Every year, Something Wicked brings together thousands of dance music fans from all around the world. Since this is an all day event, you probably want to arrive early and have some where to rest those tired legs. Houston is full of great places to stay for the Halloween event, but we’ve partnered with a couple hotels to fit a variety of budgets.

Take advantage of these reduced rates just for Something Wicked attendees at the hotels below…

Hilton Garden Inn: Houston Northwest

• Phone: 832-912-1000
• Address: 7979 Willow Chase Boulevard, Houston, TX 77070
• Rate: $99.00 a night, includes breakfast, must book by Thursday, October 10th.
• Instructions: Call and mention “Horsemans rate”

Staybridge Suites: Houston Willowbrook

• Phone: 281-807-3700
• Address: 10750 N Gessner Dr, Houston, TX 77064
• Rate: $119.00 a night
• Instructions: Call and mention “Horsemans rate”

Wingate by Wyndham: Houston / Willowbrook

• Phone: 281-477-8000
• Address: 9050 Mills Road, Houston, TX 77070
• Rate: 1 King $87.00 / 2 Double (or) Queen $96.77

Hampton Inn: Houston / Willowbrook Mall

• Phone: 281-955-2400
• Address: 7645 Farm to Market 1960, Houston, TX 77070
• Rate: 1 King $79.00

Holiday Inn: Houston Northwest Willowbrook

• Phone: 281-970-4888
• Address: 18818 Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX 77070
• Rate: 1 King $149.99 USD / 2 Double $146.99 / 2 Queen $149.99

Act quickly, only a limited number of rooms are available!

For the latest edition of our eerie Something Wicked Sound Clash, we’re “bustin’ trash.” Though one of our talents creates a perfect blend of brash electro, and the other an 8-bit glitch-hop dream, we’re looking forward to what Tommy Trash and heRobust will bring to the (turn) table, as they join us for the haunted event going down this October 26th. Have you bought your tickets yet?

Tommy Trash

Ever since Something Wicked talent Tommy Trash appeared on the scene in 2006, the Aussie has been topping the charts and packing dance floors with his energetic productions and remixes. Quickly recognized as one of Australia’s newest rising talent, Tommy’s nomination at the ARIA Music Awards in 2009 helped flag him as one of dance music’s biggest promises.

A few years later, Tommy’s recognition began to pick up speed thanks to one of his biggest hits to date, “The End.” Released in 2011, the track garnered attention from some major heavy-weights like Tiësto, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, and Laidback Luke. Mastering the art of in-your-face tunes, Tommy’s sound is the perfect combination of progressive and electro, incorporating cliff hanger drops and gritty synths. His debut single on Tiësto’s Musical Freedom imprint, “Future Folk,” highlighted his knack for his destructive bass-driven productions and clamored percussion.

Now seven years after his first release, Tommy’s music has been spread around the world. Having showcased on labels like Ministry of Sound, Toolroom Records, Dim Mak, Mixmash and Musical Freedom, Tommy’s list of achievements has become increasingly lengthy. Still buzzing from the success of his latest single, “Monkey in Love,” Tommy Trash is getting ready to embark on the co-headlining Hounds of Hell tour with Wicked talent, Wolfgang Gartner. You’ll get to witness a little sample of the impending tour when you join us for Something Wicked 2013 on October 26th. Buy your tickets today!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/102249831″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/94807794″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/79009305″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/46143484″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/13046228″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

heRobust

Though his friends might call him Hayden Kramer, heRobust has quickly gained the attention of media giants like Rolling Stone, Vice, The Huffington Post, and MTV – and he’s only been on the scene for two years! This producing DJ hailing from Atlanta, creates infectious hip-hop infused bass music.

His debut EP Albumin is a glitch-hop masterpiece, filled with 8-bit bleeps and funky synths riding on top of heavy bass lines. The following year would see a relentless release of music from Hayden like double album Late Night/Morning After, the self-released Rob and Hood EP, “Screw Loose,” and then the countless free remixes. Still coasting through 2013, this year, heRobust has toured with Big Gigantic and Gramatik and has even headlined at festival dates across the country. Keeping a hectic schedule, the fresh talent has had his music played by Skrillex, 12th Planet, Pretty Lights, and Just Blaze.

