Belgian electronic dance fest crosses over into US

[March 22, 2013]  MIAMI (AP) -- One of Europe's largest music festivals will be crossing over into the United States, setting up a fairytale world with electronic dance beats for three days in Georgia.

The Tomorrowland electronic dance music festival in Belgium will hold a similar three-day festival in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., near Atlanta, in September.

TomorrowWorld is expected to attract internationally renowned DJs and 50,000 fans each day.

It is the first international expansion of the Tomorrowland festival, one of the world's largest electronic dance music events. Tomorrowland takes place in July and will play host to 180,000 people from 214 countries. Event promoters say tickets sold out in one second.

The announcement was made Wednesday in Miami in an elaborate ceremony that included men and women dressed in magical costumes and a fireworks display.

"We will create a fairytale world from the smallest detail to the biggest stage," Tomorrowland co-owner Michiel Beers said.

Beers said organizers immediately felt at home in the Georgia venue, which happens to be owned by a Belgian. In addition to stages and dancing, festivalgoers will have the opportunity to camp out in tents overnight in a placed called "Dreamville."

Artists will be announced starting in April. Beers said the lineup will likely be similar to the Belgian event.

The U.S. festival comes at a time when electronic dance music is growing in popularity after years of success in Europe. The Ultra Music Festival in Miami also brings together electronic dance music fans and is currently taking place over two weekends in its 15th year.

[Associated Press; By CHRISTINE ARMARIO]

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