Labor Day weekend is one of the most anticipated times for music enthusiasts across the United States. In 2023, however, many music festivals encountered an array of challenges that left attendees disheartened. Inclement weather, transportation hiccups, supply chain struggles, production mishaps, and overall mismanagement plagued several events. Yet, amid such turmoil this Labor Day weekend, Chicago stood out as the place to be, hosting two legendary festivals: North Coast Music Festival and Arc Music Festival. These festivals have earned praise and recognition for being some of the country’s best electronic dance music experiences. In this review, we explore North Coast Music Festival, a three-day extravaganza that showcased the best of EDM and left a lasting impression on fans of all genres.
Drawing nearly 70,000 attendees to the sprawling grounds of SeatGeek Stadium in Chicagoland, North Coast Music Festival transformed the venue into a vibrant and interactive hub for EDM enthusiasts. As a third-time attendee, this is the best version of North Coast that I have seen to date. From the stellar lineup to the additional stages, countless vendors, and diverse food options, this festival had something for everyone.
Unforgettable Main Stage Performances
The festival’s main stage, The Stadium, hosted a diverse range of acts throughout the weekend. Friday’s kickoff featured sets from Valentino Khan, Zomboy, Jauz, Alesso, and ended with a sensational closing performance by Marshmello. The day’s most memorable moment was when the crowd joined Jauz in celebrating his 30th birthday on stage by singing “Happy Birthday” to him.
Saturday at The Stadium was every bass lover’s dream, featuring artists like Maddy O’Neal, Esseks, Inzo, Of The Trees, Black Tiger Sex Machine, Ganja White Night, and Zeds Dead, who delivered one of my personal favorite sets of the weekend. The final day at The Stadium showcased Rossy, EVAN GIIA, Dabin, Alison Wonderland, and a closing set from Flume. Most of the crowd gathered at The Vega stage earlier on Sunday, but Rossy’s set at The Stadium was easily one of my weekend favorites, and I’d be remiss had I not been there to see it!
North Coast’s second largest stage was The Vega, which has expanded and improved every year I’ve been there. The production level at this stage was nothing short of jaw-dropping. It brought a new and unique vibe for each day, with a WAKAAN takeover on Friday, tons of fun house sets on Saturday, and some energetic dubstep on Sunday. Over the weekend, many big names performed on this stage, such as Liquid Stranger, Champagne Drip, DJ Snake, MK, Chris Lorenzo, NGHTMRE, and Big Gigantic. A few of my favorite sets at this stage included Liquid Stranger on Friday, Sherm on Saturday, and NGHTMRE on Sunday.
A new addition to North Coast Music Festival in 2023 was The Shipyard, which replaced what was known as The Canopy stage during previous years. This stage featured a revamped design with stacked shipping containers, creating a visually stunning backdrop for performers. The Shipyard hosted captivating sets by Gordo, Duke Dumont, Lane 8, Elderbrook, Chris Lake, and Cloonee throughout the weekend. Saturday showcased Lane 8’s This Never Happened label, featuring a stacked lineup of melodic house tunes. Sunday belonged to Chris Lake’s Black Book Records imprint, with standout performances from Kyle Watson, Miane, Cloonee, and more. Chris Lake’s set at The Shipyard was a personal favorite, although Saturday, with its dream lineup of Lane 8, Elderbrook, Sultan + Shephard, Le Youth, and Jerro, stood out as an exceptional day.
Other Highlights
North Coast Music Festival also reintroduced popular experiential areas, including The Fire Pit and The Chill Dome. The Fire Pit delivered fantastic house and bass music sets paired with mesmerizing fire displays. The Chill Dome provided refuge from the summer heat, featuring artists like INZO, Champagne Drip, and Surf Mesa, who set the mood with chill vibes.
Other unique festival elements, such as The Giant (a tree man sculpture) and The Rainbow Lounge (offering festival-goers hammocks for relaxation), added to the festival’s charm. The NCMF Yacht Club, a festival boat with various amenities and incredible views, also returned. New additions like Club Coast, a hidden speakeasy that required a spoken password found only in the festival’s app, and a Ferris Wheel offering panoramic views further enriched the festival experience. With so much to explore, my only complaint was that three days hardly felt sufficient to savor everything North Coast had to offer.
Unwavering Legacy
North Coast Music Festival’s 13th edition cemented its status as the premier Labor Day electronic music festival in the United States. In stark contrast to the challenges faced by other festivals, North Coast delivered a seamless and memorable experience for its attendees. With its outstanding lineup, immersive stages, and unique experiential elements, North Coast Music Festival undoubtedly stood out as the place to be this past Labor Day weekend. As someone fortunate enough to attend and experience North Coast firsthand, I cannot make a stronger event recommendation to anyone making Labor Day plans in the years to come.
There is no end in sight for the bad publicity stemming from the epic failures of Electric Zoo 2023, and rightly so for the countless people who suffered financial loss and emotional distress. Even the New York City Mayor has gotten involved by making a statement about the debacle that included Day 1 being canceled, Day 2 plagued by endless lines at will call, and Day 3 having festivalgoers storm the gates when attendance was capped around 7 p.m.
