Spring Awakening Music Festival Impresses Yet Again

The festival season has finally kicked off this summer with Spring Awakening. For the second year in a row, SAMF called Adams/Meddill Park and after some day one logistical issues the rest of the weekend without a hitch. The first thing that everyone noticed was the huge upgrade in production and size. The stages were spread out more and each stage seemed to have more bells and whistles than the year prior.

With the temperature soaring to the 80’s and 90’s all through the weekend, the arduous process of attending the festival could only be balanced with some wonderful performances. Friday’s lineup featured a hometown throwdown from local boys, Louis The Child. They played through crowd favorites before being joined on stage by Towkio and Josh Young (Formerly of Flosstradamus).

Ghastly handled double duty playing his set and then playing to a hungry crowd when Afrojack was late to his performance. His wild song selection and unmatchable energy were a welcome treat to SAMF. We ended the night with Galantis as they helped lead the crowd in huge sing-alongs of their well documented house heaters.

Day two kicked off with a house and techno set filled set from Mija before Malaa took the stage in his signature all black garb before controlling the crowd with his much darker take on house music. Local act, Mielo, took over the other main stage and led his city in a set that proved to everyone that he is here to stay. He combined his signature future bass sound with trap, dubstep, house and everything in between. Armin Van Buuren played an intimate set at React’s ‘Trance Arena’ stage full of trance throwback favorites that had the crowd in a daze.  Zhu unleashed his signature house sound to a crowd that was ready for the unreleased songs he introduced to the crowd. The end of the night might as well have been called conflict city. Diplo, Excision, and Rufus Du Sol all closed stages, respectively. Excision’s explosive sound filled out one of the main stages with authority as Diplo led the other main stage in a 75 minute dance off with themselves. Rufus Du Sol serenaded the crowd with their gorgeous sounds. There really wasn’t a wrong answer.

Mr Carmack the first favorite of day three, I’ve seen this man live before but his sets are to die for. He combines his love for hip hop with his almost endless arsensal of released and unreleased trap hits. Jauz controlled the crowd with his unique combination of bass-house and dubstep. Die Antwoord, as always had an interesting performance to a raucous crowd. For many the night ended with GRiZ.  His performance, the crowd and the feel to his show had an all around romantic feel. His live performance with Muzzy Bear proved why he’s one of the best.

 

Spring Awakening Music Festival Impresses Yet Again