CloseUp whips up biggest party with Summer Solstice

MANILA, Philippines - Surging to the forefront of mainstream tastes, Electronic Dance Music, better known as EDM, has amassed an infectious movement that has rapidly infiltrated the Philippines.

On April 27, catch the largest EDM dance party that will ever rock the country — because what’s better than partying with one international DJ? Seven.

Afrojack, Apster, Alex Gaudino, Cedric Gervais, Cobra Starship, Dev, the JumpSmokers, Sandwich, SpongeCola and UrbanDub will be summoning all music lovers, partygoers and adventure seekers to the CloseUp Summer Solstice Music Festival for 12 hours of music, dance and fun.

From sunset to sunrise, the CloseUp Summer Solstice is 12 hours of non-stop music (4 p.m. to 4 a.m.) featuring the perfect mix of local flavor, mainstream hits, party-rocking beats and remixes that will blow your mind — making it the must-go dance party of the summer.

Afrojack. Who better to headline an electronic dance music party than the man who can “Rock The House” himself? In less than two years, Afrojack has become one of electronic dance music’s major icons. From humble DJ beginnings in his native country of Holland, he has grown to become a multi-award winning, platinum-selling producer with two Grammys under his belt. Afrojack has collaborated with the likes of David Guetta (co-writing and producing the worldwide smash Titanium). In 2011, he co-wrote and produced Give Me Everything for Pitbull and Ne-Yo. Not to mention his work for Beyoncé’s Run the World (Girls) and his remix for Leona Lewis’ Collide.

Alex Gaudino. No music fest is complete without a DJ who knows how to make trademark summer tracks. If anyone can transform a Joan Jett classic, it’s Alex. After propelling I Love Rock and Roll into the club anthem, Alex has been unstoppable creating hits such as Destination Calabria and What a Feeling featuring Kelly Rowland. Even Pete Tong, couldn’t ignore him, dubbing him as “one of the most prolific producers in Italy,” and prolific he was, dropping beat after beat, collaborating with Taio Cruz, Taboo of Black Eyed Peas, Jordin Sparks, Mario and Jay Sean.

Apster. The brightest star rising from the prolific Dutch House Scene, Apster has already turned the heads of big players Steve Aoki and Afrojack. Sheer talent has gotten Apster multiple collaboration with industry greats, propelling him into thriving international dance scenes including Italy, Spain, Turkey, Bulgaria, Aruba and now, Manila.Jump Smokers. Club rockers, chart-toppers, floor fillers, remix masters, beat blasters and radio rulers — the Jump Smokers will definitely know how to work up a crowd. The three-man crew consisting of Flipside, Reydon, Roman and Johnny Digital, have been nicknamed as “Kings of the Dance Floor” because of their dance club anthems. From Pitbull (Don’t Stop the Party), to Usher, to RiRi and even Mariah Carey, these guys can make any beat, and anyone dance.

Cobra Starship. Promising to come out with an album a year, Cobra Starship has certainly earned the attention of fans and the support of the entertainment industry. From collaborations with Kara DioGuardi and Ryan Tedder to featuring Leighton Meester on Good Girls Go Bad, Cobra Starship owns the dance anthems of this generation, with its sights set on owning the next wave of dance hits.

Cedric Gervais. As the youngest DJ to ever get a residency at Paris’ Queen club, Cedric has been a mainstay in high-profile clubs Liv in Miami and Marquee in Las Vegas. The French DJ elevated the Miami and Vegas clubbing scene. His two hits — Molly and his rendition of Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness — have topped various charts.

Dev. A small-town girl with a big-city attitude might confuse people, but there’s no mistaking the voice of Dev as she is the voice behind Like a G6, Bass Down Low, In the Dark and you may recognize her voice from several of the Cataracs songs.

Sandwich. After being the first Filipino rock band to play international festivals Hollywood Bowl and the Clockenflap Festival, Sandwich plays for a music festival at home. Let a decade and five of pure talent and artistry ignite your Pinoy pride with Sandwich.

Spongecola. With hit after hit dominating the MYX Countdown and the MYX Music Awards, the boys of Spongecola from Ateneo have gone a long way from their earliest gigs along Katipunan to jampacking big-name stadiums and venues today. Sponge Cola has brought the OPM vibe to international performances including the Globe Concert in Taiwan, Du World Music Fest in Dubai and even sharing the stage with Al Green and Lupe Fiasco.

UrbanDub. Sharing the stage with awesome acts like Lost Prophets, New Found Glory, Simple Plan and Deftones, Urbandub has been working the international circuit touring Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai.

Tickets to the Summer Solstice on April 27 at the Mall of Asia Open Grounds are available in all Ticketnet, Ticketworld and SM ticket outlets. Prices are P5,000, P2,000 and P500. For details, log on to www.closeupsummersolstice.com.ph.