Spring Awakening Delivers One other Unforgettable 12 months Beneath Its Personal Skyline [REVIEW]

Nothing value working for comes straightforward — and Spring Awakening Music Pageant (SAMF) is aware of it finest.

In recent times, the music pageant has jumped via hoops, altering venues from Soldier Area to Addams/Medill Park to its new dwelling in Hoffman Estates. Bodily and logistical challenges that might in any other case show dooming for such a large-scale occasion proved to be simply that — mere challenges for the pageant. SAMF is certainly thriving and its latest 2019 showcase solely additional demonstrated its wholehearted dedication and appreciation for the dance music scene.

Photograph: Matthew Dippel

Essentially the most prime instance, SAMF’s iconic Solstice Stage reworked in ways in which actually needed to be seen to be believed for this yr’s installment. It should have been particularly troublesome for organizers, leaving earlier areas and recollections behind, buying and selling the bustling metropolis for the quiet burbs. Nonetheless, as we approached the newly shaped Solstice Stage for the primary time in 2019, we may virtually hear it saying — No skyline? No downside. SAMF constructed its personal. A bunch to many greats over the weekend together with Zedd, DJ Snake, Dillon Francis, Chris Lake, and GTA, simply to call a number of.

With the Solstice Stage in full type, the opposite phases and curated occasions fell into place. The Equinox stage packed within the motion, experiencing units from a few of the most wanted acts in EDM all weekend lengthy. Illenium, Rezz, Malaa, Flosstradamus x 4B, G Jones, 1788-L, GRiZ, Excision, Herobust, Rusko and Peekaboo took the stage, in addition to signature hometown heroes together with Porn and Hen and Birthdayy Partyy. The Equinox captured a lot of that indescribable SAMF power, delivering nonstop celebration vibes over three full days.

Photograph: Matthew Dippel

As we’ve come to comprehend over the previous few years working, Spring Awakening sources the most important and brightest names within the sport — leading to one huge battle. To expertise SAMF in all its glory, is to expertise all the phases and pop in on every of the curated occasions over the weekend. The Hangar took on a number of personalties in 2019, internet hosting an Ajunabeats takeover in its first day with Andrew Bayer, Jason Ross and extra, which shifted into the Bass Kitchen on day two. Bass heads bought their repair with Liquid Stranger, Spag Heddy, Dion Timmer and extra, plus a really particular b2b2b2b on the finish with essentially the most bass heavy artists SAMF needed to provide. The ultimate day switched up but once more, with a mixture of artists together with Crankdat, Cheat Codes, and the legend Benny Benassi.

After all, no Chicago bred music pageant could be full with out home music. The beloved style trickled onto the principle stage due to performances from Gettoblaster, Gene Farris, Chris Lake, and GTA’s Purple Set. Nonetheless, The Perform served because the pageant’s fixed heartbeat, persistently pumping out grooves round 125 bpm. The roster was simply as spectacular as some other stage: Shiba San, Brohug, Dom Dolla, Golf Clap, Claptone, Nora En Pure and extra. Plus, a second-day AMF takeover led by Destructo, that includes Dombresky, Matroda, Dillon Nathaniel, Noizu, Masteria, and Ayoo. Extra on that right here.

Photograph: Matthew Dippel

Simply as SAMF valued its established acts and headliners, the pageant celebrated loads of upcoming and recent, new expertise. The STFU! Silent Disco, The Bus Cease, and the Corona Electrical Seashore tent had been the pageant’s true hidden gems, which allowed attendees to expertise one thing totally different and stroll away with some new favourite artists. Talking of which, our favourite surprising set of the weekend: Gianni Blu at Corona Electrical Seashore.

We will dish out these play-by-plays on the expertise, the phases, the curated lineups and the general electrifying weekend that was Spring Awakening 2019 — however the actuality is, no phrases can do it no justice. If there’s any a part of you hoping to expertise SAMF firsthand, or return for an additional yr — simply go for it!

Spring Awakening Music Pageant returns Friday, June 5, 2020 – Sunday, June 7, 2020. Extra info right here.

Pictures through Matthew Dippel