Early Monday morning, Belgium’s Tomorrowland Festival drew to a dream-like close after attracting record crowds (the final numbers showed nearly 200,000 attended over three days this year). Sporadic rain could not and did not deter Dutch, French and Belgian fans of electronic music who flocked en masse to the event, which is quickly emerging as Europe’s answer to the Electric Daisy Carnival and now firmly established as a global DJ circuit “must” for fans and industry alike.
But the truth is Tomorrowland is in many ways better than EDC. Here are just five reasons to hit this sensorial experiential extravaganza next year (start saving up now, tickets sold out early this year and will again in 2012).
• Mind Blowing Stage Design
The first edition of Tomorrowland was a modest affair that drew around 9000 in 2005. Every subsequent year, the brothers Manu and Michiel Beers, the brain trust behind the mega fest, have sunk more money into elaborate set productions that give Tomorrowland an almost Disneyland-on-drugs feel.
This year, an Alice in Wonderland theme took over the main stage in a vision that would make Tim Burton proud. Think a giant oak tree a dozen feet in diameter, with long roots that run the length of the stage for starters. Then, add in mushrooms, which dotted the area near the main stage DJ booth (replete with actual working fountains watering fungi and a gigantic face staring back at dancers).
The main stage was just one production piece at the fest, with other stages taking on more sinister (yet no less thrilling) tones. Lasers shot out of the eyes of a giant head at a different stage, for example. None of the stagecraft took away from the sound quality, which was stellar at each of the nine or so areas pumping out beats. Want a silly carnival ride? Head to EDC. Want money poured into the actual stages where you see the DJs you came to see? Come to Tomorrowland.
Those reasons are weak…That sex house is nasty. Yeah can I rent a sex shack with some tp and condoms please, oh you have given it a good spray down since the last scumbag got lucky in there, nice! I’m sure it’s the place I want to bring a real class act lady. EDC looks like a great production, glitz and glamor, Tomorrowland looks more like a festival, and depending on what you want you will like one better, or could like both the same depending on your mood. This summary is weak though.
I think EDC Vegas is nice going from 8 pm to sunrise!!! Las Vegas also serves booze all night!! They are two completely different festivals. One you camp out and meEt tons of cool people and the other you stay in sick hotels and party with cool people!!! One has lakes and one has pool parties during the day!!! Both two amazing experiences one must go to both..and sensation!!!
Tomorrowland is in a whole different country. Of course it’s going to be different and probably a whole lot more lenient.
I seen the trailer for Tonorrowland 2011 and by all means its a festival I want to attend in the near future, but I wouldn’t say it totally \trumps\ EDC. The line up is very much similar, the stage at Tomorrowland is a lot more creative but the stages at EDC were just as grand with the money invested in the sounds and lights, which is why we go to these music festivals in the first place right? For the music? The whole sex room thing is totally pointless to me, solely based on my opinion. The 3 days of massive partying is the whole point, wouldn’t say sex and food is a total trump on EDC. They bring in just about the same amount of people… So I’m not quite understanding the cocky hype. Overall, EDC is amazing event and I’m more than sure Tomorrowland is too, so I would give them both the respect I’m sure they deserve. They both work hard for it to be enjoyable to us so at the end of the day it comes down to the music and what you make of it. Definitely wouldn’t say it’s better than another for those five reasons though.
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1. Mind Blowing stage Design. I’m pretty sure that the majority of people who go to these events are not there for the creative art designs on the stage. Yes it may have been a bigger stage, but why? Just so you can hide the performers? Lights and sounds are what the majority of the crowd goes for so if you like the artistic spin on tomorrow lands stages then cool good for you.. 2. Next level food and drinks. Everytime I’ve been to EDC I have not eaten once. When you are messed up on drugs, the last thing you want is to eat. Plus who goes there for gormet food? Personally I go there for the music. 3. Better booking. Have you even seen EDC’s lineup? It’s basically the exact same. Plus and Minus a few people. Tomorrowland may have more, but I just want the best, in which they both have. 4. Lakes and Trees. WHO CARES ABOUT LAKES AND TREES!? I’m busy with watching the stages. Why would I take precious time out of the short little time I do have when I’m there to nature watch?!?! 5. Tomrrow land wants to get you laid. Do you know where EDC was this year? Las Vegas. The city of sin, the city that never sleeps.. Tomorrow land might want to get you laid, but the entire city wants to get you laid for EDC. Wedding chappels everywhere, shit go get married! Then to respond the the comments. 200,000 people. There was 230,000 people at EDC 2011. Easy to get drugs. Your in Las Vegas! It’s not even funny how easy it is to get any drug you want. Let’s just say they are the same. Not one is better. They are both the best in each area. Next time come up with better reasons if your going to say it’s better.
two hundred thousand people… Belgium, lakes, amazing djs, fireworks!! HOT EUROPEAN GIRLS!! easy to obtain drugs!!! tomorrowland seems way better to me… lol
how did u get them in the festival its self like i dnt want no fake shit lmao plus what where the prices for like molly acid etc…
This year was the first year I went to Tomorrowland and all I can say is WOW!!! I was one of few Americans but I can say for sure that there’s nothing like this in the US and probably never will be! ID&T did not spare a dime in putting this together – fireworks every night (on multiple stages), amazing lights in every tent/stage, clean porta-poties (which is so rare at US festivals), stellar line-up every day. I had goosebumps on the hour.
this makes it seem like edc doesnt put money into its stages. The kinetic field at edc the last two years was quite a bit bigger than the tomorrowland main stage, with WAY more lights. Some may prefer the creativity of tomorrowland’s stages, but in terms of pure stage power nothing tops edc and its not a good reason tomorrowland is better
That’s just not true about Kinetic stage, Pat. I was at EDC in Vegas and the main stage at Tomorowland was much bigger. But you are right Insomniac *did* put a lot of money into sound and lighting and the main stage was awesome in that respect. The lights may have been better at the main stage, but the actual stage was cooler and bigger at Tomorrowland.
ill take your word for it since i judging the tomorrowland stage from pics and vids, and i know the kinetic field stage seemed bigger when i was standing right next to it than it does in pictures. two conclusions though, 1) edc was still amazing, even though nothing in the us can compete with tomorrowland, and 2) ive got to get my ass to belgium next year!
I don’t know, I’d say those reasons are just about as good as any why EDC is a waste. Looks more fun to me than EDC.
Um those are some shitty reasons.