Summer is slowly coming to a close. There’s nothing we can do to slow it down (trust me, I have tried) but at least we can go out with a bang, right? Enter, North Coast Music Festival, labeled by many as ‘Summer’s Last Stand.’ The Festival has made Chicago its home since 2010, and is for many the last big party before going back into real life for nine months. I tried to compile a list of eight acts I think you absolutely should not miss. You won’t see artists like Bassnectar, Snoop Dogg or Zeds dead on this list because we all know who they are, and if you can, do not miss any of their sets. My list is consisted mainly of artists that not every attendee will know, it includes some Chicago locals, some growing trap names and some sets that you will dance your asses off at. Have a great time this weekend!

*Buy Tickets to NCMF 2014 Here*

Keys N Krates

Keys N Krates is a three piece band/DJ team from Canada. They consist of a live drummer, a turn tablist, and a synthesizer/keyboardist. Since emerging in 2008, they have been wowing dance floors all across the nation with their unique take on live electronic music. Their fame explosion came at the same time as the ‘renaissance’ of trap music. Tracks off their ‘SOLOW EP’ have been played out by the likes of Flosstradamus, Major Lazer and TNGHT. They prove that a live dance music performance can and should be much more than a person in front of his decks and a computer.

 

What So Not

What can be said about What So Not that hasn’t already been said in 2014? Flume and Emoh teamed up in 2013, after what I expect was an itch to create a bit of a heavier, more hip hop oriented sound. After releasing ‘Jaguar’ on Soundcloud, it reached more than 15,000 plays in four hours, and is now at over five million plays. What So Not combines what we love so much about future bass sounding music with the best aspects of trap and are not afraid to stray from the conventional path. They are currently signed to Skrillex’s OWSLA label.

 

Cashmere Cat

Cashmere Cat is gonna prove to North Coast that you don’t need a ‘heavy’ set to turn a crowd on its head. After his amazingly successful remix of Miguel’s  ‘Do You’ people started to take notice of Cashmere Cat and his unique sound and noise.He was eventually tapped to collaborate on a track with Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa and Jeremih. The crowd will not know how to respond when the sexual sonic assault strikes their ears. But don’t take my word for it. Check out the hour long mix he did for the Pitchfork MoMa series which consists of 40 tracks.

 

Prob Cause

The coolest part of having a front row seat to the emergence and growing popularity of electronic music is watching producers step out of their comfort zone and create more beat oriented projects with the goal of having a talented rapper spit a rhyme or two over it. Prob Cause is that talented rapper from Chicago. With collaborations with Chance The Rapper, Gramatik, Two Fresh and ExMag under his belt already, the sky is truly the limit. His unique backing beats are second only to his flow and natural comfort on the microphone.

Thibault

Thibault, is a North Coast staple at this point. Most of the time playing mid-day side stage sets with the energy and excitement of a main-stage headlining performer, Thibault is not a set to miss. His true appreciation for every single fan immediately sticks out and is not scared to call out his favorite people in the crowd. His attitude as a performer and as a human can be summed up with one quote from last year’s set, “This song is my way of giving each and everyone of you a huge hug!”

 

Ghosthouse

If you need a bit of an electro-disco-funk set to dance your butt off early in the day, then look no further. The trio has been a long time Chicago resident act and have controlled dance floors at popular venues like The Mid, The Metro,  and Schubas. They combine features from Chromeo, Van Halen and various R & B influences to create a musical experience like no other. Their stage presence and swagger will have you saying ‘Who are these guys and why do I immediately want to be best friends with them?’

 

MuzzY

Muzzy blew up onto the scene by being known as ‘That guy that plays guitar with GriZ.’ His amazing guitar skills have given GriZ’s sets another live aspect to it, besides the saxophone. MuzzY has branched out and now plays solo sets, that consist of some of the best hip hop and trap that you may not have heard before. Don’t worry, your favorite electro soul tunes will be sprinkled in between. Not only is he a talented musician, but he is one of the nicest and most sincere guys in the game right now.

 

 

Break Science

Ever since being ‘drafted’ to be part of the revolutionary Pretty Lights’ live band, Break Science have been doing less shows but North Coast Music Festival is your chance to catch the duo in action. The duo made up of Borahm Lee and Adam Deitch never fails to impress. Both with an extensive musical background, their influences cross paths throughout their song writing to create multi-genre releases that is reveled by the Pretty Lights Music Label.

 

-Nick Isasi

8 Acts Not to miss at North Coast Music Festival 2014