Coachella caused quite a stir when they announced their S.S. Coachella concert series, but it’s key to remember that another SoCal event group did it first—HARD Fest’s Holy Ship, which is set to sail next January with headliners like Justice, Boys Noize, Knife Party, and Major Lazer, brought music to the high seas earlier this year. The HARD events, organized and run by Gary Richards (who also makes music as Destructo), are a staple of the EDM scene both here and abroad (hello, HARD Summer Toronto!). 

With HARD Summer LA set for next Friday and Saturday at the Los Angeles State Historic Park with dozens of fantastic artists, here’s my take on the top 5 acts to catch. Two day passes are sold out, but single day tickets are still on sale here; EDM fans, get on them before those too are a no-go. 

5. Little Dragon

This Swedish (always Swedish) electronica band reached a larger audience through their collaborations with Gorillaz on the album “Plastic Beach”—“Empire Ants” is easily one of the best tracks on the album—but their music, while not as dub and drop heavy as some of their HARD counterparts’, will definitely still compel you to bust a move.  C’mon, try to listen to “Shuffle A Dream” without moving.

4. Boys Noize

One of my favorite remixes ever is Boys Noize’s insane cranking up of Justice’s already super cranked up “Phantom Pt. 2.” With “Out of the Black” scheduled to drop October 2nd, this is the perfect way to get into or get more into the German producer’s music.

3. Danny Brown

If he’s good enough for Kitty Pryde, he’s… Actually, that’s no measure of an artist, but I’m super curious to see how Danny Brown’s cheeky, irreverent rap style fits in with the general HARD lineup. And hey, if he’s too hardcore for you, Breakbot and Miike Snow are playing at the same time.

2.  Nero

Yeah yeah, no one can escape “Promises,” but let’s not forget all the other smash hits off of this Brit trio’s album “Welcome Reality.” The chance to hear Alana Watson croon out a tune like “Crush On You” live is enough to get me to their show, and while Datsik and Zedd are playing at the same time, it’s Nero that’s caught my ear (so to speak) this time around.

1. James Murphy

I’m still pissed about missing LCD Soundsystem in concert, and as this is the closest I’m going to get to that for the foreseeable future, I’m going to take it. Sorry, Skrillex - "Make It Bun Dem" will have to wait.

Reach Music Editor Lilian Min here; follow her on Twitter here and on Google+ here.