HARD Summer Music Festival has been a SoCal staple for over a decade. After countless iterations, lineups, and venues, it returned home to Los Angeles last weekend. The five stages spread through Exposition Park, hosting a powerhouse lineup that any fan of electronic music would hate to miss. We explored every inch of the festival and spoke to artists and attendees alike; here’s what went down on this unforgettable weekend!
Day 1:
Saturday at 2:00 PM marked the official start to HARD Summer. Unlike many other festivals, travel to the venue was a breeze. A quick ride on the LA Metro offered a straight shot to Expo Park, and even gave attendees a chance to meet and interact along the way! Entry to the festival was quick and easy, despite Insomniac‘s heightened security; everyone entered stress-free and feeling safe. Upon entry, attendees were left directly in front of the HARD Stage for an electric performance by CHYL. (Stay tuned for our post-set interview with the speed house trailblazer.) Her high-octane set was the perfect way to get everyone excited for the party! A quick glance around the venue showed no shortage of food options, plenty of water stations, and lots of extra activities to dive into.
The only disappointment this weekend was that we could not see every single artist, as we heard glowing reviews of every set throughout the weekend. The ones we did catch, however, were nothing short of incredible! Jon Casey and Chee combined to form It Hz, bringing some of the dirtiest bass tracks imaginable. Luude spun his thrilling drum and bass, making sure he got the crowd interacting with him and having a blast. ISOxo was one of our absolute favorite sets of the weekend. His energy on stage, paired with a vigor that only trap music can bring, showed exactly why he’s one of the hottest artists in dance music right now. SAYMYNITTI played so many genres, every drop was a surprise; the duo certainly left with some new fans. To close the day, DIESEL brought his world-renowned stage presence to blow the crowd away.
We spoke to several attendees throughout the day as well, getting their thoughts on the festival as a whole. Becca and Brandon from Orange County loved the stage setups the most this year. As it was their second HARD Summer, they thought Insomniac really stepped up the production. They both thought Kaivon had one of his best sets and headed home ready to get back for the second day.
Rob, an LA local, gave Odd Mob a glowing review. While telling us about his favorite shows, he kept returning to the vibe Odd Mob set for the rest of the day. Another Angeleno named Eddie gave his seal of approval to ISOxo. He also made note of the major temperature difference in DTLA versus the previous HARD Summer venues. He felt this location was much cooler than years past and never felt like he was getting overheated.
Our final new friend of the night was Alyssa from the Bay Area. She loved all the sets she saw and couldn’t choose a favorite. She did say that she loved the crowd this year; her favorite part of festivals is making friends, and she made plenty of new ones! After seeing some amazing performances and getting to chat with these wonderful people, we were ready to be back ASAP for the second day.
Day 2:
We were anxious to get back to the festivities as soon as we opened our eyes. With another smooth commute and entry, our day got off to a great start! After a quick hydration fill, it was time for Sippy in the LA Coliseum at 3:00 PM. Known for her hard-hitting dubstep, she certainly did not hold back; she did bring some extra drum and bass though! Getting a crowd dancing in the August sun is no easy task, but Sippy made it happen. Hamdi followed up with an incredible fire that showed why he has been garnering so much love. Somehow able to blend filthy basslines with insane grooves, Hamdi had one of the most lively crowds of the weekend. Speaking of crowds, Disco Lines brought in one of the biggest of the festival, maybe second only to our final artist of the weekend. His blend of fan-favorite songs and edits was nothing short of electric! Wuki also brought a crate of classic mashups and remixes to get the dance floor moving from start to finish. Our final artist of the night, of course, was Skrillex x Four Tet. The global sensation brought a mass influx to the stage more than an hour before their set began. They controlled the crowd flawlessly from start to finish, playing a blend of their hit songs with numerous crowd-pleasers. The highlight of the weekend was when they Facetimed Fred again.. on the big screen, getting the legendary trio back together.
HARD Summer was on a whole new level this year. While it has been a huge success in the past, the 2023 iteration will be the benchmark moving forward. From delicious food to incredible art installations, the music wasn’t the only thing making the weekend a massive success. When you weren’t enjoying all the extras, you were certainly getting the best shows at any stage! The biggest question mark for most coming into the weekend was about the change of venue; once they entered, there was no more question. Welcome home HARD Summer.
