Skip to main content

Miami - the closing parties

Farewell to the WMC's 25th anniversary

With all done and dusted, the 25th edition of the Miami Winter Music Conference has taught us two things: that it's bigger and better than ever before and that however little you sleep, you still can't make all the parties.

A whirlwind last day sees us hit the Beatport party where the line tails back from the Gansevoort hotel private beach to the street, while Kaskade is spinning party trance onstage. Rising star Afrojack takes over, his Dirty Dutch squeaks typifying the sound of this year's biggest stages, before Swedish Mafia's Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello follow to raptuous applause.

Back at the Shelborne a marathon set from Danny Tenaglia ensures yet another capacity crowd, drag artist Anthony Lamont prowling the stage in heels, suspenders and an 'I'm in Miami Bitch' t-shirt, passing out fans to the over-heating front row and generally ensuring maximum fierceness alongside dancer Vivacious.

Finally downtown at Bar, we find the international party crew - Mr C, Lee Curtis, Damian Lazarus, Soulclap and more - at Jaime Jones and Lee Foss' Hot Natured. More East in spirit than anywhere in Shoreditch, it's walls are a collage of graffiti, painting and stencils, while the cheapest beers in Maimi keep the party spirit alive.

Just as Jaime is about to take over in the garden, however, the police call moving the party to the nearby Electric Pickle for a set of bottom-heavy disco that continue well beyond dawn.

It might now be older than many of the clubbers that go there but you can be sure that Miami has never been more relevant or fun.