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2012 was the year that electronic dance music blew up — at

Published 8:00 am Friday, December 7, 2012

Boulder, Colorado-based electronica duo Big Gigantic played Red Rocks on September 29, 2012. This is the first headlining show for Big Gigantic at Red Rocks. This is sold out. The light show is unprecedented. There are so many firsts tonight, but all they want in this moment is to get rowdy...
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Boulder, Colorado-based electronica duo Big Gigantic played Red Rocks on September 29, 2012. This is the first headlining show for Big Gigantic at Red Rocks. This is sold out. The light show is unprecedented. There are so many firsts tonight, but all they want in this moment is to get rowdy...
Boulder, Colorado-based electronica duo Big Gigantic played Red Rocks on September 29, 2012. This is the first headlining show for Big Gigantic at Red Rocks. This is sold out. The light show is unprecedented. There are so many firsts tonight, but all they want in this moment is to get rowdy...
On May 19, The Electric Daisy Carnival's fluorescent takeover of MetLife Stadium was in full effect. See more photos from Electric Daisy Carnival in New York.
A eight-hour all-you-can-eat beat buffet was served up to a sea of rave fanatics, club kids, and EDM aficionados during the Identity Festival in Phoenix in August. See more photos from Identity Fest in Phoenix.
HARD Fest celebrated Day Of The Dead on Saturday, November 3 with 35,000 of its closest friends for a sold out extravaganza at Los Angeles State Historic Park with performances from Justice, Major Lazer, Jack beats, Knife Party, Dillion Frances, Zeds Dead and more. See more photos of HARD Fest: Day of the Dead.
Porn and Chicken, Chicago's crazy Dubstep party, came to the Studio at Webster Hall on Saturday, September 8. See more photos from Porn and Chicken in New York.
Summer Set Music & Camping Festival combined jam bands, hip hop artists, dubstep and electronic acts, as well as reggae and indie music -- all just outside the Twin Cities in Somerset, Wisconsin in August. See more Summer Set 2012 photos.
A eight-hour all-you-can-eat beat buffet was served up to a sea of rave fanatics, club kids, and EDM aficionados during the Identity Festival in Phoenix in August. See more photos from Identity Fest in Phoenix.
A scene from Bassnectar's show in October in San Francisco. Get more Bassnectar: Bassnectar in San Francisco and Bass Instincts: How Bassnectar Came to Rule American Dance Music.
Shot at the Bassgasm party at First Avenue in Minneapolis in September.
On May 19, The Electric Daisy Carnival's fluorescent takeover of MetLife Stadium was in full effect. See more photos from Electric Daisy Carnival in New York.
A eight-hour all-you-can-eat beat buffet was served up to a sea of rave fanatics, club kids, and EDM aficionados during the Identity Festival in Phoenix in August. See more photos from Identity Fest in Phoenix.
A eight-hour all-you-can-eat beat buffet was served up to a sea of rave fanatics, club kids, and EDM aficionados during the Identity Festival in Phoenix in August. See more photos from Identity Fest in Phoenix.
Shot at HARD Summer Music Fest in LA in August.
Steve Aoki in St. Louis in February. See more: Champagne, Cranberry Juice and Sweat Accompany Steve Aoki at the Pageant.
Shot at the Bassgasm party at First Avenue in Minneapolis in September.
A scene from Bassnectar's show in October in San Francisco. Get more Bassnectar: Bassnectar in San Francisco and Bass Instincts: How Bassnectar Came to Rule American Dance Music.
HARD Fest celebrated Day Of The Dead on Saturday, November 3 with 35,000 of its closest friends for a sold out extravaganza at Los Angeles State Historic Park with performances from Justice, Major Lazer, Jack beats, Knife Party, Dillion Frances, Zeds Dead and more. See more photos of HARD Fest: Day of the Dead.
A eight-hour all-you-can-eat beat buffet was served up to a sea of rave fanatics, club kids, and EDM aficionados during the Identity Festival in Phoenix in August. See more photos from Identity Fest in Phoenix.
On Friday, February 3, DJ A-Trak and Spank Rock joined Dubstep's most famous haircut for a concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York. See more photos of Skrillex and A-Trak at Roseland Ballroom.
On Friday, February 3, DJ A-Trak and Spank Rock joined Dubstep's most famous haircut for a concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York. See more photos of Skrillex and A-Trak at Roseland Ballroom.
On Friday, February 3, DJ A-Trak and Spank Rock joined Dubstep's most famous haircut for a concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York. See more photos of Skrillex and A-Trak at Roseland Ballroom.
A scene from Bassnectar's show in October in San Francisco. Get more Bassnectar: Bassnectar in San Francisco and Bass Instincts: How Bassnectar Came to Rule American Dance Music.
A scene from Bassnectar's show in October in San Francisco. Get more Bassnectar: Bassnectar in San Francisco and Bass Instincts: How Bassnectar Came to Rule American Dance Music.
Shot at HARD Summer Music Fest in LA in August.
Something Wicked Festival, an eight-hour dance extravaganza in the field next to the Sam Houston Race Park, went down in October in Houston. See more Something Wicked Music Fest photos.
