More Miami WMC - Guide for the progressively obsessed

While March may turn the legion of touring internationals visiting our shores from a torrent to a trickle, if you got the moola then Miami is ripe for the picking this month. Yes, it's the annual Miami Winter Music Conference, taking place between March 24th - 28th. While there have been many pretenders in recent years (South America for example) this is the primo event of its kind. While other supposed music conferences are little more than an extended dance music festival/drug binge, The Miami WMC, now in its 21st year, is regarded as the singular networking event in the dance music industry. And for lovers of progressive it is heaven on a pogo stick. So for those of you who are going and want the Aural Evolution guide…or those who just want to read on and feel sorry for themselves, here's a few recommended events.

While the Miami WMC officially kicks off on the Friday, get there early and check out Proton Radio Live Sessions at The Penthouse on Thursday the 23rd. If you're into progressive and have even the slightest familiarity with internet radio you'll know of Proton Radio. In just four years of existence, Proton Radio has grown to become internet broadcasting's flag bearer for underground dance music. Thousands of people tune in daily to the 80+ original shows, broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Djs playing this event include Omid 16b, Ozgur Can & Rouzbeh Delavari, Shiloh, Can Costa, Derek Howell, James Lauer, Blake Jarrell (Live) and Villo.

Hand in hand with the WMC is the Ultra Music Festival whic takes place on Saturday the 25th at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami. To call the lineup massive would be an understatement and this year the bill includes Prodigy, Carl Cox, Erick Morillo, Sander Kleinenberg, Paul Oakenfold, Richie Hawtin, Danny Howells, Josh Wink, Bad Boy Bill and DJ Icey

There are a number of events worth mentioning on Sunday the 26. First up and in its seventh year is Rest, Relax & Recover BBQ, partially put on by TCA (the North American DJ Agency to which a number of progressive international have links to including Melbourne's Luke Chable). True to its name, the event goes from 1pm - 7pm with a lineup I've been told is almost as tasty as the BBQ itself: Chris Fortier, Steve Porter, Luke Fair, Quivver, Sean Cusick…how you like 'em sausages- Kick on with the ProgressiveHouse.com crew @ The Penthouse from 12 - 6am with Habersham, Stel, Derek Howell, Blue Room Project & Can Costa. And perhaps the event of the night is the shindig put on by Melbourne's Balance crew. The lineup always includes a great selection of past, present and future contributors to the Balance compilation series. So while I'd say Desyn Masiello and Paolo Mojo would just about be certainties, don't be surprised to see Chris Fortier and/or James Holden on the lineup.
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