DJ IDeaL Surrenders to December

Party 2016 away with DJ IDeaL's end of the year picks

San Diego! Get out and dance this last month of 2016. There are no excuses leading us into the new year with plenty of options and genre varieties featuring international and national talent, as well as a continually growing talented base of San Diego artists.

Thursday, Dec. 8, Digital Cacoon gathers at Kava Lounge for an Oddyssy fundraiser featuring Chuy Fresno, myself and many more. The essence of the underground will be present. For the bass heads, Baauer makes a special stop in SD and brings along Stooki Sound to Bassmnt on Friday, Dec. 9, followed by trap all-star Mr. Carmack at Observatory North Park on Saturday, Dec. 10.

If you are not familiar with Amtrac, I highly recommend you head over and check him out on Friday, Dec. 16, at Bang Bang. With a wide range of house music major releases on labels like Toolroom Records and remixes for Alex Metric & Duke Dumont, a live set is def worth the listen, with opening support by Bones. Saturday, Dec. 17, there's a Holiday Fiesta Toy Drive at Blonde -- the recently re-done venue that took over Bar Dynamite -- with a guest mix by Harvard Bass! Friday, Dec. 23, brings the grand opening of “Spark Nightclub” -- a new venue in the San Diego Miramar area with a more underground feel -- which caters to the 18+ crowd, and that should thrill many new dance music enthusiasts!

As the new year gets closer, this year's celebrations are not for the weak of heart with the featured night of the year landing on a Saturday. Why, do you ask? Because that means that celebrations start on Thursday and end on Sunday night! OMFG NYE 2017 -- the three-day “mini” festival extravaganza by LED Presents -- kicks off Thursday, Dec. 29, featuring another large scale roster of the "who's who" of electronic dance music. Adventure Club, Jauz, DJ Snake, Slander, GTA and so many more are lined up that it’s anyone’s guess who will be the one to ring in the New Year at Valley View Casino Center.

If you’re only in for the two-night celebration, Infinity NYE takes you from the arena into the Town & Country Hotel for an all-inclusive experience Dec. 30-31. There’s nothing like knowing you are only steps away from your own bed for comfort and relaxation at those times of the night when you just need a breather, while at the same time having the time of your life celebrating the night away with Dada Life, Dillon Francis, Flux Pavilion and many more.

On the flip side, if you’d like a 24-hour celebration experience, Lovelife hosts their New Year's Eve ball & New Year's Day pool party on Saturday, Dec. 31, at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa. With special rates exclusive for event attendees and a stellar house music lineup featuring Lee Curtis, Monkey Safari, Tim Green and &Me, expect grand views and beautiful people to round out the year from sundown to sunrise. With plenty of champagne flowing, the Gaslamp nightclubs aren’t holding back either, with Ghastly ringing in the new year on Dec. 31 at Bassmnt and Omnia hosting Porter Robinson for a New Year’s Day celebration on Jan. 1, 2017.

My feet are tired from just thinking of all that is going on, but with all of those options available, remember to pace yourself and drink plenty of water while celebrating so you don’t black out through the celebrations! Or, just take plenty of pictures.

Happy end of 2016!

Dec. 8: Oddyssy with Chuy Fresno and DJ IDeaL at Kava Lounge

Dec. 9: Baauer with Stooki Sound at Bassmnt

Dec. 10: Mr. Carmack at Observatory North Park

Dec. 16: Amtrac and Bones at Bang Bang

Dec. 17: Holiday Fiesta Toy Drive with Harvard Bass at Blonde

Dec. 23: Phvze II at Spark Nightclub (grand opening)

Dec. 29-Jan. 1: OMFG NYE 2017 with Adventure Club, Jauz, DJ Snake, Slander, GTA at Valley View Casino Center

Dec. 30-Jan. 1: Infinity NYE with Dada Life, Dillon Francis, Flux Pavilion at Town & Country Hotel

Dec. 31: Lovelife Weekender: NYE Ball and NYD Pool Party with Lee Curtis, Monkey Safari, Tim Green, &Me at Hilton SD Resort & Spa

Dec. 31: Ghastly @ Bassmnt

Jan. 1: Porter Robinson @ Omnia

Tomas Serrano, aka DJ IDeaL, is the electronic dance music correspondent for SoundDiego, covering the best of San Diego's electronic music events and culture. Follow his whereabouts on Facebook, Twitter or contact him directly.

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