Dancing in the Dark: 20 Years of Nocturnal Wonderland

Insomniac celebrates 20 years of Nocturnal Wonderland, the longest-running dance music festival in North America. Here, we pay homage the history of this festival by interviewing artists who have been a part of the dance music scene over the course of its journey.
Listen to the history of EDM from dance music veterans such as:
Moby
12th Planet
Bunny
Rabbit in the Moon
Jason Bentley
Kennedy Jones
Christopher Lawrence
Ron D Core
The Crystal Method
Donald Glaude
DJ Dan
VJ Tek
DJ Oscure
Simply Jeff
DJ Tatiana
FreQ Nasty
Jason Blakemore
MC Dino
Featuring music by:
Simian Mobile Disco
“Hustler" (2007)
Wichita Recordings / V2 Records
Silver Apples
“Oscillations" (1968)
℗ 2011 Start Entertainments Limited
D Minds, DJ Hazard
"Mr Happy / Super Drunk" (2007)
Playaz
HVOB
“Azreal" (2015)
Stil Vor Talent
Ron D Core
"Fuck Deep House" (1998)
Bastard Loud Records
Zatox, Audiofreq
"Back to the Underground" (2015)
Unite Records
Rabbit in the Moon
“Alphatron” (2007)
Rabbit in the Moon
"FLooRI.D.A (Handled Without Care Mix)" (1999)
Hallucination
Richard Devine
"4ms Quad Clocking Harmonies" (Modular Lullaby)
Rabbit in the Moon
"Out of Body Experience” (2007)
Mystical Influence
“Dubplate Pressure” (1996)
Vinyl Syndicate Recordings
Hi-Lo
“Renegade Mastah” (Original mix) (2015)
Heldeep Records

[@derekbarker2818]

Forever my favorite insomniac event

[@davidkordell8243]

So cool to hear stories of places we went and different memories of the same parties and places. Still miss the 90's scene!

[@pastelhotmess9299]

The Mystery, the whismy, the grandeur I had just found this out & now I'm in love with it.

[@awolproductions]

Dude... this is the best thing you guys have ever put out, Thank you cant say it enough, people used to compare our events in Vegas to your events in LA back in the day and i have always felt that same passion, that same drive, that same reward feeling after the event when i only got to experience events through photos because I/we worked so hard that the actual events were a blurr... i have years of footage, and have never really been put it all together and this video HITS THE MARK this is exactly what the younger newer generation needs to see...

[@InsomniacEvents]

+Chad Craig Thanks for the input! Much appreciated!

[@snowboarder7791]

+Chad Craig i agree with you ... as a old guy now lol ( 38 now ) and as some one who has been going to events since 94 (still go to events once in a while ), i will say if you took out the business aspect of it today, your left with basically the same philosophy as it was back then. the kids are still the same and thats ok :)

[@stevencoardvenice]

well I'm glad to hear that the current shit isn't as good as was here in socal 15 years ago. feel less old. lol

[@mattdoza13]

I love this!! Do your homework kids!!

[@pastelhotmess9299]

studying for whimisical beats 101 & it's lit XD

[@Trickpony760]

12th planet spitted real shit

[@Munthegun]

This is literally one of the best vids Ive seen in a long time. I remember listening to "trance" in 1999 as a 13 year old doing his homework and thinking "Holy shit this is exactly what my body needs" haha. It was a transforming experience and have loved every minute of the ride sense. Nothing is going to stop that ride either. Going to Nocturnal Tomorrow!!!

[@namek1925]

I went this weekend on Sunday i am 34 i don't really go to the big events. I had a chance to go and what a good time it was. Pasquale wanted the old schooler's to go so we came out got my big pants out took the dust of my nintendo back pack and had a blast! I got to meet him and i could tell he enjoyed seeing some old rave memories. We got to hear some old techno be in camp OG and got vip into everything. Thanks to the people that made it happen. I hope hardcore does return one day but it didn't matter was still awsome the silent disco was really different to. I got my vibe back and am really excited to go to more.

[@joseluisvalenzuela9702]

Love this video, my first nocturnal was 2002 i was amazing for my, Thanks

[@949DanaPoint]

This gave me the chills :D thanks

[@rachaelemborg8205]

The history of EDM. Awesome!

[@jazzsolocup3291]

It all started underground... In abandoned warehouses/parking structures/churches/Indian land etc. Ravers were crazy back then!! haha

[@kevv5044]

This brings back so much fun memories

[@liquidaisy]

Thank you, thank you, so much for creating this video!!! As an old school raver, I am so happy that we all share the same thoughts and feelings! The new school kids really need to do their homework. :)

[@alisa1233]

Im going to my first nocturnal This is going to be awesome and its also the 20th anniveesary I feel so lucky ❤💖Big thanks fo everyone that makes it happen !!! Pasquale you are the best

[@augustbrown9711]

I’ve only been going to Nocturnal Wonderland for a couple of years now, but now I go every year. Thank you Pasquale for creating my world and my home. ❤️💞

[@MrPiratequeen29]

I went to my very first rave ever this past Saturday for Nocturnal Wonderland Day 2 and my mind was totally blown! I had so much fun, I didn't even know my body could take nearly 8 hours of dancing.