If you want to read about the details of what went wrong and find people to blame, this is not that article. It is simply my story and my experience. I’m a New York City local who’s been to this fest for four years, so my partner and I were some of the lucky ones — we managed to have a great time at our home festival over Labor Day Weekend despite all the difficulties and setbacks.
Friday
Rave day started as it typically does, with my partner braiding her hair three hours early while I went through social media dropping hype posts for the artists I was excited to see — Adventure Club, Ghengar, and The Chainsmokers. When we got the call from someone in our rave family, we couldn’t believe it — “EZoo Day 1 is canceled!” We rushed to social media and saw the post confirming the bad news.
Dear Electric Zoo Family,
It is with a broken heart that we deeply regret to inform you that, despite our tireless efforts and round-the-clock commitment, we have made the painful decision to cancel the first day of Electric Zoo.
Luckily for us, we had secured guestlist tickets for the Adventure Club afterparty on Wednesday, because I had to see my favorite superheroes visit one of New York City’s most iconic music venues, Webster Hall. But for many, afterparty tickets sold out almost immediately after news of the cancellation broke and they were not able to buy reasonably priced third-party tickets to the numerous afterparties that Avant Gardner had scheduled.
We briefly considered some of the renegade events popping up at open venues and empty alleys all over lower Manhattan and Brooklyn but ultimately decided to focus our efforts on bringing our displaced friends together and making the most of the situation. We made it happen instead of worrying about things out of our control. Likewise, it was encouraging to see the NYC EDM scene come together to throw some epic events last minute, such as the sold-out BASSLAND by EDMTrain and Bass Command.
We got to Webster Hall promptly at 11 p.m. for doors and the line for general admission was already down the street and wrapped halfway up the next block! We enjoyed NYC local Squired starting the show. Steller and Blanke were welcomed additions to the lineup due to the Day 1 cancellations and slayed their sets as well. Then came the main attraction — we witnessed an amazing Adventure Club set jam-packed with so many classics: “Retro City,” “Youth,” “Do I See Color,” and a personal favorite — their remix of Britney Spears’s “Till the World Ends.”
Ghengar was another bonus added to the lineup and Ghastly brought the energy for this alt-persona set. At one point, he split the crowd and came down from the decks to mosh with the fans on the dancefloor. When I got tripped and pushed over, Ghastly was the first person to help me to my feet and we both proceeded to continue raging.
Credit: Adventure Club Instagram // @druenotdrew
Modern Machines, another NYC local, wrapped up the unforgettable night at 4 a.m. We all headed home hoping for good news regarding Saturday and Sunday since there was no definitive statement made about the future of the festival. Our alarm was set for noon, and fingers crossed for good news.
Saturday
I was up Saturday morning at 10 am, as is routine during the English Premier League season, and still no word from Electric Zoo. Halftime came and went. Finally, around 11:30 am the news we were all waiting to hear was announced — “EZoo is on!” Even Chelsea’s unfortunate home loss to Nottingham Forest couldn’t dampen my spirit, rave day had arrived at long last.
Dear Electric Zoo Family,
First and foremost, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and understanding in the face of yesterday's unexpected challenges. Your patience and dedication mean the world to us, and we cannot thank you enough for being… pic.twitter.com/n5SeRZsbYY
We had to get to Randall’s Island in time for So Tuff So Cute at 4:30 p.m. and credit to my partner for pulling it off. We left our Bushwick apartment just before three, and made good time on the subway to Harlem, walking over the RFK Bridge (New Yorkers still call it the Triboro), and getting through a short security line at the North entrance all in under 90 minutes. Victory!
It was evident that the stages were not completed, but that didn’t stop the artists from showing off their skills. Besides the minimal decor around the stage structures, everything felt familiar like the EZoo of years past, albeit with new stage names. The bass stage, dubbed The Continuum, only had a few of the central LED panels working for Day 2, but So Tuff So Cute (the joint DJ project of GG Magree and Mija) got our EZoo experience started with a memorable performance. They dropped some heavy bass and sang along to some sexy tracks, including closing with their newest single “No Bra No Panties,” which releases Friday, September 8.
We then filled up my hydro pack and took a quick trip to the restrooms at the right rear of the main stage (The Convergence) without issue. After consulting the handy app for the multitude of food options, we decided on a Viet pork sandwich from the aptly named “Bahn Mi Daddy.” It was a filling footlong sando with tasty BBQ pork and tangy pickled veg that hit the spot.
After lunch, we headed over to The Landing (former Riverside) to digest while listening to some Deep Dark & Dangerous bass from Truth. Again, the stage design was not complete, but the LED screen worked and the bass was booming so there was nothing worth complaining about. Rusko followed next and played my favorite set of the day with his trademark MC skills complementing his mix of modern day drum and bass bangers and old school dubstep classics.
Credit: Shaelyn McCormack // @shaelien111
We caught the first few songs from Jantsen before bolting across the island to make our main stage debut and hear the last few songs from Gryffin. The Convergence was also incomplete, with only the center hanging display constructed and limited LED displays working, but the sound was fine even towards the back of the stage without any sound bleed due to the dividers constructed between the stages. We didn’t trifle with the crowd and stayed near the right rear of the stage over by the water stations and restrooms. Again, we topped off the hydro pack and relieved ourselves without any crowding issues to speak of.