A scene from Pulse Music Festival in St. Louis.
A scene from Pulse Music Festival in St. Louis.
On Friday, February 3, DJ A-Trak and Spank Rock joined Dubstep's most famous haircut for a concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York. See more photos of Skrillex and A-Trak at Roseland Ballroom.
Shot at the Bassgasm party at First Avenue in Minneapolis in September.
A scene from Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March. More Ultra Music Festival photos.
Summer Set Music & Camping Festival combined jam bands, hip hop artists, dubstep and electronic acts, as well as reggae and indie music -- all just outside the Twin Cities in Somerset, Wisconsin in August. See more Summer Set 2012 photos.
Porn and Chicken, Chicago's crazy Dubstep party, came to the Studio at Webster Hall on Saturday, September 8. See more photos from Porn and Chicken in New York.
Shot at HARD Summer Music Fest in LA in August.
A scene from Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March. More Ultra Music Festival photos.
Colorado's largest indoor dance festival, Skylab, came to the Denver Coliseum once more on September 22. See more Skylab 2012 photos.
Kaskade's Freaks of Nature Tour came to Houston in July.
Colorado's largest indoor dance festival, Skylab, came to the Denver Coliseum once more on September 22. See more Skylab 2012 photos.
HARD Fest celebrated Day Of The Dead on Saturday, November 3 with 35,000 of its closest friends for a sold out extravaganza at Los Angeles State Historic Park with performances from Justice, Major Lazer, Jack beats, Knife Party, Dillion Frances, Zeds Dead and more. See more photos of HARD Fest: Day of the Dead.
A scene from Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March. More Ultra Music Festival photos.
A scene from Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March. More Ultra Music Festival photos.
On Friday, February 3, DJ A-Trak and Spank Rock joined Dubstep's most famous haircut for a concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York. See more photos of Skrillex and A-Trak at Roseland Ballroom.
A scene from Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March. More Ultra Music Festival photos.
Shot on Night 1 of the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival in November.
Something Wicked Festival, an eight-hour dance extravaganza in the field next to the Sam Houston Race Park, went down in October in Houston. See more Something Wicked Music Fest photos.
Steve Aoki in St. Louis in February. See more: Champagne, Cranberry Juice and Sweat Accompany Steve Aoki at the Pageant.
HARD Fest celebrated Day Of The Dead on Saturday, November 3 with 35,000 of its closest friends for a sold out extravaganza at Los Angeles State Historic Park with performances from Justice, Major Lazer, Jack beats, Knife Party, Dillion Frances, Zeds Dead and more. See more photos of HARD Fest: Day of the Dead.
Kaskade's Freaks of Nature Tour came to Houston in July.
Shot at HARD Summer Music Fest in LA in August.
Spotted at Global Dance Festival - Minneapolis in July.
Something Wicked Festival, an eight-hour dance extravaganza in the field next to the Sam Houston Race Park, went down in October in Houston. See more Something Wicked Music Fest photos.
HARD Fest celebrated Day Of The Dead on Saturday, November 3 with 35,000 of its closest friends for a sold out extravaganza at Los Angeles State Historic Park with performances from Justice, Major Lazer, Jack beats, Knife Party, Dillion Frances, Zeds Dead and more. See more photos of HARD Fest: Day of the Dead.
Whether it was for one night of dance music or all three, dubstep, electro house, & even trance fans had reason to make their way downtown to Global Dance Festival in July in Minneapolis.
Spotted on Night 2 of the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival in November.
A scene from Bassnectar's show in October in San Francisco. Get more Bassnectar: Bassnectar in San Francisco and Bass Instincts: How Bassnectar Came to Rule American Dance Music.
On May 19, The Electric Daisy Carnival's fluorescent takeover of MetLife Stadium was in full effect. See more photos from Electric Daisy Carnival in New York.
Shot at HARD Summer Music Fest in LA in August.
Something Wicked Festival, an eight-hour dance extravaganza in the field next to the Sam Houston Race Park, went down in October in Houston. See more Something Wicked Music Fest photos.
HARD Fest celebrated Day Of The Dead on Saturday, November 3 with 35,000 of its closest friends for a sold out extravaganza at Los Angeles State Historic Park with performances from Justice, Major Lazer, Jack beats, Knife Party, Dillion Frances, Zeds Dead and more. See more photos of HARD Fest: Day of the Dead.
Spotted at Global Dance Festival - Minneapolis in July.
Spotted at Global Dance Festival - Minneapolis in July.

2012 was the year that electronic dance music blew up — at least in the eyes of the mainstream media and the Grammys. Still though, it was undoubtedly a good year for the genre, from the dubstep purveyors to the beat scene to the underground. Here’s a look back at EDM parties large and small — and the people who fill the dancefloor — from coast to coast this year.Published on December 6, 2012

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