Hayden’s latest adventure is a collaborative EP with friends Two Fresh. Released on the revered SMOG Records, Throw That was released and almost immediately charted on Beatport and iTunes. The 5-track extended player shows how much range and precision these two acts have in relation to their sound. With a unique brand of hip-hop influenced dance music, the collaboration successfully blends the tone of rap and hip hop with the intensity and danceability of dance music.

We’re looking forward to a good busting on the stage when heRobust makes his way to Something Wicked 2013. Grab your tickets today before it’s too late!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/104156483″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/53965798″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/3008531″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/77827917″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/3951672″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth has been making beats for the last four years. With a background as a singer and guitarist, he quickly took his foot off rock and into hip hop and more software oriented music. “I started playing guitar in eighth grade, and the first song I learned was either by the Hives or it was Foo Fighters’ “All My Life”. I was the drummer in a band called Hemsworth for a brief stint, too – it was not very great. I didn’t even write the songs, but the band was named after me.” Although he had a history with instruments, his freshman year as a journalism major at Nova Scotia’s University of King’s College would spark a change, “I got my MacBook in the first year at university, and that’s really when I stopped playing live instruments and started geeking out on my laptop.”

As Ryan finished up his studies, it became increasingly harder to figure what career path he wanted to choose, “Music has always been number one for me. I wanted to be in a cool rock band since forever. But when I finished high school and I wasn’t a rock star yet, I had to figure out what I liked second best and it was definitely writing. To graduate from journalism school, we had to make a magazine and get an internship, and the magazine I made was a music one. I basically tried to make a FADER rip-off. Now when I read reviews of my stuff, you see patterns repeated. That’s what I learned from spending time in both worlds, just how a lot of people can be lazy, in both music and writing.”

In 2011, his first release No Plans was featured on SPIN magazine’s Top 20 R&B albums of 2011 and he followed that up with A Way and Kitsch Genius, which showed his penchant for creating a unique sound. Like most new producers today, Ryan found his biggest audience through releasing bootlegs. Although he’d been making music for a while, his remixes of Future and Lil’ B are what made more people listen to the Canadian producer. Ryan’s output to date has been not only impressive, but highly eclectic. As an artist and performer, he blurs the lines of hip-hop and electronica. Amidst the army of people making their own beats, it’s Ryan’s ear, attention to detail and willingness to chop and screw his tracks that help him grow to the star he always wanted to be.

A little over two years ago, Ryan was just a music blogger, experimenting with his music production. Now, he’s reading his debut album Guilt Trips, due out on Last Gang Records on October 22nd. With his album release so close to the date of Something Wicked 2013, we’re sure you’ll be hearing some tracks off the album when Ryan Hemsworth takes the stage October 26th. Buy your tickets today before they all get snatched up!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/108709381″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/93532170″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18445540″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

For this week’s edition of the Something Wicked Festival Drop, three of our acts are making waves in dance music news. Two are making waves for the journey they are about to embark on and the other for adding some sizzle to Beatport’s genre charts.

Crizzly and Figure announce 30+ date All Black Everything Tour

Dance music fans are still buzzing about a recent announcement involving two rising names in bass music. Something Wicked ghoulish talents Crizzly and Figure are joining forces to bring you the co-headlining “All Black Everything” tour this coming fall and winter. With 30+ dates over North America, the two will be switching off the closing set time every night.

