DJs Tiësto, Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin, Bob Sinclar and Erick Morillo will headline the five consecutive nights of the festival starting Friday, February 8th.
“Firstly, the people in Rio always make me feel so welcome,” Colombian-American DJ and producer Erick Morillo told The Rio Times. “Their energy on the dance floor is something you don’t find everywhere, so I’m always super excited to come back to Brazil!”
Currently on his “Brazil Carnival Tour”, Morillo will headline the final night of the festival on February 12th. The man behind such hits as “Live Your Life” and “Where Are You Now” is scheduled to begin a three hour set at 2AM and will be followed by Ask2Quit (feauturing Leo Janeiro, Marcelo Cic and Vagalume VJ) who will start at around 5AM and help party-goers welcome the sunrise on Ash Wednesday.
The festival is one part of the larger Rio Music Conference which began this year on February 1st. Broken down into three segments, the first part of the conference dealt with the business end of the electronic music industry during two days of panels, workshops and networking at the Pestana Rio Atlântica Hotel, located on Copacabana Beach.
The opening ceremony took place on Thrusday, January 31st, with the presentation of the “Prêmio RMC ” awards. Among the honorees, DJ Gui Boratto took home the win for “Best Live Act” and Brazilian House DJ and Rio native, DJ Meme won for “Personality of the year”.
“[Regarding] the RMC, It’s amazing to see how people are takin’ it seriously and using this meeting to improve the EDM [Electronic Dance Music] scene in Brazil,” DJ Meme told The Rio Times. “Now, after five years, I can truly say: IT’S WORKIN’!!”
DJ Meme is scheduled to play on Monday, February 11th, the same night as electronic music legend Bob Sinclar. Known for his use of sample and filtered strings in his DJing and production skills, Sinclar has seen success with several international hits, including 2006’s “World, Hold On (Children of the Sky)” and “Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)”.
Before that though, on February 9th, internationally renowned English DJ Fatboy Slim will take the festival stage around 2AM. Known for the singles “Praise You” and “Weapon of Choice” among others, he has played the Rio Music Conference before and in Brazil numerous times even releasing a DVD in 2008 entitled “Fatboy Slim Incredible Adventures in Brazil”, which chronicled his tour throughout the country.
Dutch DJ and producer Tiësto, is no stranger to success himself. Headlining the first night of the festival, he is well known for his singles “Silence” and his remix of “Adagio For Strings”. His most recent release “Club Life – Volume Two Miami” featured remixes of Gotye’s “Somebody I Used To Know” and Coldplay’s “Paradise” along with original mixes “Chasing Summers” and “Arena”.
With a more minimal and abstract approach to electronic sound, DJ Richard (Richie) Hawtin will headline the night of Sunday, February 10th. Best known for his works done under the name “Plastikman”, Hawtin is said to have acquired a devote fan-base in his over twenty year career.
For a complete schedule of DJs – which includes fifteen other international and Brazilian DJs – and ticket information see the Rio Music Conference website here. “The line-up for Rio Music Conference this year is awesome,” concluded DJ Erick Morillo, adding, “It’s great to be part of such an amazing event. Carnival in Brazil is something everyone must see! It’s magical.”
5th Annual Rio Music Conference
Dates: February 8th – 12th, 2013
Venue: Marina da Glória
Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique,s/n – Marina da Gloria – RJ
Minimum age: 18 years old
Tickets: See prices and locations
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