If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. That seems to be New York City festival Electric Zoo’s plan, but is it really working? After consecutive years that caused the third day of the festival to be cancelled, the festival joined forces with ID&T to help boost its image. EZoo: Transformed in 2015 was flashier, cheaper, and had an all-star lineup that featured The Chemical Brothers, Above & Beyond, and the first ever Awakenings tent. But even with the small modifications, as well as the reputation of ID&T behind it, EZoo still felt underwhelming and never fully sold out (though it came close).
It could be the New York festival curse, as every major electronic festival in the state has seen its share of inconsistencies. EDC NY has moved its venue between New Jersey and Queens each year and Mysteryland dealt with cold weather which led to a later date this year. Added to direct competition from Governor’s Ball and now Panorama, the end of the summer festival is in a cutthroat battle to remain relevant. It doesn’t help that the public’s opinion of ID&T is also currently in jeopardy, after SFX’s constant financial hardships, and after poor weather threatened to completely upend TomorrowWorld last September. Rebranding once more to Electric Zoo: Wild Island seems like the only way to help jump start the festival’s effort to restore the public’s trust in the event.
In an email blast sent to previous ticket holders, EZoo promises “production that looks straight from another dimension, and the kind of vibes that will have you roaring with glee for months afterwards.” Early bird passes start at $199, still making it one of the cheaper festivals in the US, and without much competition from other festivals, it’s a good deal if you’re looking for an effortless way to spend Labor Day Weekend.
