North Coast Music Pageant Delivered a Nice Expertise This 12 months
This yr’s version of North Coast Music Pageant introduced an enormous expertise to SeatGeek Stadium, and it was nothing wanting magical.
Chicago’s North Coast Music Pageant closed out the summer time with a bang. Happening on September 2-4, this yr’s version took “coasties” by storm, internet hosting among the finest names in digital music and experiences starting from large installations to therapeutic home music yoga. With 3-day GA passes promoting out earlier than the competition, it was no shock that this yr was about to be a thrill.
In true remaining days of Chicago summer time vogue, the climate was excellent on the primary day of North Coast. It was sunny and 75 with the occasional overcast. A high-quality breeze that saved you from feeling such as you have been preventing to remain within the crowd was great. Because the clock hit 2 PM on Frioon, the traces that grew to become prolonged as coasties waited for the gates to open started to decrease. Safety was fast with their searches, which is commonly not the case at many festivals, so ly set the tone for the way the remainder of the weekend would go.
Being proper outdoors a significant metropolis, North Coast felt expansive this yr – the stage manufacturing was on level, the distributors have been plentiful, and the vitality was thriving.
Experiencing all six phases all through the occasion, the Stadium, Vega, Cover, Incendia Fireplace Pit, Chill Dome, and Silent Disco all have been uniquely intimate, and you possibly can really feel a shift in vitality, environment, and sound when going from one stage to the subsequent. There was additionally loads of room to bop and forestall extreme sound bleed. Every stage introduced a very completely different crowd, and the manufacturing was ideally match for the artists who could be performing. That is usually uncommon, particularly for an city competition the place noise rules are often extra strict.
Meals and beverage distributors have been booming all weekend lengthy. The meals was fast, and there have been loads of distributors to select from, together with vegan and vegetarian choices. Stadium concessions have been additionally obtainable, so coasties didn’t have to depart the Stadium stage to seize a chew to eat. I couldn’t assist however devour the carne asada tacos from Tacos Marios. Did we additionally point out quick drink traces? There have been loads of beverage tents, so there was all the time a brief wait or no wait in any respect. North Coast additionally supplied loads of completely different drink choices together with however not restricted to a Hornitos seltzer stand, Corona Electrical Seashore, a Monaco tent, and several other Crimson Bull tents.
The retail distributors have been poppin’ as effectively! They have been situated on pathways from one stage to the subsequent, giving attendees easy accessibility to buy til they dropped. One among my favourite retail distributors was Liquid Goals Artwork which had a mixed vendor with KritterKlips. The UV inexperienced, furry, and reversible bucket hat was robust to cross up. There have been even two button holes to clip your KritterKlips.
One other element of the competition that stood out was the group. I observed hardly any emergencies and the coasties all through the competition appeared to essentially handle each other. I usually really feel annoyed being within the crowd because of a scarcity of “excuse me’s,” pushing, or respect, however this occurred only a few instances. There was positively a sense of “group” at North Coast.
Digital music flourished, and there was somewhat one thing for everybody.
North Coast efficiently curated a lineup the place a number of completely different digital music sub-genres performed concurrently on completely different phases. Being a bass music lover, I made my house on the Vega stage for many of the first day. The Vega schedule was as follows: Smith., House Wizard, Degree Up, Grime Monkey b2b SubDocta, Rusko, Boogie T, and eventually, Subtronics to shut the evening. I did must get my home music repair, so I caught the primary half of Fisher on the Cover proper earlier than Subtronics took the stage.
The second day was a whirlwind of feelings as I attempted to change up the vibes. Starting the day with experimental bass, Mersiv was the act of alternative. I transitioned into strictly home vibes with Dombresky to observe after which again to dubstep chaos at Wooli. As if this variation of digital music wasn’t already intense, a Malaa x Tchami No Redemption set was additionally on the agenda. To finish the second day, I grew to become a tragic woman throughout future bass headliner ILLENIUM.
On the ultimate day, I knew I used to be in for one more hearty serving to of dubstep because of SVDDEN DEATH closing out the Vega stage. However to my disbelief, MUST DIE! and Eptic threw a ton of hardstyle into their units. Hardstyle isn’t my cup of tea, however I witnessed lots of fist-pumping, so kudos to them for taking part in one thing completely different. SVDDEN DEATH’s VOYD set introduced the warmth to finish the evening and sealed the deal on the various vary of sounds heard all through the weekend.
Up-and-coming artists got an opportunity to be within the highlight at North Coast.
With the present state of the music trade, seeing a competition give smaller artists a spot to showcase their expertise will get huge ups. There was a ton of recent expertise on the Incendia Fireplace Pit stage and Silent Disco. One among my favourite acts of the whole weekend was Chicago’s very personal Ashton, who was the second act at Incendia on the primary day of the fest. He drew in a big crowd and stored the vitality excessive all through; it was an ideal solution to kick off the weekend. With an emphasis on home music, he additionally integrated experimental bass tracks into the set. Closing out his set along with his collab with Saxogene, leaving the group feeling groovy and energized.
Different notable up-and-coming acts who’ve performed among the heaviest dubstep units I’ve seen embody Outage, Yunit, and Three Clever Monkeys. Outage and Yunit performed one set after one other on the Incendia stage on Saturday. They each drew in an insanely hyped crowd. It’s laborious to not keep excessive vitality at their units as they create warmth that may have your jaw dropped. Three Clever Monkeys performed on Sunday on the Silent Disco, however their set was nothing wanting amplified.
North Coast is aware of find out how to present experiences outdoors of musical performances.
The emphasis on having area to chill out and simply vibe was a significant standout. Probably the most memorable moments was listening to MC and beatmaker Uncle El on the Chill Dome. The beats synchronized with the lasers, and the air con felt super. One other area with an emphasis on rest was the Rainbow Lounge. The doorway to this space was by means of a cylinder creating an ideal picture op. As soon as contained in the lounge, giant hammocks of each colour kind a circle. This created a group really feel and a spot to kick up your ft.
Inventive aptitude was proven by means of larger-than-life installations. The Sky Fields regarded extra lavish than ever, performing as a monumental tunnel of colour blowing by means of the breeze. Protecting a pathway between phases, this space reminded us to benefit from the journey as a lot because the vacation spot. Probably the most excellent artistic endeavors was the repurposed 1978 38ft Chris Craft boat by Bam Creates. As a part of the North Coast Yacht Membership expertise, the S.S. Bam was lined in mesmerizing art work and likewise fairly a enjoyable time.
Regardless of being up towards Arc Music Pageant, which takes place on the identical weekend in Chicago, the longer term appears brilliant for North Coast.
It’s no shock that concern arises when music festivals compete for consideration, particularly these in the identical metropolis on a significant vacation weekend. Nevertheless, ARC Music Festival drives a specific crowd with home and techno artists, whereas North Coast consists of artists of all digital sub-genres. These two festivals are vastly completely different experiences, however each deliver their very own flare that ought to permit them to face up to one another within the Windy Metropolis.
Total, North Coast Music Pageant had one other profitable yr stuffed with iconic digital music expertise, immersive experiences, loads of vendor choices, and nice vibes. With that optimistic vitality bursting from the competition, we stay up for seeing it proceed to evolve for a few years to return.
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