As the bassheads we are, my partner and I finished Saturday at The Continuum with sets from Big Gigantic and GRiZ. Both artists got saxy with it. Big Gigantic brought out NGHTMRE for their Gigantic NGHTMRE collab and GRiZ had his full cast of characters on hand for his solo live set, including two vocalists, a trumpet player, and a trombone player. Another sign that fate was actually on our side this weekend, we miraculously ran into our local Electric Forest family right in the center of the stage without so much as a text. After all, it is the people you surround yourself with that can elevate the vibes of the festival and our crew was optimistic and upbeat all weekend long.
Credit: Shaelyn McCormack // @shaelien
Getting off Randall’s Island and back to Brooklyn was the one place where I noticed the impact of the larger crowd and felt that the event organizers could have done a better job with crowd control. Due to the narrow ramp to get from ground level up to the RFK bridge, there was a huge bottleneck walking back to Manhattan from the North exit to 125th Street.
It took us over an hour just to walk from the exit to get onto the bridge since they had to completely halt pedestrian traffic at times to manage the growingly frustrated patrons trying to leave. Mind you, this is something that only took 10-15 minutes in years past. All told, we left EZoo at 11 p.m. and didn’t make it to the afters until 2 a.m., turning our 90-minute trip to the island into a 180-minute return back to Brooklyn.
Credit: Shaelyn McCormack // @shaelien111
While we did get to see afterparty sets from Liquid Stranger and Jantsen that we had missed during their Day 2 performances, I missed the encore set from Rusko that I was most looking forward to. Tired but grateful, we walked back home from The Great Hall at Avant Gardner to prepare for Day 3.
Sunday
On Day 3, we overslept by an hour and my partner furiously rushed to get her outfit prepared while I prepped the rave bag and watched the thrilling conclusion to the Arsenal-Manchester United match. Our commute to Randall’s Island took the same 90 minutes, but instead of walking over the RFK Bridge from Manhattan, we finessed our way onto the express X80 bus and rode the MTA in air-conditioned comfort to the festival gates.
Although we missed the beginning of her set, we still made it in time to see most of Alleycvt’s performance, which was a very promising display from the young, talented dubstep producer. Speaking of displays, The Continuum seemed to be fully functional for Sunday, with a more robust sound and all nine screens illuminated. Black Carl! and Saka took the stage next with a back-to-back collaboration dubbed “Rush Hour.” While I went to secure hydration, my partner hung out by the VIP side rails and got to speak with Alleycvt. I made it back just in time to snap off a few pictures of the two bass lovers.
Credit: Sam Wolloch // @samwolloch
After the photo op, we had about two hours of free time to check out the other two stages before I left to see Tiesto at the main stage and she went to rage with Kai Wachi and her bass babes. We secured another round of tasty snacks from the concession area at the back of The Continuum — I got fried Oreos and a boba tea while my partner munched on a lamb gyro — and peacefully ate our lunch in the shade of the hill before making our debut at The Morphosis stage.
We got to spend about 20 minutes listening to the smooth sounds of Frankie Wah, who was part of Nora En Pure’s Purified Records stage takeover. From what I could tell, this stage was also in good shape with good-looking LED displays over a series of five alternating freestanding platforms. The energy at this stage was chill and there was plenty of space for everyone to dance freely. Everyone at The Morphosis was seemingly having a great time.
Credit: Sam Wolloch // @samwolloch
At long last, halfway through Day 3, we made the trek to the newest stage addition to EZoo, the Mega Mirage. Unfortunately, this stage was kind of a sh*t show — like it literally stank like sh*t. Rumor has it that manure or compost was used to cover the deep tire tracks left by the setup crew, and the 90-degree heat of Sunday afternoon supercharged the stank. Fortunately, we spent all our time dancing on big plastic slabs or metal rail plates, so we weren’t kicking this foul dirt up in the air.
We met up with a few friends to enjoy the last few tracks from the groovy Chelina Manuhutu and the beginning of Green Velvet’s set. Although it was still sunny out at 6 pm, the visual displays looked sharp and the production at this stage sounded good. No complaints from me except for the putrid smell and the lack of a Red Bull + water station anywhere at this stage. 6:30 hit and I was off for my solo adventure to the main stage for a sunset set from Tiesto and a rare performance from Major Lazor.
I’ll admit that the crowd at The Convergence for Tiesto was thick and deep. To get to the front right of the elevated VIP section, I maneuvered my way along the right side of the stage by the concessions and reached my destination without much trouble, despite the big crowds. I found some fellow colorful cowboy hat-wearing folx and they happily adopted me into their crew for the next couple hours of revelry. It appeared that more of the LED screens were operational on Sunday, but having only spent 10 minutes here on Saturday, I was not the best to judge. Truth be told, it was the music and the people with me that made the moments magical.
Credit: Sam Wolloch // @samwolloch
Tiesto played a well-rounded set, mixing in modern hits with old classics as the sun set on the final day of the festival. His memorable remix of “Silence” blared as the setting sun illuminated the New York City skyline with shades of orange, pink, and blue. All the while, madness was unfolding at the gates as festivalgoers rushed past the security check after the announcement was made that the attendance cap was reached. But I was none the wiser until reading about that calamity the next day.
