Now in its fourth year, the Miami-based music festival III Points draws from the best in music, art and technology for a three-day event that is distinct from other festivals in its elaborate presentation, underground sensibilities and visionary objectives. This will mark the second year Your EDM is attending the festival, and we are pleased to return to see how the festival has grown on October 7-9, 2016. Now equipped with six stages and such activations as virtual reality displays, III Points aims to give attendees a truly unique experience. For a festival that is held in the Wynwood art district in Miami, a neighborhood known for its impressive art displays, it’s no surprise III Points continues to innovate.
The 2016 music and aviation schedules recently released, presenting numerous opportunities to check out cutting-edge bands, DJs, artists, technological displays and more. It can be tough to decide on who and what to see throughout the three-day event, but we are here to help make a case for the five best musicians to see each day. From the recently reunited LCD Soundsystem to South African DJ and producer Black Coffee, this year’s III Points lineup is filled to the brim with exciting artists to check out. View our five picks for our must-sees acts for each day below:
Friday, October 7
1. LCD Soundsystem, Mind Melt @ 11:15 p.m.-1:00 a.m. 
No one expected LCD Soundsystem to reunite this year, but their reunion has been met with universal critical acclaim and news of a new album. EDM fans may know them for their classic hit “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House,” but their discography spans everything from slower jams to show-stopping anthems. Frontman James Murphy is a III Points regular, playing the festival’s first outing and the 2015 yacht party during Miami Music Week, so it’s welcome to see him bring his iconic band to headline the festival.
2. Vince Staples, Main Frame @ 7:20-8:20 p.m.
Hip-hop continues to blend electronic influences, and rising star Vince Staples personifies that blend better than most of his contemporaries. From featuring on tracks with Flume and featuring production from and guesting on a (currently unreleased) collaboration with James Blake, Staples uniquely contrasts gangsta’ rap lyrics with otherwordly instrumentals. We highly recommend catching his hailed live show early into Friday.
3. Machinedrum (Live), Main Frame @ 8:40-9:40 p.m.
A regular producer with releases on Ninja Tune, Hot Flush and other record labels, Machinedrum will bring his new live show to III Points right after Vince Staples finishes his set. He releases his new album Human Energy on Friday, October 1, a week before the festival, which presents one of the first opportunities to hear his new songs mixed in with his back catalog.
4. Oneohtrix Point Never, Main Frame @ 10:00-11:00 p.m.
For fans of psychedelic, mind-bending electronic music, Oneohtrix Point Never serves as the perfect foray into the darker elements of the genre in the heat of Friday night. Equipped with live instruments and vocals and touring behind his well-received 2015 album Garden of Delete, Oneohtrix Point Never’s show will undoubtedly make you uncomfortable, inclined to dance and cry all throughout his hour set.
5. Dixon, Main Frame @ 2:00-5:00 a.m.
A Dixon set is rare to come these days in Florida, especially one that runs for three-hours. An extension of Nicolas Jaar‘s three-hour closing set on Friday of last year’s III Points, the Innervisions‘s label co-head is expected to mix his characteristic brand of house, techno, deep dance cuts and anything else hiding in his expansive collection. There’s a reason he continually tops the Resident Advisor DJ poll year after year.
Saturday, October 8
1. Ben UFO, Isotropic @ 1:00-3:00 a.m.
Becoming internationally renown for only DJing is a rarity in electronic music these days, but Ben UFO makes a strong case for DJs everywhere. A founder of the influential Hessle Audio record label, UFO got his start mixing U.K. dubstep, but has evolved into one of the most eclectic and masterful DJs in the scene today. Mixing everything from rare African records to breakneck techno hits, UFO shatters expectations every single time.
2. Leon Vynehall, Isotropic @ 10:00-11:30 p.m.
For someone who has mastered both producing and DJing, look no further than Leon Vynehall. The British musician has put out quality release after quality release, from his 2014 album Music for the Uninvited to his 2016 album Rojus (Designed To Dance). His DJ sets are always great, mixing a variety of dance records that both highlight his own productions and his peers’ deepest cuts.
3. Thievery Corporation, Main Frame @ 11:15 p.m.-1:00 a.m.
Thievery Corporation is a veteran group on this lineup, with a 20+ year career that spans numerous albums, EPs, remixes and more. It’s been a while since the group toured with its live band, but their returning for a tour this year that includes a headlining spot at III Points on Saturday night. With influences that range from bossa novva to jazz, Thievery Corporation also stands out as one of the most unique-sounding artists on the entire lineup.
4. Maya Jane Coles, Main Frame @ 12:00-1:30 a.m.
It’s not common for a touring DJ to take a break, but Maya Jane Coles played notably fewer shows in the U.S. in 2015. She released an album under her alter ego Nocturnal Sunshine last year, and this year she is returning to her primary moniker in full force. It’s been a while since she’s played Miami and we’re excited to see what taste of techno and house we can hear from her.
5. Black Coffee, Main Frame @ 3:00-5:00 a.m.
Black Coffee is one of the fastest rising stars in underground dance music. Although he’s become a near household name in South Africa, his prominence has only just begun to build globally over the past few years. His stake in the United States rose considerably after a few choice gigs at events like Coachella and the U.S. edition of Time Warp, and his album Pieces of Me finally received a U.S. release this year with Ultra Records. His closing set of the night will assuredly earn him new fans.
Sunday, October 9
1. DJ Koze, Main Frame @ 1:00-3:00 a.m.
DJ Koze does not play many U.S. shows despite his growing popularity, so it’s a treat to see him closing the entire festival with an two-hour set. He contributed an immense installment to the running DJ Kicks album mix series and the very popular “XTC” single in 2015, and this year released a stunning compilation from his own Pampa Records, including a new collaboration with III Points alumnus Jamie xx under his Kosi Kos alias.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYiTkGjO7Rc
2. M83, Mind Melt @ 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Popular for their mega hit “Midnight City” among other notable releases, M83 is an electronic/indie band finally getting its due. Although their newest album Junk proved to be a polarizing release, reports of their live show continue to shower praise on their performances and setlists. This marks M83’s only Florida date on their entire tour, providing fans a rare opportunity to see them play classics and new tracks live.
3. Flying Lotus (DJ Set), Main Frame @ 9:00-10:00 p.m.
Among the numerous rare artists on the lineup, a DJ set from Flying Lotus may be the most interesting act of the entire festival. Currently resting between album cycles, Flying Lotus has played very few sets this year, and we’re ecstatic to see him return to III Points after he played one of his very-first live shows for his 2015 You’re Dead! album tour.
4. Pantha Du Prince, Main Frame @ 11:30 p.m.-12:45 a.m.
The Main Frame lineup on Sunday is very stacked, and a live set from Pantha Du Prince only adds to its intensity. The producer released a new album called The Triad this year, featuring mesmeric production and ethereal vocal features. It marks the Berlin producer’s first album in six years, and the accompanying tour once again marries III Points with a great opportunity to catch an artist that doesn’t play stateside too often.
5. Andy Stott, Main Frame @ 10:10-11:10 p.m.
Interested in hearing a combination of psychedelic electronic music and house? See Andy Stott‘s set on Sunday for a truly insane show, in which he will most likely drop many songs from his new album Too Many Voices. A mix of the insanity of Oneohtrix Point Never, the bounce of Flying Lotus and the house stylings of everyone from Dixon to DJ Koze, Andy Stott represents a true culmination of sounds.
Head to Ticketfly to purchase tickets.
