2016: House and techno took the West Coast of America

And these promoters' methods are working. By swinging the gate wide open to techno and house, the demographic is widening and a typical audience member might not be exactly what you had in mind as a Jamie Jones aficionado. Listeners donned in brightly colored bro tanks and neon shades bob attentively to the beats, occasionally chatting to their mates about how “incredible” this Simian Mobile Disco b2b with Roman Flügel set is – without forsaking a chance to tan, of course.

For several years, Southern California – specifically the metropolitan of Los Angeles – has been a sponge, soaking up electronic music’s progressive players and folding them deep into the entertainment capital’s veins. There’s no question that stars of the electronic music realm have finally earned a rightful spot as “entertainers” in the industry alongside rock maestros and pop stars. With it, event leaders have begun to recognize and carve out a physical space for the incoming talents that place them on a world stage, bringing the underground, quite literally, just above sea level.

There will always be the dark, mysterious basements and warehouses, but even the most seasoned of house and techno mavens need a dose of Vitamin D once in a while. Today, they’re finding their escape on the coastlines of California and beyond.

Valerie Lee is Mixmag's US Digital Editor. She'll see you in the sunshine