After Tiesto finished, I pulled back to the grassy ramp area directly in front of the ADA platform near the back of the main stage. It was the perfect meetup spot to reunite with my squad for the first half of Major Lazor. We were able to find room to sit down on the grass and took some time to get stretched out before the final few sets of the weekend. With all the hysteria about a cramped main stage, I had no problem laying out and flowing through a few chaturanga dandasana to keep me feeling fresh.
We ended the festival just like we started it, getting to witness some of our favorite bass artists at the best stage on the island — The Continuum. Boogie T went back-to-back with Dirt Monkey, showcasing their wonky, deep bass proclivities with trippy pastel-colored backdrops. They set the stage perfectly for the big finale, another back-to-back featuring Zeds Dead and GRiZ adorned in cowboy hats.
The set was a special experience I got to enjoy with many of my closest festival friends. Having listened to Zeds Dead faithfully for over ten years, it was a revelation to hear GRiZ riffing on his saxophone to classics like “Collapse” and hits like “Shady Intentions.” In these moments, the calamity of the weekend melted away and left me in soulful ecstasy. Despite all of the setbacks, we had an amazing end to our time on Randall’s Island.
Credit: Shaelyn McCormack // @shaelien111
Once again, we got stuck in the mass exodus from the island over the RFK Bridge to Manhattan. Security seemed to be in better control on Sunday until someone hopped the fence and tried to cut ahead of the crowd by running along the staff side. Security barked at him to halt, and when he did not, one of the guards knocked him out cold with a punch to the head. It was the only act of violence I witnessed all weekend, and it was easily preventable if people had just followed the rules and the barriers in place.
It still took us about an hour to cross over the bridge on Sunday, but with our friend driving us back to Brooklyn for the afters it only took us two hours to get to our desired destination, my favorite club in the city — Elsewhere. Although not an official EZoo afterparty, Blossom and Valentino Khan each played a high-energy, bass-heavy, house set. The crowd there was great, a fun mix of Brooklyn locals enjoying their 3-day weekend and festivalgoers looking for an alternative to the sold-out shows at Avant Gardner. We left the club at 3:30 a.m. with our hearts full and our gas tanks empty.
Credit: Elsewhere Instagram // @nietodickens
It wasn’t until Monday morning that I finally got caught up to speed with all of the struggles other people encountered at Electric Zoo 2023. It was sad to see my hometown festival which I care for and support yearly fail so miserably. It seems that so much of what went wrong could have been prevented with less ambitious planning and tighter logistics in place. Aggressive, violent security continues to be a problem for EZoo, and the added stresses of this year’s difficulties only made a bad situation worse.
It is still unclear what the future holds for Electric Zoo, its organizers, and the disgruntled patrons in its wake. Refunds for the canceled Day 1 Friday should be refunded back to the credit card used at the point of sale, but there is still no word about the situations for Saturday and Sunday. I can only imagine the chaos for people who bought hard-copy tickets, so my thoughts and prayers go out to all the local promoters having to deal with this nonsense.
Will there be another Electric Zoo in 2024? Only time will tell. Lawsuits seem to be piling up for Avant Gardner, the company that runs the mega club complex in Brooklyn that bought the NYC festival from Made Event in 2022. People are calling for its demise, but I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt to make the situation right and correct its mistakes for 2024. If there’s another Black Friday presale, I will continue to support my hometown festival with the hope that it gets the opportunity to make things right next year.
Imagine Music Festival is back at Kingston Downs, GA this September 14 – 17 and the lineup is packed with iconic back-to-backs and some of the world’s best DJ/producers, which we covered in our preview article. Now we’re back with a closer look at some of the local talent that just might become the next artist to break through to headliner status.
Atlanta-based Sam WOLFE has been a breath of fresh air for the American techno scene. In fact, after a string of successful releases in 2020 and 2021, he was signed by Beatport’s top-ranked techno producer, UMEK. Recently, Sam WOLFE has been touring internationally, taking his next-gen techno music worldwide, from India and the Middle East to Europe and Central America. Lucky for Imaginers, Sam WOLFE will be at his best playing in front of his hometown crowd in Atlanta.
Hailing from Tennessee, Subrinse is a multi-genre DJ blending tasty tunes ranging from tech house to hip-hop. He has a true passion for music, using it as a medium to connect with his audience. “Music is the medium,” says Subrinse. “The environment is the catalyst for organic connection.” Considering he is scheduled to play at Imagine, that music environment is as good as it gets to generate more authentic connections.
This Connecticut-born artist recently moved to Tampa, FL to continue his music career while pursuing a Master’s degree. Although he is a newer arrival to the EDM scene, Galo is an experienced musician and music theory student, learning how to play six different instruments by the age of 18. He’s had a busy summer, going on tour across the US playing in California and across the Southeast, with dates in Denver, Austin, and Detroit still upcoming. Of course, our eyes are on the last stop of his Summer Tour where he will take the stage at Imagine.
