Rakastella Returns to Virginia Key on December 7 for Art Basel
On the soft sands of the Virginia Key shores and beneath the starry skies, mystics and lovers will dance as one on December 7. Soundtracked by spellbinding soundscapes, Rakastella will make its return to the coastal cove during Art Basel Miami for sixteen hours of whimsical wonder.
German house innovator Motor City Drum Ensemble will make his much anticipated Miami debut at Rakastella, announced alongside Miami’s reigning electro king Danny Daze. Scottish DJ and River Rapid founder Éclair Fifi is set to bring her electric breaks to the decks, while phase four is capped off with Electric Pickle founder Will Renuart.
This multi-dimensional collection of talent is the latest addition to an already staggering lineup. The first announcement rendered much excitement as it included Hessle Audio chief Ben UFO, Catalan king John Talabot, environmental scientist and house heroine Jayda G, multi-national curator Mor Elian and live-performance luminary KiNK. The second lineup release stirred much anticipation with Âme’s Frank Weidemann, American house legends Soul Clap, Dekmantel icons Palms Trax, Sustain / Release founder Aurora Halal and Burning Man favorites Öona Dahl and Tara Brooks. Phase three announced the addition of fierce females Marie Davidson of Ninja Tune and DJ Minx of Detroit, along with the return of Innervisions co-founder Dixon.
At Rakastella, Life and Death and Innervisions have combined to create an event greater than the sum of its parts; dancing in the sand while watching the sunrise over the Bay of Miami, multiple intimate stages designed and created by leading figures in the city’s burgeoning artistic community, exceptional musical programming and a unique crowd drawn by one of the world’s most significant art events. This year, the event will offer a full run of immersive amenities for all its guests.
The late Miami underground staple, Electric Pickle, will be joining with Where Are My Keys in curating their very own Rakastella stage. A Hi-Fi Tea Garden curated by local Terrestrial Funk awaits those needing a respite from the outside dance floors; inside, organic tea blends will be served alongside vinyl sets from surprise DJs on a Danley sound system. Meanwhile, VIP revelers will have access to their own village, complete with lounges, complimentary massages, a private mixology bar, and hors d’oeuvres at sunset cooked by famed Miami chef Andres “Billy” Garcia.
Production is key to Rakastella’s immersive experience and builds upon itself year-after-year. In addition to its collection of art installations and live visual artists, Rakastella has tapped the Montreal-based Iregular to provide an elevated visual experience. The brand is known for bringing cutting-edge, interactive light design to festivals all over the world, from Mutek in Mexico, Bains Numériques in France, to the Jerusalem Light Festival. Paired with world-class soundtracking from its performers, Rakastella is set to be a veritable feast for the senses.
A cornerstone of Rakastella this year is its commitment to voiding its environmental impact on Virginia Key’s sensitive ecosystem. In addition to hosting beach cleanups before and after the event, they’ve also rid themselves of all single-use plastics for 2019’s iteration.
Rakastella invites the creative worlds of music and art to lose themselves in a unique seaside escape. Dance in the sand as the sun goes down, explore a curated art landscape and enjoy a soundtrack curated by two of the world’s finest label collectives.
Buy your tickets here!
