ELECTRIC ZOO NEW YORK COULD RETURN DESPITE SCRUTINY AFTER DRUG-RELATED DEATHS

After a tumultuous fifth edition in 2013, the Electric Zoo Festival New York has set its sights on bouncing back for 2014.
The EDM festival, which normally takes place in Randall’s Island Park, NYC, over Labour Day weekend, is scheduled for August 29-31 this year.
Ticket pre-sales are planed to start on April 29 and organisers have already released an action-filled trailer despite the fact that the festival has not yet been granted a site permit by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Last year, the third day of Electric Zoo was cancelled after two concert goers died of a drug overdose and four more needed hospital treatment.

Amidst a wave of public scrutiny, organizers Mike Bindra and Laura De Palma compiled an advisory board of doctors, DJs and security consultants to come up with ways to improve this year’s event. One of the board members is Armin van Buuren, whose performance last year was cancelled after the incidents.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Buuren said: "If they prohibit Electric Zoo, you'll have more underground raves, which can be far more dangerous", adding that accidents are inevitable at such events regardless of precautions or the type of music that’s being played.
Still, this year’s Electric Zoo is introducing new, tightened security measures. Undercover police officers with background in narcotics, sniffer dogs, random pat downs and extensive check-ups on vendors are some of them.
In addition, festival goers will have to watch an anti-drug public service announcement featuring EDM stars online in order to activate their wristbands and the festival will start later in the day to reduce sun exposure.
Amnesty bins, which have been used in Europe for years, will potentially be provided at the gates, where attendees can throw away illegal substances upon entering the festival without legal repercussions. Similarly to last year, promoters will be giving out free water and electrolytes.
Despite the controversy, fans of Electric Zoo have already expressed their excitement of a 2014 edition on Twitter and Facebook. And while this year’s line-up has not yet been announced, the first two days of the 2013 saw the likes of Avicii, Martin Solveig, Danny Tenaglia, Joy Orbison, Skream and more on the festival's five stages.
Additionally, in December 2013 the organizers announced Electric Zoo Mexico – the festival’s first edition outside the US – to be held in Mexico City on May 3 and 4.
By Raya Raycheva, Mixmag