Mysteryland USA 2016 returns for its third consecutive year on the grounds of Woodstock in Bethel Woods, New York with a highly eclectic pool of talent that has fans anxiously waiting for June 10-13 to arrive. Mysteryland is well-known for its assorted selection of talent that can adhere to almost any fan’s musical tastes. While huge artists like ODESZA, Skrillex, and Bassnectar are taking on the main stage, there is lots of time to check out some of the other diverse acts that have been gaining some major recognition in the past year. Read on to see our top 5 artists that we're most excited for at Mysteryland USA, and keep an eye out for more artist announcements. Tickets are available here.
• Illenium
For those of you who are huge fans of artists using live instrumentation during their sets, this is the guy you’ll be wanting to see. Melodic and future bass master Illenium has made some serious strides in the past couple months since the release of his debut album Ashes in February. On top of the album rocketing to #1 on the US iTunes Dance chart the day it came out, many of his other tracks have garnered millions of plays with ease. His remix of Kaskade’s “Disarm You” received support from Kaskade himself, and his take on The Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down” has already been streamed 6 million times in under a month on SoundCloud alone – with only one listen it’s easy to see why. Illenium’s live performances evoke an emotive aura and his cinematic, transcendent style of music transports you to a blissful world, vibing perfectly with the Mysteryland atmosphere.
• Claptone
The man behind Claptone may very well be more mysterious than Mysteryland itself. The producer’s Venetian Mask and iconic top hat have become a staple symbol in his quest to fiercely protect his identity, and adds an intriguing compliment to his deep house live and DJ sets. His performances have been known to be quite mystical as his mask bobs and moves to his enticing, dark rhythms bursting through the speakers. He’s recently wrapped up his largest tour in support of his debut album Charmer, and has cemented himself as a top-tier tastemaker with his weekly CLAPCAST series on Kiss FM. The Berlin-based enigma will be taking over this year’s festival grounds with his can't-miss quirky, deep house party grooves.
• Claude Vonstroke
Dirtybird head honcho Claude Vonstroke not only stands out for his unmistakable style of house music, but also for his demeanor, always instilling humble vibes and good times in his sets everywhere. His enigmatic style ranges from house, funk, to dirty techno, and he has toured in almost every city, festival, and underground scenes you can think of. After creating his dirtybird label in 2005 and following it up with his debut album Beware of the Bird in 2006, Vonstroke has solidified himself as one of the most influential producers of the tech house genre. You can expect to be getting down and dirty at his Mysteryland set as he brings his signature house party vibes to the Woodstock grounds.
• Rezz
20-year-old Niagara Falls-native REZZ has gained some significant momentum in last two months after the release of her EP The Silence is Deafening on the mau5trap label. The newcomer brings forth a harder and more sinister style of techno that will cater to fans who appreciate the sounds of Deadmau5 and Gesaffelstein. Her gritty, unique style of production has also captured the attention of OWLSA labelhead Skrillex and her performances have admirers labeling her as the new queen of the dark techno scene.
• Emancipator
Douglas Appling, aka Emancipator, has been around for awhile, but that doesn’t mean he’s not deserving of praise. Since the release of his 2006 debut album Soon It Will be Cold Enough, the Seattle-based producer has been climbing his way up the ranks since and has gathered a rather strong following from both artists and fans alike. His natural approach to trip-hop and downtempo rhythms stands out in his field, and with the introduction of his live performance in 2015, he’s been able to woo over crowds everywhere.