[@natedozier7316]

Bad-ass!!! cant wait till next weekend! #History101

[@vegaf2011]

Yayuh 🙌 🙏 💯. Can't wait for beyond next month. Been raving it since 2010 and I still can't ever get enough. But I have always listened to electronic music since I was a kid so it feels like home

[@heidicalderon2637]

Nocturnal was amazing 🖖🏼

[@johnworman1274]

I keep rewatching this. Going to my next nocturnal event in a month. About a decade since my first. I know that isn’t ancient history. But I love being a part of this lineage

[@artv.9104]

This was my first nocturnal this year and I have to say it was amazing everyone should at least go to and insomniac show they are really worth going too.

[@CarolineMickle]

LOVED it. Wonderful video. I hope to see more like this soon. Leaving today for Nocturnal Wonderland camping! Can't wait! See all of you lovelies there!! XOXO

[@ASlyFilm]

I will see you all there! This got me so much more excited!

[@djentropy]

That's me at 11:56 in the old skool raver pants pic :)

[@WhiteOutOwns]

This is going to be my first nocturnal and I am more than stoked about it! I loved this!

[@DocuMamaFilms]

Great 20-year documentary short! Photography, editing and sound is fantastic...a salute to those behind the editing scene. More point of views by MC's...that vocal band leader that revvs the fans and consider more women point of view! Cool story

[@adamdallas2342]

I rather enjoyed this.....I greatly enjoyed this.

[@ceci081892]

I. Can't wait !!! One more week :D

[@KraveNPLUR]

wow i cant wait for nocturnal!!!!!!

[@Lxv]

learning so much history.... very well done :D

[@ivana6089]

i love this !

[@josephmillett5740]

I remember Melrose beatnonstop to the temple of boom glad I was at most of em and showed my friends the future.

[@summerxcrystal]

going this year!!first time

[@blueandgoldbolts420]

great work on this

[@viperconn]

one more week!

[@GrimRaccoon]

Wow

[@vincentmontez9636]

Remember that Base Wash? Felt so good!

[@ShocK7196]

this mini documentary was so gooooooood!!! can there be a longer version??

[@PaloMayomb3]

Man i remember going to the 99' one. My mom took me, I guess raves made us really close after that.

[@namek1925]

Can we get some hardcore/gabber in to these events again i can see it is slowly coming back. HARDCORE HARDCORE HARDCORE!

[@AngelDiaz-vf5ib]

+namek1925 Yeah amazing how after a party of theirs in 2013, I was mentioning about L.A. Hardcore representing, and to not make it seem like Hardcore heads had nothing to do with the scene when back in the day we were the backbone. Then all of a sudden they stopped booking hardcore in mid 2000. Funny how that night when i was going off about hardcore and how we have always been apart of the scene and dropping all the names and talent. They book them a couple of them for EDC 2014. Glad they gave Props to Ron D Core. Drfreeclouds is the spot!!

[@504CharlieBoy504]

Who else got tear-gased in 1998?

[@Alkivar]

Fucking love it... i'm in this! I'm the one in the tye dye ufo's in the group photo at 11:56. Thanks for using my picture!

[@snowboarder7791]

massive shirt at 12:25.. milwaukee represent .. \m/ still have my massive shirt ...

[@DanielRomero-mj8fy]

even though I'm a dark skinned (mexican) American, I love France! peace and love to all

[@alexer1987]

first track ID pls anyone?

[@lellepele]

Track at 20.10?

[@mr_vn]

Whats the song at 10:00?!?

[@Realigigi]

Why are none of these artists at the 20th anniversary of NW? Would have loved to see rabbit in the moon. No complaints, I still have my drumcode.

[@JasonBlakemoregoogle]

Back in Nam!

[@rafalurp]

jason!

[@rafalurp]

jason!

[@rafalurp]

jason!

[@ninoninkovic3668]

!!!

[@ericrodriguez7134]

Jason Blakemore- Dj Trance

[@Moments91508]

song @ 20:16?

[@StraP023]

Name of the first song?

[@adamaustin3845]

i was there man, freedom rock filled the airwaves.. i Don't remember the first time I went to insomniac, cant remember the last time i was at nocturnal, i don't remember this onetime Pasquale handed me a something or other, but i heard it was the best time of , of,, Can you please repeat the question? Oh right... bikinis,!!! love um.. just not for me. I don't listen to reason, i eat Techno, an Authority only sounds good when heard thru a system of bass bins, not brain cells, its a remix.... im plain, Im not only skool. Im pretty old. Hi, Im Adam, you might remember me from raves.

[@gabrielmatteus1]

track at 7:00??

[@sider122]

+Gabriel Ridder (DJ G4be) that shit went hard

[@sider122]

+Gabriel Ridder (DJ G4be) Zatox & Audiofreq - Back To The Underground

[@SeenaTabatabai]

I went to the one in 2000 or 2001 now that I'm older I realose how cheap Insomniac was there was a this empty space and they wouldn't even put any type of lights.

[@jeffreylebowski8199]

So many white guys with dreads…. And moby 😫