Last year our correspondent Will Lynch wrote off the ill-fated Minitek festival as “a weekend awash with bullshit,” one which left many wondering if NYC could pull off such a fest. This year, a challenger appears: Electric Zoo, taking place Labor Day weekend September 5th and 6th at Randall’s Island Park. Boasting four outdoor stages and over 50 artists, EZ looks set to be a serious contender for dominating your holiday weekend.

Saturday:
The first name to immediately stand out is Mark Ernestus, half of Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound, who is performing a set with vocalist Milton Henry. You can also check out the always resplendent Cassy, Loco Dice’s producing backbone and quality producer in his own right, Martin Buttrich, banger maker Speedy J, Buzzin Fly head honcho Ben Watt, and Detroit freakazoid, Seth Troxler. And if you’re into bigger names and bigger egos, Luciano and Danny Tenaglia (among many others, see the full line up here) are playing as well.

Sunday:
Saturday is almost an appetizer to the packed line up of Sunday. House legend Frankie Knuckles, Norwegian spacemen Lindstrom and Prins Thomas, Andy Butler of Hercules & Love Affair, Audion, and Chateau Flight will all be on hand. The “Special Disco Version” set by James Murphy and Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem/DFA will turn their stage into a discotheque. You might also be enticed by Richie Hawtin, Guy Gerber, James Holden, Nathan Fake, Steve Bug, Adam Beyer, and more (see the full line up, with names too big to mention here, on the EZ site).