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House, dubstep and techno, oh my! Electric Zoo, New York's biggest EDM festival, descends on Randall's Island this weekend and we don't have to tell you that the lineup is bananas. With so many world-class DJs on one bill, it can be tough to know where to begin, so we've selected five stellar acts to get you started. Commit them to memory—or your phone, whatev—then head over to our guide to Electric Zoo for the day-by-day rundown and check out the full list of Electric Zoo 2014 after-parties. (If you haven't purchased tickets yet, grab them on the Electric Zoo website. And get some rest, because it's going to be a long weekend.)
Gorgon City Fri Aug 29 at 1:45pm; Beatport Riverside Stage
U.K. duo Gorgon City specializes in the sort of bassy, infectious house-meets-garage that’s all the rage these days. With a handful of successful singles and a debut album boasting cameos from Katy B and Jennifer Hudson due in October, Gorgon City just might be the next big thing to come dancing across the pond.
Bonobo Fri Aug 29 at 5:10pm; Beatport Riverside Stage
The U.K.’s Simon Green is the man behind Bonobo, the acclaimed recording persona responsible for more than a decade’s worth of dreamy, ensnaring material on the Ninja Tune label. Lauded as a pioneer of downtempo, Green’s smooth selection of tunes should provide the perfect bit of aural respite.
Oliver Heldens Sat Aug 30 at 3:55pm; Main Stage East
Dutch DJ-producer Oliver Heldens has been enjoying a rapid rise since the release of his 2013 house banger "Gecko." He's already found a place on Tiesto's label, Musical Freedom, and get this—he just finished high school earlier this year. He tends toward the deeper end of the spectrum—as far as Electric Zoo is concerned, anyway—so come ready to groove.
Jack U Sun Aug 31 at 9:25pm; Main Stage East
Talk about a power couple: Mad Decent founder Diplo and Grammy-winning dubstep don Skrillex joined forces last year to form Jack U—it’s like the EDM equivalent of Jay and Bey, only with less TMZ airtime and more bass. (They’ve been debuting new tracks during their sets lately, so pay attention.)
Nicole Moudaber Sun Aug 31 at 9:30pm, Sunday School Grove
A fave of Danny Tenaglia, Victor Calderone and Carl Cox (who once called her the "most underrated DJ"), Nicole Moudaber brings her chugging tribal-techno jams to the Sunday School Grove. The sun will have slipped well below the horizon when she takes the stage at 9:30, so her dark, pulsing rhythms will sound just right.
