How Skylab XXI Is Still Finding Ways to Push the Dance Music Envelope

Skylab 2015 will take place September 18 and Saturday September 19 at the 1STBANK Center. One of the longest, continuously running electronic dance music festivals in the country, Skylab has reflected the current state of the scene since its 1994 debut. In past years, legendary artists such as Rabbit In...

By Tom Murphy

September 18, 2015

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Skylab 2015 will take place September 18 and Saturday September 19 at the 1STBANK Center. One of the longest, continuously running electronic dance music festivals in the country, Skylab has reflected the current state of the scene since its 1994 debut. In past years, legendary artists such as Rabbit In the Moon and the Hardkiss Brothers performed at Skylab. Founded by Come Together Productions, Skylab passed into the hands of local electronic dance music powerhouse Triad Dragons. Perhaps the best and most detailed telling of the festival's storied history and experiences with the moral panic regarding raves at the turn of the century is contained in John Cameron's excellent September 25, 2014 historical article. Skylab is clearly an institution not just in Colorado but for what has become the EDM movement generally.

This year that Krewella is headlining Saturday night perhaps hints at a shift in the EDM world in which female-identified people are involved in a high profile capacity as makers of music in greater numbers. Though Ruby Rose had to drop off the line-up ,it is clear that the talent on stage is starting to more accurately reflect the demographics of the people that are showing up to the event. The stunning light shows that have characterized the event will clearly be present and the images of a more robust than usual sound system brought in for the event as shared by Skylab's Instagram promises one of the most sonically and visually powerful electronic dance events of the year. It's sub-name of Parallel Universe seems fitting for the sort of event it will be.

To buy tickets or to find out more information please click here. Below are the set times for the weekend.

Friday, September 18th

12:30am-2:00am Martin Garrix
11:30pm-12:30am Laidback Luke
10:30pm-11:30pm Botnek
9:30pm-10:30pm Burns
8:30pm-9:30pm Said The Sky
7:00pm-8:30pm Vinnie

Saturday, September 19th

1:00am-2:00am Krewella
11:30pm-12:45am Borgore
10:30pm-11:30pm Andrew Rayel
9:30pm-10:30pm Bad Royale
8:30pm-9:30pm Jack Novak
7:00pm-8:30pm Paws & Treyy G

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Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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Twitter: @simianthinker