Another Georgia local, JD Farrell made his debut in 2021 and has steadily proven himself to be an accomplished writer, producer, and musician. He released a few tracks on Nora En Pure’s Purified Records and received support from international superstars like Tiesto and Markus Schulz. Behind the decks, JD Farrell demonstrates his enthusiastic, upbeat house music sets by blending modern-day production with an energetic 90s style.
Single-day tickets are limited and VIP options are filling up fast as well, so if you want to make it to Imagine Music Festival, now is the time to secure tickets to the premier immersive electronic music festival in the Southeast United States. Things are shaping up for this to be the best Imagine yet, so don’t say we didn’t warn you – get those tickets today!
North Coast Music Festival takes place this weekend, September 1 – 3 at SeatGeek Stadium just outside of Chicago, IL and the lineup is stacked! Boasting eight different stages with over 100 diverse artists performing over three days, the biggest dilemma of the weekend is who to see. Here is a spotlight on three talented performers we’ve got our eyes on.
START PLANNING BECAUSE YOUR OFFICIAL #NCMF2023 SET TIMES ARE HERE! 🤓
As always, we try to avoid major conflicts voiced by the Coastie Community, but with a 🔥 lineup like this, they are bound to happen. We can’t wait to see you all in 2 MONTHS! 😮 Stay tuned for more fun… pic.twitter.com/AK60NybJpt
This project was created by Supertask, Potions, and the late CharlestheFirst. Lab Group is the ultimate musical experiment, melding their brains together to combine countless genres creating an audiological chemical reaction that appeals to the masses. This think tank of producers has its forthcoming album, Lab Group 2, in the works and is incorporating a myriad of artists, producers, and vocalists from all over the musical spectrum to push the boundaries even further. Unique, innovative, experimental — no matter how one describes Lab Group, it’s one set to lock in.
When browsing the schedule, some of the best house music artists are performing this weekend, and Masteria is one artist primed for an amazing set. This Detroit-based house producer is fully equipped to burn down the stage with an array of dark synths and thick basslines. Ever been to a Tiesto, Diplo, or Afrojack set? There’s a chance you’d recognize some of Masteria’s tracks from their sets, as they have all supported his tracks. Do not miss this bass house party — Masteria doesn’t miss.
Vibes will be high this weekend, especially at the This Never Happened stage takeover. With the likes of Lane8 and Elderbrook closing out the night, don’t miss the hidden gem earlier in the day — Jerro. His debut album, Coming Home, dropped in October 2022 and he hasn’t looked back since. Hailing from Belgium, he comes across the pond to North Coast Music Festival packing his melodic tunes early in the day to set the tone. He has released tracks on Anjunadeep, Future Classic, and This Never Happened of course. If indie-influenced, downtempo electronic vibes are craved, this is where to find them.
Due to popular demand the #NCMF2023 map is here! Explore your HOME for Labor Day Weekend and remember you can view this & other festival must knows on our official North Coast app! 🗺️ 📲
3-DAY & Saturday GA passes will sell out! Secure yours while they last here:… pic.twitter.com/AYNNpH1Dmi
In conclusion, these three artists are only a trio of the 100+ artists on the lineup, including legends such as Lane8, Zeds Dead, and Chris Lake. The best part of the festival is the artistic diversity and the ability to select the atmosphere based on the stage. This is going to be a legendary weekend, but don’t forget the most important aspects of the weekend are the people you’re with and the unforgettable memories made. Who will you see?
September is only a few days away, meaning spooky season is right around the corner! What better way to celebrate than by attending a Halloween-themed festival? Those looking for a mystical camping festival loaded with talent should look no further than Hulaween Music Festival. The breathtaking scenery of Spirit Of The Suwanee Music Park comes to life for four days in a unique and immersive experience of music, art, and enchantment. This year is set to be the best yet, as the Florida festival looks to kick things up a notch in celebration of its 10th anniversary this October 26-29.
Nestled halfway between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, the Spirit of the Suwannee Park is a picturesque escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Surrounded by Spanish moss-draped trees and the gentle flow of the river, Hulaween creates a seamless blend of music and nature. At the heart of the festival is the magical Spirit Lake experience. Here visitors are engulfed in a sensory spectacle of captivating light displays, interactive sculptures, dazzling performers, and mesmerizing visual art. Expect major upgrades this year as the festival looks to bring its origin story to life and “weave Spirit Lake into an elegant tapestry of mini worlds.”
Each year, Hulaween commits itself to a transformational theme that infuses every corner of the festival’s decor and atmosphere. This year’s theme is Full Moon Family Reunion—unsurprisingly the Moon Fvm is thrilled! Many visitors go all out for the annual theme, bringing costumes and camp decorations. The festival is known for fostering a sense of community beyond the music stages, featuring activities like yoga, poetry, meditation, and workshops. That being said, Hulaween also knows how to party!
🌝 FULL MOON FAMILY REUNION is the official 10th-anniversary Hulaween costume theme! 🌝 pic.twitter.com/r53qncEE7r
When it comes to music, this festival brings the heat. Hulaween features an array of diverse musical talent, with the biggest headlining DJs and jam bands all in the same place. The String Cheese Incident plays host as usual, with three nights of unique performances that will surely leave their followers in awe! It will be joined by prominent jam bands, including Trey Anastasio Band, Goose, and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead to name a few! The festival hosts indie bands like MT. JOY, rappers like Smino, and defintely has no shortage of variety when it comes to electronic music.
