The stellar variety of music genres represented at Okeechobee feels oh so right for a venue showcasing them in environments ranging from flat grassland, beautiful beach, tropical trees and the relaxing central grove. But for my tastes, the most appealing special element of this experience-driven festival is Jungle 51, the sector where underground and old-school DJs incite late-night warehouse mania in a literal jungle locale.
While the opening night party starts with a Bassrush takeover rumbling in the jungle, featuring the likes of Caspa, Ivy Lab, Yheti, Huxley Anne, Supertask and Toadface, it eventually switches to rave mode till sun-up with a deeper cut of house and techno selectors. Bas Ibellini rings out with a lo-fi, funky peculiarity, and Clarian promises a cinematic kind of resonance with his retro-sci-fi, progressive melodies and live band. Shaun Reeves interweaves borders between analog house thumps and edgy German synths in a tide of post-minimal techno. Most notably, two visionaries of electronic music take this night into legendary territory, as pioneer of Detroit techno, Derrick May, and forebear of Chicago house, Lil Louis, dig up the roots of the rave.
On Friday, March 6, Jungle 51 highlights little-known DJs, including Colorful Language flitting through the canopy with an airy, neo-wave permutation of disco house, buzzing tech house from Kimyon, Rechulski’s swirling techno soundscapes and Taylor Shockley’s eerie, enticing electronica. Saturday night stirs up a techno storm to swoon over from two impressive Russians: the hypnotic slipstream of Julia Govor, and the all-vinyl spinning of thunderous tracks by Mary Yuzovskaya. Atomyard is known for his Miami yacht parties and tingling tech house so ought to fit right in, though the live production and rich sonic textures of Mathew Jonson will craft a spacey laser journey into a trippy new dawn.
The final night serves up the most intense techno-adrenaline of the whole fest, as Ellen Allien guarantees to melt some faces in the jungle. Former BBC Radio 1 resident Louisahhh offers an industrial, grungey type of techno backed with her own vocals, bearing a thrilling likeness to ‘80s and ‘90s Nine Inch Nails. The groovy deep house of Maya Jane Coles should provide a lively warm-up, and the Gouranga Clan Sunday Special Featuring JKRIV, Dicky Trisco, Isaac Ferry and Discosis can close things down with eclectic style.
If you’re bummed about having missed Damian Lazarus’ New Year’s Day festival in the jungle, Day Zero (in Tulum, Mexico), and can’t make the trip all the way to Envision Festival either, then Okeechobee has the taste of the jungle you’re craving alongside its superb lineup of artists. Tickets for a four-day GA pass without car camping start at $344 and $398 with car camping. Check out the full lineup below!
