Weekend Dance Party: Deadmau5 Hits Soldier Field

By Jake Guidry in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 1, 2010 2:20PM

Most of our picks for Weekend Dance Party are relatively small, low-cost affairs. Good DJs play Chicago every weekend, at clubs of about 100-200 people, and no one thinks anything of it. But then someone like Deadmau5 rolls through town and changes the whole concept of what a dance party is. Akin to renowned DJs/producers Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and Paul Van Dyk, Deadmau5 fills not only clubs but full-on venues and--in some cases--even stadiums. Joel Zimmerman and that freakish mouse head of his will do just that this Friday at Soldier Field's Stadium Green--and it's our clear-cut pick for this week's Weekend Dance Party.

Deadmau5's rise to fame came right around his visit to Lollapalooza last year. Riding the dance music wave, Deadmau5 unleashed his hybrid techno-house-electro on the world and has been blowing up ever since. You've heard his songs in commercials, seen his signature mouse head on Gossip Girl (believe it), and witnessed the man himself play huge festivals such as Coachella and Bonnaroo. The fact is, Deadmau5 is the biggest electronic dance music producer in the world right now, and though we at Chicagoist aren't necessarily ready to say he's the best, we do know he puts on a great show. Not to mention we hear the lights setup is just madness. Deadmau5 will also get support sets from Brazilian Girls, Designer Drugs, Ghetto Division and Willy Joy. Tickets run a bit steep at $35+, but for dance-heads we think it's a price well paid. And hey, if you can't make it, be sure to check out our review and photo gallery next week!

Deadmau5, Friday, Stadium Green at Soldier Field, 5pm, $35+ tickets, all ages