Crizzly and Figure have been destroying the festival market recently. Crizzly with his ní®che blend of dubstep, trap, and hip-hop, deeming it “crunkstep.” And Figure with his filthy, raw take on dub/drumstep. It’s about time these boys embarked on a massive tour, and do you want to know the best part? The tour is coming to Something Wicked on October 26th. Don’t miss out on your chance to see these two rising talents take the stage at the Sam Houston Race Park. Tickets are available now, so buy yours today!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/108474283″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/106620090″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Simon Patterson sitting at #2 on Beatport’s psy-trance chart with “Contraband”

Still reveling in the success of his #1 hit “The One” on Armin van Buurens’s Armind imprint, Simon Patterson teamed up with king of psy-breaks, Blazer, to create the mind-mending banger “Contraband.” Released the second week of August, the Contraband EP contains remixes of the track from each artist. With broken and four-to-the-floor beats, the extended player is a well-paired balance, showing the world why these two are leading the pack in their respective genres.

Now three weeks after its original release, Simon Patterson’s remix continues to climb Beatport’s psy-trance chart. Now sitting at #2, the track gives a nod to the early days of acid house in this monster of a production. We hope to hear this banned track when Simon Patterson performs at Something Wicked 2013. Buy your tickets today!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/103072635″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

August keeps on barreling through and as we count down the weeks until we taunt the Sam Houston Race Park on October 26th for Something Wicked, we can start prepping for the main event. Have you bought your tickets yet?

For this edition of our Weekend Warriors, it’s all about the radio show. To get your weekend started right, here are three mixes where our talented acts appear in syndication.

Firebeatz – Spinnin’ Sessions Episode Three Guest Mix

A few months ago, Spinnin’ Records introduced their brand new weekly radio show called Spinnin’ Sessions. For the third episode of Spinnin’ Sessions, Something Wicked act, Firebeatz, lent their talents to the series.

Hosting a good amount of their own productions and edits, Firebeatz glides through intense windups, gritty electro synths, and driving kick drums all perfectly bound in a 30-minute mix.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/94632592″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Ryan Hemsworth – Diplo & Friends BBC 1Xtra Mix

Ryan Hemsworth became one of the fastest-rising artists in the dance music industry as of late. A few months ago when our clocks were springing forward, Ryan Hemsworth lent his talents to Diplo’s 1Xtra show on BBC’s Radio One. This hour long mix has a little bit of something for any music lover out there. Starting out with R. Kelly, the mix bounces from artists like Chief Keef, Air, The Knife, Nada Surf, Shlohmo, some original productions and even Gnarls Barkley, the mix is stocked with a wide range in tastes from this young selector.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/85802576″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Wolfgang Gartner – Kindergarten Radio Episode One

For the first episode of Wolfgang Gartner‘s Kindergarten Radio, the California-based DJ released a two hour mix of his headlining set at HARD LA. The HARD events have become one of the country’s largest dance music festivals, spanning from New York City to Los Angeles. This past November, Wolfgang Gartner headlined HARD at the Hollywood Palladium, throwing together an eclectic mix featuring artists Pink Floyd, Nicki Minaj, Tiësto, Deadmau5 and more. And if you couldn’t already guess, this mix goes hard.

On this edition of Something Wicked’s sound clash, we are merging two of our acts who have evolved their sound over the years. Though one wants to wake our minds and the other wants to run this, there’s no denying the fun we’re gonna have when Cosmic Gate and Luminox take the stage at Something Wicked Festival on Saturday, October 26th – no matter how different their sounds may be.

Cosmic Gate

The German duo Cosmic Gate formed in 1999 after a chance meeting in a recording studio. Nic Chagall and Bossi’s first single was “The Drums,” followed by tracks “Exploration of Space,” “Mental Atmosphere,” and their “Somewhere over the Rainbow” remix which used samples from the film The Wizard of Oz. Even though their steady stream of releases were popular in Germany, their 2001 single “Fire Wire” is the release that put the name Cosmic Gate on the international map.

Throughout the years, the boys have fluctuated between the harder and more melodic styles of trance, but their impact on the culture remains the same. Like the release of their 2006 long-player Earth Mover. Featuring club hits “Analog Feel,” “Should Have Known,” and “I Feel Wonderful,” the album saw Nic and Bossi shift towards an edgier, more expansive sound and received an IDMA nomination for Best Album of 2007. The album has also been coined by both press and fans as a new “year-one” for the act.

