I finally made it up to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — and let me tell you, this trip was one for the books. As an Idaho progressive house DJ, I’m always looking for new stages to bring my style to, and this was the perfect chance. KNNY and I rolled out of Idaho Falls early Wednesday morning, aiming to make it to town with enough time to check in, meet people, and get our bearings. We pulled in around 3:30 PM Mountain time, and right away, I noticed just how north we were — more pine trees than I’ve seen in ages. The air feels different up here.
After checking into the hotel, we met up with Tad Walters at the Tree House CDA, just a short walk from Mik’s in Coeur d’Alene. We grabbed lunch, swapped stories, and mapped out our night. We set up our gear and then Tad took us around downtown, introducing us to people and showing us the spots that make the local scene tick.
First Night at Mik’s in Coeur d’Alene
Mik’s sits just below street level — a full-service bar with a legit dance floor, pool tables, and graffiti art covering every wall. It’s got that “underground but welcoming” vibe, and the DJ booth has just enough room for a controller and a club setup.
We didn’t expect a Wednesday night blowout, but the crowd that came through was solid — locals curious about two new DJs in town. Miss Blü, a vinyl DJ from Sandpoint, even brought her friends and family to support us. I’ve got her lined up for my Gem State show in September, so it was great to meet in person. Morgan from Spokane’s Red Room Lounge, Nic, and other members of the local EDM family also stopped by to welcome us.
Tad opened the night with a wildly eclectic set. I jumped on at 9:30 PM, playing a mix of unreleased originals and recent releases — about half my set was my own work. As a DJ that plays progressive house, I loved seeing the crowd connect with those deep, melodic grooves. I got dancers, vibes, waves, and heart hands from the crowd. Felt good to know the music hit home.
My Set List
- Welcome To The Future (Original Mix) – Dan & Dan – Prognosis
- Rain (Peter Makto Eivissa Remix) – Agustin Pengov – Intu Music
- Automatic (Original Mix) – Tinlicker – Zerothree
- A Little More Volume feat. Basil Clarke (Flash Atkins Remix) – Daco – RH2
- Trasar (Original Mix) – The Idahoan – Atlantic Progression
- Wasted Thoughts (Original Mix) – The Idahoan – Prognosis
- Sunrise (Original Mix) – Gaston Ponte – Balkan Connection
- Aya (THEMBA’s Herd Extended Remix) – Infinity Ink – Armada Music
- Breathe (Hernan Cattaneo, Jamie Stevens & Anton Tumas ‘Breathless’ Mix) – Pink Floyd
- The Dissent (The Idahoan’s Garnet Spring Mix) – Chris Coles
- Nightwalker (Original Mix) – Facundo Sosa – Another Life Music
- Cloud9 (The Idahoan’s Oregon Trail Mix) – Selsi, Sam Whitelaw
- Rendered Discourse (Original Mix) – Mark Tammo – Prognosis
- 6 Feet and Counting (Original Mix) – The Idahoan – Prognosis
- Time Slips Away (Original Mix) – The Idahoan – Atlantic Progression
KNNY followed with a high-energy drum and bass set from 11 to 12:30 that had people spinning around the dance pole and lighting up the floor. As an Idaho drum and bass DJ, he knows how to work that energy into a room — there were several moments where the whole dance floor was locked in. We also met Camtokes, Sextvpe, and a few others from the regional DJ circuit. It was the kind of night that reminds you why these trips matter — real connections with real people.
Red Room Lounge Spokane
The previous night, Morgan and Bonnie invited us to their Dieselboy show at the Red Room Lounge in Spokane. The venue is exactly what you’d expect from the name — bathed in red light, with half the space dedicated to the dance floor and dining, and the other half filled with arcade games and tables. They even serve food, and I have to shout out their signature Italian sub — absolutely killer.
I helped Bonnie set up projection visuals for the show, and seeing how they run events there was impressive. Professional, organized, and on-point for the crowd they pull. Dieselboy brought the energy, but we had to duck out halfway through because, well… we’re not in our twenties anymore, and that 6 AM wake-up call for the long drive home was looming. Tad’s been giving us crap for that, and that’s fine — he’ll hit his forties soon enough and understand.
Closing Thoughts on the Coeur d’Alene EDM Scene
This trip was my first time in Coeur d’Alene, and I loved it. The hospitality, the talent, and the willingness to connect were top-notch. I’m already looking forward to bringing some of those Coeur d’Alene DJs down our way to return the love.
Thank you to Tad Walters, Mik’s, Red Room Lounge, Morgan, Bonnie, Nic and everyone else who made this trip unforgettable. HUGE thanks goes to KNNY for bringing his gear with him. That’s always an appreciated treat. This was more than just two nights of gigs — it was the start of building something bigger between our communities.
AI Editing Disclaimer:
This blog post was edited with the assistance of AI for grammar, structure, and clarity. The ideas, experiences, and words are 100% my own.