The artist drawing the most attention this year is legendary producer Pretty Lights, who announced this show as part of his comeback tour after a five-year hiatus. Tech-house star John Summit makes his way to the swamp— hopefully with some Johntronics head-bangers in tow. British luminary Elderbrook will provide a dynamic live performance showcasing his electronic, house, and pop influences. Another artist known for his live performances, Big Wild, will grace the stage with his blend of electronic and indie sounds. For a raw hip-hop feel and hypnotic house beats, check out songwriter, producer, and rapper Channel Tres. On the other end, Boogie T’s infectious live performance mixing dubstep, funk, and reggae influences is sure to set the stage on fire! These are just a few of the 90+ artists who encapsulate Hulaween’s ultimate genre-blending lineup.
Last year’s edition saw five official stages and the unofficial Incendia Stage, renowned for its fiery geometric design and immersive projection mapping. Though we are still waiting on news and a site map, Hulaween’s retweets point to Incendia’s return. The festival is known to surprise attendees with late-night secret sets and unexpected collaborations under the flames of this iconic stage.
Prepare yourself to be immersed in a magical realm this October at Hulaween Music Festival. A community that celebrates music, art, and togetherness awaits you. With its jaw-dropping art installations, beautiful natural scenery, and stacked lineup, Hulaween promises an experience that will leave you spellbound and yearning for more. Round up your closest fairies and ghouls to join us under the full moon for this one-of-a-kind experience! Tickets
PROPER has swiftly become Southern California’s most in-demand New Year’s Eve destination, bringing top-tier talent to the dazzling Petco Park in San Diego, CA. The show follows its sold-out debut last year as well as the sold-out Fall edition of the FNGRS CRSSD forerunner CRSSD Festival this past September.
PROPER will take place on the field at Petco Park with stage installations throughout the surrounding areas. Petco Park is one of the West Coast’s most iconic venues, offering electronic music fans stellar views of downtown San Diego’s skyline and the Pacific Ocean. This is an ideal location for a New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day gathering to be soundtracked by the present and future stars of EDM.
Soon we’ll see a final lineup that will showcase nearly 50 names including unmatched house and techno duo Eli & Fur, chart-topping tropical house icon Duke Dumont, Australian legend Sonny Fodera, world-renowned duo Gorgon City, and Late Checkout icon Chris Lorenzo.
PROPER’s techno curation holds jaw-dropping representation from the likes of risingmelodic techno act Massano, breakout rave superstar Rebūke, Berlin production duo Pan-Pot, and German Afterlife standout Chris Avantgarde.
House heads need to look no further because the PROPER lineup has everything they need, with acts like global hit Layla Benitez, Chicago’s underground up-and-comer Azzecca, the sensational duo Walker & Royce, Sydney’s triple platinum producer Hayden James, and Hellbent Records mastermind Cloonee on the bill. Fans can also expect fun sets from tech house pioneers Biscits and Kyle Watson, booty-bouncing rhythms from multi-platinum Latin House mogul HUGEL, and melodic house producer Franky Wah.
FNGRS CRSSD has also announced the preliminary details for its brand new PROPER Las Vegas edition, taking place on December 30 and December 31 at AREA15. The 21+ event will feature four stages with additional details to be announced soon. Make sure to keep up with all things CRSSD using the links below.
Imagine Music Festival is now less than three weeks away, running from September 14 – 17, and it is looking better than ever before. In its second year at the family-owned, 5000+ acre property Kingston Downs in Georgia, the team at Imagine has put together the Southeast United States’ most immersive electronic festival. In addition to a stacked lineup with a range of talent, Imagine will also feature unique art installations, meaningful wellness programming, and some of the country’s most scenic camping spaces along the Etowah River.
Highlighting Imagine’s outstanding artist lineup are some iconic back-to-back sets from EDM’s top trendsetters. The festival will showcase the world premiere of Subtronics B2B Ganja White Night and Dillon Francis B2B Knock2, as well as the reuniting of NGHTMRE B2B Diesel and Dab The Sky, a collaboration of Dabin and Said the Sky. There will also be appearances from a slew of label bosses like Black Book Records’ Chris Lake, HypnoVizion’s Rezz, Off the Grid’s John Summit, and Gud Vibration’s Slander, who will play a second techno-inspired set as its Before Dawn project. Check out the festival flyer to see the impressive full lineup, including a Thursday pre-party hosted by Brownies & Lemonade with ISOxo presenting one of his first-ever performances of his debut album KidsGoneMad!
“Imagine Festival was founded with a simple but powerful belief – that through the transformative power of music, art, and community, we can ignite the imagination and inspire positive change in the world where our dreams become a reality,” shared Imagine co-founder Madeleine Goodhand. “It’s a celebration of creativity, diversity, and possibility, and I am constantly in awe of the incredible energy and passion that our attendees bring to the event. Together, we are building a vibrant community, one beat, one brushstroke, and one moment at a time.”