Their latest and fifth artist album, Wake Your Mind, has amassed not only a following for the music it contained, but it also became a rapidly growing movement with the initials “WYM” being the abbreviation‐of-choice for anyone wishing to exhibit a boundary-less, forward-thinking, and universal outlook to dance music as a whole. Mixmag said that album track “Be Your Sound” is a stand-out, saying “finally unseats ‘Fire Wire’ as Cosmic Gate’s best‐known-for track.” It scored an IDMA nomination in 2012 and this year, “Flying Blind,” also on the same LP, received a nomination as well.

With a fool-proof marriage of trance, progressive and electro, the sound of Cosmic Gate will continue to evolve, which is one of the things we love most about the duo. So yes, Nic and Bossi, our minds have been awakened and we can’t wait to see you both perform live at Something Wicked on October 26th. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours today!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9561633″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/101053503″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/64492429″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26766725″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26767943″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Luminox

In just a few months time, Luminox went from being a bedroom DJ to a big stage DJ; from making SoundCloud sets to being in the sets of DJs like A-Trak, Dillon Francis, Diplo and Skrillex. Having produced since 2005, Luminox recently found his niche transitioning from his former hip-hop style to his now trap style. When the sub-genre began to grow, Luminox’s 2012 remix of the Bingo Players’ song “Rattle” is one of songs that can mark the beginning of the emerging sound. His adrenaline-infused hip-hop signature has garnered him thousands of fans all over the world, as well as some hefty recognition from some of dance music’s most elite producers and DJs. His remixes and originals have that characteristic 808 snare, piercing through deep hip-hop kick drums, creating an infectious vibe on the dance floor. Though Luminox is a name still on the rise, his productions will sound familiar to any bass head who attended dance music festivals this past year as his remixes of Major Lazer’s “Original Don” and Sandro Silva and Quintino’s “Epic” with Carnage, have been championed in headlining sets at Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival and Electric Zoo.

We were extremely excited to have this increasingly busy young talent perform at this year’s Something Wicked on October 26th. Buy your tickets today!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/45982573″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/105478755″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63544381″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/75072411″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/45597088″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Producing and remixing maestro, Dyro has seen his career accelerating at an awe-inspiring speed. In 2011 when he was only 19, he took the time to focus on being a creator of music rather than just a fan of it. “I have always been obsessed with music and this led me to begin to produce music about three years ago, when I started playing around on a DAW. I didn’t begin releasing my music up until about a year ago and it took off from there, really. I was lucky to be able to release on some great labels that do a lot of hard work promoting my music which has helped me gain recognition quite quickly, and I have received some great support from my peers in the music scene which is very flattering and helps a great deal.”

“Great support” is an understatement. Once Dyro finally gained the confidence to put his work online, it wasn’t long before one of his own personal heroes, Hardwell caught wind of the new talent. “Like most young producers I made a lot of tracks before I ever sent anything out. I was in contact with some fellow producers and through sharing my music with these guys, via one of them, one of my tracks fell into the hands of Hardwell. He took it and played it at Electric Zoo Festival, New York, I didn’t even know!! Then when Hardwell’s label manager got back in touch saying they were feeling it and wanted to release it, well I was blown away.”

In December of 2011, Dyro released his first EP on Hardwell’s imprint, Revealed Recordings. DJ heavy-weights Afrojack, David Guetta, Tiësto, Sander van Doorn, Dada Life, Laidback Luke all came out in support of the talented, now 21-year old, producer. Crowds worldwide were instantly drawn to tracks like “Daftastic,” which, coincidentally is the name of is his new hit radio show.

Still buzzing from his latest releases with Hardwell and Bright Lights on “Never Say Goodbye” and “Paradise” with Tiësto, it’s easy to see why Dyro is a wanted man. Known for creating huge progressive tracks with electro-influenced drops, Dyro knows his way around that peak-time sound, often stating that energy is the core element in each of his productions. “My music will constantly evolve and change as I develop as a producer. I feel it’s something I am always improving and because I’m forever using new techniques and approaches to refine my work. It was fun creating my sound so far, but a good artist can and knows when to move on without losing their signature.”

