Image provided by Max Thompson
Content oversight provided by Studio 1847
This December, Chicago’s dance music community will witness a homecoming of intergalactic proportions.
On Dec. 12 and 13, Canadian electronic icons Zeds Dead will descend upon Wintrust Arena for a two-night event that marks the climax of their 2025 Deadbeats tour — and the most ambitious chapter yet in their long-standing love affair with the Windy City.
Billed as “Return to the Arena of Intergalactic Happiness,” the back-to-back shows blend cutting-edge production with cinematic storytelling, closing out the duo’s most creatively expansive year in commanding fashion. But for fans in Chicago, this isn’t just another tour stop. It’s a tradition, a pilgrimage and a testament to a bond over a decade in the making.
Since their early days performing at Concord Music Hall and Aragon Ballroom, Zeds Dead — comprised of Dylan Mamid (DC) and Zachary Rapp-Rovan (Hooks) — have cultivated a uniquely loyal Chicago following. Their annual December runs have grown from club shows to multi-night events that draw fans from across the Midwest and beyond, effectively turning Chicago into a year-end destination for bass music lovers.
In recent years, they’ve sold out Radius and The Salt Shed, even debuting Chicago Bulls-inspired tracksuits at the latter in 2023. This year, the tradition levels up with a full arena-scale production — custom visuals, immersive stage design and nods to their critically acclaimed 2025 album, “Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness.” In total, Zeds Dead have sold 150,000+ tickets in Chicago alone over the past decade — a staggering stat that cements the city’s role as a cornerstone of their touring legacy.
Image provided by Ascend Agency
The Wintrust shows arrive at a creatively defining moment for the duo. Their recent audiovisual piece, “Channel Flipping 2: Only You”, premiered exclusively via Billboard, has been described as “a heartstring-pulling, time-warping journey” that blends archival film and music samples into a narrative mashup — a perfect mirror of the duo’s deep-rooted sampling ethos. That same multidimensional energy will course through the Wintrust experience. Zeds Dead have promised rare throwback moments, layered storytelling and high-concept visuals drawn from the world of their latest album, a genre-blurring project that channels everything from hip-hop to rave nostalgia into a cohesive sonic universe.
With more than a decade of releases, hundreds of millions of streams and the founding of their acclaimed label Deadbeats, Zeds Dead’s legacy is etched into the fabric of modern dance music. But in Chicago, they’ve built something even rarer — a sustained relationship with a city that has shown up for them again and again.
This December’s shows are more than just a tour finale. They’re a celebration of roots, evolution and a bond that has transcended time, venues and even genres. For Chicago fans, it’s not the end of the year until Zeds Dead says so.
Tickets for “Deadbeats Presents: Zeds Dead – Return to the Arena of Intergalactic Happiness” are on sale now. Stream the album: Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness.