During the weekend of the June 9, the sun radiated down on Addams/Medill Park in Chicago, Illinois with a vibrant, beaming glow that ignited the start of Spring Awakening Music Festival on a euphoric note.  Fans from all over the world congregated on the grassy park field to celebrate life and music in what was a thoroughly magical experience from the top down.

Across the festival’s five stages, artists performed an array of genres, giving fans endless opportunities to jam out to virtually any style from DnB, heavy dubstep, future bass, big room house, to every sub genre few and far between.

The festival as a whole was absolute madness of the unforgettable variety, that would surely make attendees fantasize about it weeks after the experience. Those in attendance went all out, clad in intricate and stunning outfits—most of them were handmade—dripping in rainbow glitter from their heads to their toes. Although there were masses of people dancing their hearts out during the three day bash, the festival grounds of Spring Awakening Music Festival remained pristine and were full of attractions, from thrilling amusement rides to a vast breadth of delicious eateries serving all different kinds of food.

As attendees flocked from one stage to another, their excitement generated a contagious energy that incited those around them to shuffle and groove to the beat. The vibes emanating through the atmosphere were absolutely intoxicating.

There are many EDM festivals, but there’s only one Spring Awakening.

The talent present at the event was unreal with headliners such as Armin, Excision, and Diplo, each of whom emitted their signature stage presence which set the crowd into a frenzy.

Friday evening kicked off with a bang when Marshmello delivered a performance that undoubtedly shook the crowd to its core from the very first song. The masked DJ and producer known for his upbeat, cheery melodies and spunky, fresh beats began to spin just as the sun was setting, casting a warm glow onto the crowd.

He began his set with one of his most explosive, energetic tracks, “Find Me” and flames shot out from the stage as Marshmello bounced around with an infectious excitement. From his song choices, to his notoriously upbeat energy, the set was incredibly special and his crowd work fostered a sense of connection and intimacy among the audience

The crowd was alive by the time they gathered around the Equinox stage for the legendary duo, Galantis. The two Swedish DJs performed many a set packed with originals and mashups of dance music’s greatest hits, many of which had the crowd screaming along to the lyrics. By the time Galantis dropped their original, “In My Head,” those in attendance went wild with excitement. Though the duo are globetrotting performers, the carefree, loving atmosphere they fostered that night made the Spring Awakening performance one for the books.

Saturday evening was packed with talent from top to bottom. Though the weekend was full of can’t miss sets from the hottest names in dance music, Krewella‘s set stood out in the best way. While the sisters have made a name for themselves for their high energy sets, this offering was one of their first live performances after the release of their latest singles and newest EP that see them exploring a new direction both lyrically and sonically. The duo’s performance at Spring Awakening was a kinetic, fast paced affair that frequently returned to their love for their audience.

Meanwhile, the deep house mavericks at Anjunadeep played a series of scorching sets at their stage. Label standout Lane 8 played one of the most hotly anticipated sets of the weekend. Known for his intimate This Never Happened party series which disavows phones and photos, the producer gave the crowd a taste of his signature deep house sound. Armed with originals like “Diamonds” and “Fingerprint”

 

Aside from completely mesmerizing visuals, scorching beams of fire that shot out into the night sky, and bursts of euphoric streamers popping into the crowd, every single track Martin Garrix dropped sent goosebumps down the spines of the masses as nearly everyone there knew all the words and belted their hearts out to every original Martin Garrix played.

Fans of the Dutch DJ are familiar with just how skilled he is, and Garrix put it all on display for the Spring Awakening crowd with smooth transitions and the perfect song selection as he danced wildly on stage. Martin Garrix delivered an emotional, evocative set, as the combination of visual and audio stimulation overwhelmed festival goers in the most touching way.

As a whole, Spring Awakening 2017 was a beautiful and wonderfully uniting experience. The talent that spanned across stages was vast and nearly overwhelming, but each of the artists brought their own unique energy and sound to an audience that was ready to dance and sing along.

Though there are many EDM festivals in this at times oversaturated market, Spring Awakening’s unique lineup and idyllic location make it an unmissable event on any dance music lover’s bucket list.

Tags: festival, Galantis, iconic moments, Marshmello, Martin garrix, spring awakening, Spring Awakening Music Festival

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