The future looks bright for this young talent, which is why we are elated to have Dyro join the 2013 lineup for Something Wicked. Tickets are available, so grab yours today!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/95867797″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/93026848″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/73754361″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Cyril Hahn first came to our attention in 2012 with his sensational rework of Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name.” With down-pitched vocals and emotive synths, the Swiss-born Vancouver resident has racked in over two million plays on Soundcloud for the release, appealing to both the house and bass heads. Surprisingly enough, however, Cyril is new to the game. “I only started producing electronic music this year and yes, it definitely feels sudden. I just started producing for fun and had no clue people were going to respond to the songs the way they did.”

Though a newcomer, Cyril has had a love for music from a very early age. “I’ve always been into music, my parents let me pick up instruments when I was growing up, I did piano, guitar and I used to sing and stuff. [I’ve] always played with friends and tried to write my own songs but never really did it with electronic music until a year ago or so when I did the Mariah Carrey remix; that’s sort of how it started as an electronic music kind of thing.”

With a penchant for creating sexy, laid back originals and remixes, one would think that his etheric melodies were made on a vintage analog synths. “All I’ve used for my song[s] so far is a laptop and a midi keyboard. I think the warm sound comes from using a lot of vintage synthesizer sounds, but also the use of white noise/field recordings. I always liked the lo-fi aesthetic of the records I grew up with. Background noise or white noise was never something that bothered me on a recording. I think noise gives a song more character, a certain organic quality. That’s why I often include white noise or field recordings in my production. I don’t want my song to sound too sterile or mechanical. White noise is definitely a way to work against that.”

Currently signed to Disclosure’s PMR imprint, Cyril has had quite the breakout year. And with the help of his seemingly infinite amount of Soundcloud plays, the twenty-something has become garnered a fair amount of bookings around the world and just recently ended his first European tour.

With his Perfect Form EP due out October 7th, we’re excited to have this fresh new talent join Houston’s premier Halloween event, Something Wicked on October 26th. Buy your tickets today to save big!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/106520124″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/98391174″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/49816643″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHH5rswDOEc

Phew! It was pure torture keeping our Something Wicked lineup a secret for so long. But now that we’ve revealed our frightening lineup, we can start having some fun! All the more preparation for the Halloween event bewitching the Sam Houston Race Park on October 26th. Have you bought your tickets yet?

For our first weekend warrior post, it’s all about the energy. With hyperactive percussion, or pounding kid drums, there are many ways an artist can pack on the energy in a live mix. So to set your weekend alight, here are three mixes where you are sure to feel the energy.

Antiserum

Earlier this year, Antiserum released a mix for Smog Records and BBC Radio 1xtra. Antiserum has been creating quite a buzz this past year with tracks like “Brick Squad Anthem” and “Bangladesh” with Mayhem. This mix falls right in line that “buzz.” With a monster track list of 40 songs blended in the hour mix, we love that this mix is high-energy from the very start and technically, it is mixed to perfection.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/79403692″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Arnej – Coldharbour Day 2013

At the end of July every year, the Coldharbour family unite for their annual Coldharbour Day celebration. Featuring special all-Coldharbour sets and showcases, the marathon radio event dedicated entirely to the fans. We were completely blown away by this mix. And the best part is? It is 100% Arnej‘s reworks and productions. With a pulsating bass kick throughout the mix, the twists and breakdowns on some of these tracks will make you do a double take.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/103610607″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tommy Trash – Live at Electric Daisy Carnival 2013

This Aussie had a massive set at this year’s Electric Daisy Carnival. As you could guess, we’re suckers for a high-energy set, especially when it’s packed full of bangers. We hope you weren’t going to try and fall asleep after this mix, because, SPOILER ALERT: you can’t. In the mix, you’ll hear some classic electro sounds that we’ve come to expect from the one, Mr. Tommy Trash, but there is also some acid style synths that make their way into the set. We’re really diggin’ the retro influence.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/98250218″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]