To accomplish the belief of its founder, the team at Imagine has planned numerous immersive activities to complement the electronic musicians, including workshops focused on topics like yoga, flow arts, meditation, consciousness, mindfulness, art, and more. The event will also feature visionary artists creating artwork on-site, performance artists doing cirque-style acts, and some of the best festival food from local establishments and renowned national vendors. Another unique aspect of Imagine is the daytime pool parties over the weekend. Saturday’s pool party will enjoy sets from Dombresky’s Disco Dom project and Never Dull, and Sunday’s will have heavier bass sets from Kai Wachi and Ruvlo.
Credit: Don Idio // @DIVISUALS
For those looking for a top-shelf festival experience, look no further than the VIP and PLATINUM ticket options. VIP tickets include expedited entry, premium restrooms, shaded VIP areas, exclusive vendors, and VIP areas such as the Oceania VIP Club, Mermaid Lounge, VIP Pool Access, and more. The PLATINUM ticket includes everything VIP and the added perk of unlimited access to the Platinum Viewing Deck featuring an open bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres all weekend long.
Of course, there are still GA tickets available and a plethora of camping options too. But if you want to snag a ticket, whether it’s a single-day pass or the full three days, do it today, Friday, August 25, because ticket prices will go up at midnight! For those still on the fence, just check out the official after movie from last year’s Imagine Music Festival. Hopefully, Moon Lvnding will be seeing you out at Kingston Downs this September 14 – 17 for the Southeast’s most immersive electronic music festival.
As we get older, the days of going door to door on Halloween weekend slowly fade away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some spooky fun with your friends and neighbors. Save the dates, grab your friends, and get ready to “ghoul” around October 27 and 28 at Super Unnatural, a hauntingly fun new festival from the team at Body Language!
Although it might not be scary or spooky, there will definitely be a “bump in the night.” Super Unnatural, presented by Relentless Beats and RBDeep, is a two-night house-music event loaded with music legends like Dom Dolla, Chris Lorenzo, and Fisher. There will also be a stunning sunset performance by Nora en Pure, giving a surreal combination of transcending music and breathtaking views as the Arizona sunset paints the Saguaro-studded Sonoran desert.
This union of music and atmosphere can only be brought to life at Westworld, Arizona’s luxury entertainment venue. Surrounded by the beautiful Sonoran desert and tucked right underneath the McDowell Mountains in the North Valley, this event is set up to be nothing short of Super Unnatural. For the ghosts and goblins coming into town, Relentless Beats will be offering luxury travel packages to take the scariness out of Halloween weekend planning. Travel packages include amenities such as hotel and resort stays, roundtrip transportation, two-day passes, express entry, exclusive inclusions, and onsite experiences like a Sunday Brunch.
Don’t be frightened! Tickets are already on sale starting as low as $69.50, so visit Relentless Beats and lock in your hallow-weekend plans now. Better to be safe than sorry, these tickets are going to sell scary fast!
One of the dance community’s most unique festivals, Splash House, recently closed out Weekend One of its back-to-back weekends of non-stop partying. What makes Splash House unique is that the festival itself is spread out across three different hotels in the Palm Springs area: Saguaro, Renaissance, and Margaritaville. Within these hotels over the course of the weekend, meandering through the halls one might stumble into a private party in a guest room. And for those that didn’t end up wandering around the halls of the hotels, there was an incredible list of artists gracing the hotel stages throughout the two-day festival Weekend One.
Courtesy of Splash House // Ysabella Lopez – @y.s.a
Day Zero
Those present in Palm Springs on Friday got to witness one of the most surreal scenes of the entire weekend. Located at the Palm Springs Air Museum, the first of three “After Hours” events took place to kick off festivities for Splash House Weekend One, highlighted by dreamlike performances from Phantoms and the well-renowned duo, ODESZA. The venue is amazing due to the plethora of retired aircraft, from old airplanes to helicopters, all doused in flashing lights. To put the cherry on top, the main stage was situated to make it look like the DJs were performing from inside the nose of the airplane. Then the Saguaro hotel hosted the after-afters in a conference room turned nightclub for Night Zero and Night One.
People were amped up for Day One, and the toughest choice was which hotel to choose to get the party started at: Renaissance, Saguaro, or Margaritaville. Seeing Arizona local Peachy Keen take over the Renaissance Stage at 1 pm gave our day the bass house boost needed to get the festival started in the right way. The crew ended up staying back and exploring the Renaissance venue a bit more until tech house guru Dillon Nathaniel hopped on stage. At this point a difficult decision had to be made: stay to watch Dillon Nathaniel and then go to Margaritaville to close with Adapter and Lee Foss back-to-back Deeper Purpose, or go to Saguaro to see JADED and end the night with Aluna and CID back at Renaissance?
We chose the latter and didn’t regret it. JADED had one of the best sets at Saguaro the entire weekend, leading into a euphoric set from Aluna during sunset at the Renaissance. To round out Day One, CID delivered the best performance of the weekend, playing a powerful, energy-packed set to cap off Day One of Splash House.
