III Points Festival – Top 12 Acts to See

By Parker Mills

III Points Festival is returning! In a time where it seems a new festival comes around weekly, it’s rare to event that aims to eschew the status quo and challenge not only the expectations of festival goers, but also the cultural perception of the area in which it inhabits. This October, Miami’s III Points Festival aims to do just that as it showcases the Magic City’s finest musicians, artists, and innovators alongside some of the most inspired international acts in music today.

The Music, Art, and Technology festival provides a tantalizing sensory experience as it draws you into a look at the innovations of the past, present and future while honoring the work of the thinkers and creators in their backyard. There are even daily activations in the Wynwood area the Fest calls home which range from yoga, to music panels and even workshops for the tech savvy.

Holding true to their commitment of originality and substance, they’ve curated a lineup of heavy hitters from all over the musical spectrum to help guide us on our three day journey. Check out some of the top acts to see at this year’s III Points Festival, and make sure to get your tickets here while you can!

M83 –

The Grammy award nominated French act M83 will be showcasing their gorgeously ambient synth rock at this years fest in what is sure to be one of the most popular performances of the weekend. Currently led by original founder Anthony Gonzalez, M83 is an innovative act that provides a perfect crossover between electronic and live music, and their releases have an emotive and enchanting appeal that is rare to find. Check out one of their biggest hits, Midnight City, below.

Thievery Corporation –

Rob Garza and Eric Hilton’s multi genre encompassing act infuses influences from the signature sounds of many different nations and cultural movements. From Reggae and dub to Bossa Nova and Hip Hop to Indie Dance, they display a keen understanding and appreciation for significant sounds and movements in the history of music and carefully blend them together to create a blissful experience for us. Join them for what will be sure to be a journey of a performance, and check out their recent album Saudade below!

Flying Lotus –

Flying Lotus’ first performance at 2014’s III Points was a dark and grimy affair, complete with a projection screen that took us on an adventure through his complex and edgy productions in the thick of the hot and sweaty warehouse at Soho Studios. This year we have the pleasure of seeing the recent Grammy Award Winner at Mana Wynwood, where a wild and unpredictable set is all but assured as he regails us with his unique and experimental take on hip hop and bass beats.

Dixon –

A tireless tourer regarded as one of the hardest workers in the business, Dixon is truly something special that reaffirms that DJing, when done properly, is a beautiful art form. Whether it’s preparing last minute edits and re shapes before his shows or always having his finger on the pulse of the scene with new music, Dixon’s sets are more than just a guy mixing records. The innervisions label head builds and maintains a perfect energy through his sets, drawing the listener closer with every turn. Check out his exquisite Essential Mix with labelmate Ame below.

https://soundcloud.com/ame/ame-x-dixon-essential-mix

DJ Tennis –

The Life and Death don wears many hats, from curator, DJ, label manager, and even a toque as a fine Chef. His sets take you on a journey of the dark and the deep, beginning with ambient and melodic while slowly building to a heavy finish. For those of you tired of the same old recycled drum heavy techno, give Tennis a chance and let him take you on an adventure.

https://soundcloud.com/enterofficial/week-6-terrace-dj-tennis-djroom

Earl Sweatshirt –

Earl is coming off the heals of an amazing 2015 with his critically acclaimed I don’t like shit, I don’t go outside and a slew of major festival performances. The rapper who found acclaim as a member of Odd Future has outgrown the shock value lyricism of the past and has since put his impeccable flow and edgy lyricism on display by referencing a lot of his personal demons and issues. While it may seem like heavy subject matter, the bravado and confidence with which he diagnoses himself to us makes for a surprisingly fun and insightful ride. The 22 year old prodigy is just getting started, and his performances are rife with an energy and a presence that is not to be missed.

https://soundcloud.com/ofwgkta-official/chum

Dusky –

The beatmakers from London came bursting onto the scene in 2011 with a highly lauded album and a host of notable releases on Anjunadeep. Fast forward two years later to the release of Beatport #1 hit Careless, and Dusky was in the conversation as the top Deep House Duo in the world, even being named as the best British producers by DJ Mag i 2013. They’ve continued to release an impressive body of work on their 17 steps label while touring the biggest clubs and fests in the world. Check out their landmark release below before they grace Miami in October!

https://soundcloud.com/duskymusic/careless

Kink –

Kink is a pioneering force in techno with a unique style and sound that augment his spectacular live performances. Never one to put on a dull show, the live element adds a degree of unpredictability to his shows as he often is crafting new bootlegs and edits on the spot. His shows have an energy that is especially infectious, driven mainly by his evident passion while performing. Check out his masterful track Cloud Generator below for a taste of what to expect.

https://soundcloud.com/music-24-hrs/kink-cloud-generator

Method Man & Redman –

As if it needed to be said, the Wu Tang duo is gracing Miami with a very special performance that is sure to please every generation of rap fans. With an ear for infectious beats and clever wordplay and punchlines, Method and Red throw one hell of a party for their audience. Don’t miss out on the rare chance to catch these rap legends in October!

https://soundcloud.com/hotnewhiphoprap/method-man-redman-i-used-to-be-explicit

Amtrac –

A multi talented musician, dj, and producer, Amtrac has an eclectic body of work across many different genres of dance. His versatility and ability to blend vocals with dance ready beats has had him on remix duty for heavy hitters such as Kaskade, Ellie Goulding, Zhu, and Alesso. He’s no slouch behind the decks either, with a penchant for groove inducing house and the occasional tech house track to bring the energy up. The artist from Kentucky is forging a major path in dance music, and is definitely one to keep your eye on at this year’s III Points Festival.

https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/kaskade-amtrac-yep

DJ Koze –

DJ Koze is a multiple award winning DJ and producer with deep seeded roots in the hip hop world. It’s this background and appreciation for hip hop that makes his sets such a spectacle, filled with a constant groove and energy that is more in line with an open format DJ’s technique than a house, disco and techno selector. While this influence is apparent, he also infuses brilliantly deep and melodic tunes into his sets and releases, with his remix of Moderat’s Bad Kingdom becoming an instant classic. Check out the remix below and make time for Koze in October.

https://soundcloud.com/aidandeno/moderat-bad-kingdom-dj-koze-remix

LCD Soundsystem

While they may have cancelled many of their shows from November on to work on their new album, attendees of this years III Points will be happy to know they will still be making the pilgrimage to Miami for this years fest. Fronted by DFA Records’ head honcho James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem has been a pioneering force in dance music since their inception in the early 2000’s. Their ability to blend a combination of fun, vibrant vocals with a slew of instrumental addition and synthesizers have led LCD to be a chart topping act, combining many of the elements of disco with those of indie dance and rock. After a brief breakup which saw James turn to DJing amongst other pursuits, LCD is back in 2016 and is absolutely a must for those who love more holistic dance music.

https://soundcloud.com/maxrockatansky-1/lcd-soundsystem-you-wanted-a

Hope to see you at III Points Festival!