Edm Festival Chicago
If you’re a fan of electronic music, Chicago this summer has plenty of festivals for everyone to enjoy! Whether rock, house or EDM music is more your style, there’s something here for everyone!
ARC Music Festival boasts an impressive line-up that pays homage to Chicago’s vibrant house legacy. Headliners include second-wave legends DJ Sneak and Lady D; pioneering house artist Farley “Jackmaster” Funk; as well as Chicago house icons Chip E. and Derrick Carter.
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza, one of the world’s biggest music festivals, is a must-see event for music connoisseurs. Thousands attend from around the globe each year during this three-day festival held in Grant Park, Chicago; offering attendees an unparalleled view of Chicago’s vibrant skyline while listening to some top names in rock, pop, dance and electronic music.
Established in 1991 by singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction, Lollapalooza quickly gained notoriety for bringing together hundreds of musicians from different genres of music. Additionally, non-musical attractions like circus and freak sideshows, virtual reality gaming booths and political awareness stalls further cemented its culture as something special among music festivals.
Farrell was determined to keep Lollapalooza alive despite its difficult start, creating a multi-day festival with more than 100 acts in 1988 and 1989 – including Nine Inch Nails, Rollins Band and Ice-T. Ultimately, his vision proved successful: Lollapalooza became an annual phenomenon.
In 1996, the production team booked Metallica as the headline act despite opposition from many fans and ultimately forcing Farrell to withdraw from the event.
Lollapalooza returned to Chicago in 2005 after a hiatus, and has been a success ever since. Last year it generated revenue of $305.1 Million for the city of Chicago.
This year’s Lollapalooza showcased some of the greatest artists in America, such as Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, J. Cole, LCD Soundsystem and many more.
K-pop fans around the world eagerly anticipated J-Hope’s performance at Lollapalooza 2018; songs from his latest album “Jack in The Box”, some older tunes from his mixtape and covers. Additionally, Jhene Aiko joined him onstage to rap alongside him and their soon-to-be child.
Before J-Hope’s performance, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared that Lollapalooza will remain in Chicago for another 10 years. Whether this news was welcome or not, it’s comforting to know Chicago will continue having this iconic event for a long time to come.
North Coast
North Coast Festival in Chicago is one of the most thrilling end-of-summer experiences. Combining large art installations with incredible music talent, North Coast offers a truly immersive experience that’s sure to leave you with an appetite for more.
For 2023, the festival boasts a lineup of some of the biggest names in EDM, such as Marshmello, Zeds Dead and Flume. Plus there are an array of captivating niche artists joining these headliners.
Organizers have made a special effort to support local artists, with over 20 acts from Chicago and its surrounding area on the lineup. Notable names include electro-soul producer Daily Bread, cutting-edge psychedelic bass artist A Hundred Drums, and twin brother DJ/producers MZG.
Music fans will be pleased with a wide range of genres, from house to other electronica. The event will take place across three stages – Stadium Stage, Vega Stage and Canopy Stage – each offering different sets of artists.
Grumley acknowledges they’ve learned a great deal in their first two years at SeatGeek Stadium, particularly about creating immersive experiences for attendees. They’re especially proud of their Rainbow Lounge: a circle of multicolored hammocks big enough for two and situated around an enormous reflective ball.
Enjoy the sun while listening to some of EDM’s biggest names. Additionally, there are plenty of vendors selling food, drinks and merchandise at this festival.
North Coast’s shift away from jam bands and rock fans has been well received by its audience, with ticket holders growing by 120 percent across Canada, according to Grumley. “Our ticket holders are responding incredibly well,” she says.
He believes the changes have benefited all attendees of the festival in the past and he’s confident it will continue to expand. Organizers are working hard to keep costs low by altering ticket tiers, making it easier for everyone to find an affordable way to attend.
North Coast is set to be one of the best EDM festivals in Chicago in 2023, so don’t wait – get your tickets today!
Spring Awakening
If you enjoy dancing to music, Spring Awakening is a must-attend event. Since 2013, this music festival has been an iconic part of Chicago’s dance community and continues to expand each year.
At Addams/Medill Park in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, this two-day electronic music festival attracts thousands of music enthusiasts each year. With multiple stages and plenty of carnival rides for families to enjoy, it has become a must-stop destination.
This lineup features some of the biggest EDM artists like Martin Garrix, Excision, Diplo, Galantis, RL Grime b2b Baauer, Dillon Francis and Madeon; plus you can expect silent discos and laser light shows throughout the night!
Spring Awakening was a memorable weekend despite the weather conditions. A large crowd filled Addams/Medill Park to witness their favorite EDM acts perform.
Although there were some technical difficulties this year, it was still an enjoyable event. Fortunately, organizers were quick to resolve the problem and collaborate with local authorities; eventually a quick fix was implemented and everything was back to normal.
It’s a testament to the festival’s dedication that it continues to expand each and every year, showing that they are dedicated to offering an extraordinary dance music experience for Chicagoans.
Spring Awakening stands out with its stellar lineup and unique visual component. Between sets, costumed performers will roam the stages and surrounding areas to give you a truly immersive experience.
The festival is also a celebration of Chicago’s culture. There are art installations throughout the grounds, plus numerous vendors selling local foods, drinks and merchandise.
Overall, Spring Awakening is one of the top dance music festivals in America and should not be missed by any EDM fan. With its excellent lineup of musicians, food options, and attractions at an unbeatable value price point, Spring Awakening provides great value for your money.
In 2022, Spring Awakening will make its debut at the United Center. Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 10 a.m. The venue boasts eight distinct stages and plenty of food options to choose from – perfect for everyone in attendance!
Heatwave
Chicago is renowned for its electronic dance music festivals, from Lollapalooza to Taste of Randolph and Heatwave. This vibrant city comes alive during the summer months with music, parties, and activities galore!
Auris Presents, the live event production company behind some of Chicago’s most renowned venues such as RADIUS, Concord Music Hall and PRYSM, has taken over Douglass Park with their pop-art inspired immersive dance music festival Heatwave. Over two days this two-day festival brings global tastemakers to West Side Chicago for an unparalleled combination of experiential art and top notch dance music performances.
At the inaugural festival of Dance Music Evolution, an impressive lineup of some of the biggest names in music will take the stage. Headliners for the inaugural event include RL Grime, Zeds Dead, Galantis, Tiesto and more; other standouts include Oliver Heldens GRiZ and Gryffin SIDEPIECE LSDREAM Loud Luxury Kx5 Coco & Breezy Deorro Kai Wachi
Overall, the lineup of artists did an excellent job mixing house and bass music. There was also plenty of variety in terms of DJ sets – Kasbo, Goldfish, and MADDS on Radiance Stage near the entrance; Rome in Silver and Ekali provided trap sets at Reverie Stage on Day 1.
Heatwave boasted three stages with excellent lighting and sound production, and the venue didn’t allow too much sound bleed between them. Fortunately, most artists performed across all three stages, giving everyone an opportunity to witness a wide variety of artists over the weekend.
With such an impressive lineup, Heatwave Festival promises to be a must-see this summer. Enjoy some of the top names in electronic music while being surrounded by stunning natural surroundings – let’s hope it returns again in 2023!
Heatwave Festival had an incredible debut year, boasting world-class acts and a packed house. There were some issues along the way like long lines for media and VIP ticketholders on Saturday as well as power outages during Audien on Friday, but overall it was an incredible way to kickstart summer in Chicago! We look forward to seeing how it continues to develop over its second year!
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