Spring Awakening Music Festival (SAMF) made its glorious return to Chicago's Addams/Medill Park on June 9-11th for its annual EDM blowout. React Presents has been molding this Midwest massive for over half a decade and now, in its sixth year, the event has certainly reached a high point. On a steamy Spring weekend, organizers combined the biggest electronic artists with top notch production under a stunning skyline made for an utterly amazing weekend in the park. Here are 6 reasons why we think SAMF is one of the country’s best electronic music festivals:
6. The Park
Two years ago SAMF traded its grounds surrounding historic Soldier Field for a more practical and sprawling home at Addams/Medill Park in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. In addition to more stages and less sound bleed, SAMF also added a nice selection of food trucks and carnival rides. The abundance of green grass and sectioned space made for easy navigation within the festival and less crowding throughout. With temperatures reaching the high 80’s all weekend, the park provided water mist areas and a handful of free water stations.
5. Cuisine
Dancing in the hot sun from noon to midnight is exhausting. It’s important to refuel and SAMF made it easy to curve hunger with an abundance of food vendors offering everything from corndogs to rice bowls. Out of towners could even enjoy some of Chicago’s specialty cuisines inside the festival. The fried chicken masters at Harold's Chicken and the grilled cheese perfectionists at Cheesie’s both had food trucks centrally located inside the festival for patrons to enjoy.
4. Electric Beach
For the first time in SAMF history some headliners were scheduled for multiple sets across the three day extravaganza. The ability to catch an additional set from various big names in the Electric Beach such as Vanic, Paul Oakenfold, and TJR was a blessing for many as they could see lineup favorites without having to sacrifice other must-see headliners. The Corona Electric Beach Oasis was a plastic dome filled with sand, plants and misting fans where the “Beats meet the Beach.” A uniquely refreshing addition to the SAMF experience.
3. Headliners
There is no denying that SAMF compiled the most stacked EDM lineup of year so far. Enormous names like Afrojack, Alesso, Die Antwoord, Martin Garrix, Duke Demont, ZHU, Krewella, Rufus Du Sol, Armin van Buuren, Eats Everything, Diplo, Marshmello and so many more brought their best to the Chicago’s Near Southside. Two huge stages located on opposite ends of the grounds housed these globally respected DJ’s. Stages equipped with top notch production including multiple visual screens, smoke, flames and fireworks that allowed for a truly unbelievable live experience.
3. Carnival Rides
If you stepped your way to the Ferris wheel, located just outside the Equinox Stage, there was a chance to look over the grounds with a great skyline view. Wandering over to the carousel swings was an opportunity to sway in the wind with banging Trance and Hardstyle near the Solstice Stage. Finding the path to the large tent meant you could have been flung on the Top Scan while listening House and Dubstep. Even the Silent Disco was held in a refurbished bumper car fixture. The expanded grounds opened the door for more rides as organizers transformed Addams/Medill Park into a musically enhanced amusement park.
2. Afters
After parties are a major staple for most city festivals but this year Spring Awakening brought the heat. The ability to see an artist play a more intimate venue is a major draw for dance music lovers. This year SAMF booked an outstanding roster of afters talent that kept the beats going late into the night. Highlights included a no saxophone Bass House set from the Future Funk father GRiZ at Concord Music Hall and an explosive dub massacre by Excision at House of Blues. Some additional parties featured Marshmello and Diplo at The Mid, as well as, Bingo Players and Headhunterz at Sound-Bar.
1. Curated Stages
In addition to the two main stages, there were two stage tents that housed a plethora of curated stage takeovers. This is nothing new for SAMF but is a major highlight every year as the festival creates a time where a specifically organized lineup of DJ’s vibe or brand take-over a stage. This palette of musical variation started Friday with the Dancing Astronaut stage who filled the air with electro vibes before being headlined by the legendary Benny Benassi. Body Language began the weekend with a nice feature of local Chicago House DJ’s including Redux, Gene Farris and Felix Da Housecat. Saturday was stacked with Trance Arena featuring Grammy nominated producers Paul Oakenfold and Paul Van Dyk. Bringing the Deep House vibes opposite Trance Arena was the Deep House Sounds provided by the Anjunadeep label. Finishing it off Sunday was a wobble-filled time in the Bass Kitchen with a ridiculous Snails headlining set. Opposite the Bass Kitchen was the Sunday School stage who kept the groove alive with DIrtybird's J. Phlip and Gorgon City.
After taking a moment to wipe the dust from the shoes and clean the sweat off the forehead, what had happened was all too clear. Spring Awakening Music Festival has created a true EDM wonderland. With a new home and continuous quality in both talent and production, we here at Music Festival Central can’t wait to see what next year has in store!