Day Two started the same way Day One started, having to decide where to go and who to see. The choice was obvious; BVRRN kicking off Day Two at Saguaro was one of our best decisions. Then we scored some food from the restaurant inside Saguaro before we made our way to what would be best described as controlled chaos, Margaritaville. Lucati was first on the decks at the venue with the biggest pool of the festival. Then we ventured back to Renaissance to see the powerhouse, Disco Lines, take center stage. About three songs deep into the set, Disco Lines cues into its recently released remix of INJI’s “GASLIGHT,” and our group knew this was going to be the set of the day. Following Disco Lines, we made our final stop of the weekend adventure to see Wax Motif cap off Splash House at Margaritaville.
Courtesy of Splash House // Celina Kenyon – @celinakenyon
From here on out, Splash House will be a mainstay on the Moon Lvnding festival calendar. It has a charm that makes people who attend it want to come back. From the incredible acts that graced the decks to the variety and hospitality of those venues, all the small details came together to create forever memories. To those attending Weekend Two, we hope you have as much as we did. The team here at Moon Lvnding can’t wait to run it back at Splash House in 2024.
After a fantastic four days in the Poconos, it is clear that Elements Music and Arts Festival is still the premier camping festival in the Northeast United States. The event organizers put time and effort into crafting thoughtful details throughout the festival grounds to create experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
First and foremost, the event site was decorated well and logically organized. Bright neon colors were everpresent at all five stages inside the festival grounds. Upon entering the festival, the sounds of the Water Stage greeted the crowd, and festivalgoers could easily access concessions and one of the many hydration stations. The Fire Stage was shaped like a triangle and adorned with on-theme pyrotechnics. The Earth Stage had light projections overlaying the perimeter of the stage, making the surrounding art look more trippy at night. Finally, the Air Stage and the Wub Hub were both set back in the woods, giving them an enchanting forest feel.
Courtesy of Elements Music & Arts Festival // Jamal Eid
The musical artists booked for Elements were deep and diverse, offering a variety of EDM genres for people to enjoy. To me, the standout sets from the weekend included Tinlicker at the Air Stage, LP Giobbi at the Water Stage, Skrillex at the Fire Stage, and Level Up at the Earth Stage. Another highlight of the weekend was LSDREAM’s much anticipated Lightcode set Sunday morning, incorporating meditation and breathwork into the calming musical backdrop. Check out MoonLvnding’s Instagram to see daily recap posts with videos from assorted artists.
In addition to the music, there were many other performers that heightened the experiences at each stage. Sticking to the theme of the elements, both the Fire and Air Stages featured fire spinners moving to the music. During the midday heat, the Water Stage had dancers spraying cooling water into the crowds. Over at the Earth Stage, DAM Circus brought a slew of talented aerialists to perform acrobatics near the back of the stage, and on Saturday there were even skydivers raining from the clouds at dusk during Daily Bread’s set. After dark, there were illuminated art installations along the trail through the woods, adding to the ambiance of Elements.
Courtesy of Elements Music & Arts Festival //Jake West
Complementing the fabulous music was an action-packed schedule of seminars and sessions aimed at helping festivalgoers better themselves and learn new skills. To name just a few, there were presentations on breathwork, self-massage, tantric meditation, jewelry making, and plant medicines. There was a plethora of physical activities available too, including yin, acro, and partner yoga, shuffle class, and hip-hop twerk fitness. If only there was more time to be able to attend all the awesome presenters!
One area where Elements truly excelled from other camping fests was the after-party options. By working directly with group camping through its unique Vibe Village setup, the team at Elements allowed groups to set up after-party stages throughout the group camping area. These group-run stages were great for enjoying the afters more intimately with other festivalgoers and hearing music from both underground artists like DiCEMaN and headliners like John Summit.
Courtesy of Elements Music & Arts Festival // Adi Adinayev
For those interested in the VIP experience, it was well worth it! Both the Fire and Earth Stages had designated VIP areas off on the sides with a good view of the stage. Even more impressive were the freebies and premium services available in the Vinyl Wellness tented area at Earth Stage. In addition to complimentary coffee, tea, snacks, and a nightly meal served around 7 p.m., there were also wellness offerings including vitamin shots, IV therapy, massages, light therapy, compression therapy, and an oxygen bar.
The fact that this festival is powered by green energy from the adjacent solar power station and gets fresh organic produce from one of the Northeast’s largest organic farms means that the team at Elements puts a high priority on sustainability efforts to protect the environment. It is a very manageable drive from the major airports in New York City and Philadelphia, and the logistics around the event site at the Poconos Raceway in Long Pond, PA were top quality.
Good news for those looking to attend Elements in 2024, presale passes are now available for Elements Music and Arts Festival 2024 at their lowest possible prices. Everything is up for purchase from festival passes, Vibe Village group camping, and premium camping options to Elements hotels, RV passes, and early arrival add-ons. Next year’s festival will take place August 9 – August 12, 2024, at the same wonderful location in the Poconos at Long Pond, PA.
Moon Lvnding had an incredible experience at its first Elements Music and Arts Festival, and we would enthusiastically recommend this fest to anyone looking to try something new during the Summer festival season. If you need any more convincing, just check out this newly released aftermovie from Elements 2023!
