Another year, another Tomorrowland. Now that this one has come and gone, fans will have to wait until next year to get even a taste of the massive EDM festival, as the brand’s American offshoot event, TomorrowWorld, has been canceled. Last year, torrential rains ruined everyone’s weekend, and the company didn’t want to stage it again this year, and there is no word on whether it will ever return.
Those that made it all the way to Boom, Belgium—all 180,000 of them—seemed to take it all in and really enjoy themselves, as many of them had been waiting all year for this weekend. I was there when they first opened the gates at noon on Friday, which is the first day for the majority of people, and it was incredible to see the sheer joy on people’s faces as they entered the park. It’s rare for adults to experience such unbridled happiness, and it was truly infectious.
Those behind the Tomorrowland festival go out of their way to create a world of fantasy, and it’s evident everywhere you look. From the setting to the videos that play before every performer on the main stage which tell of a utopia and togetherness to the actual stages themselves, which look like they’d fit better on a movie set than at a music festival.
The main stage this year (it changes annually) featured a magical forest, one that was perhaps even larger than the actual forest surrounding the park that houses Tomorrowland. It came complete with a waterfall and a restaurant that only the most VIP were able to eat at. Other notable stages included The Opera, which looks like, well, exactly what its name suggests, and one that was an actual moving dragon, complete with smoking nostrils.
Those that were lucky enough to make it to the festival on Thursday were treated to a special event in one of the camping areas of the park, and headliners like Tiësto, who closed out the “exclusive” set, where only some ten thousand people made it to the explosive party. For many festivals, that’s the biggest they could get, but for Tomorrowland, that’s just the beginning.
While acts like Fedde Le Grand and Alesso may have played the main stage on Friday, the best show in town was Deadmau5 vs. Eric Prydz, which featured the former without his trademark head. Just as it had gotten dark, The Opera lit up, and the two put on one hell of a show, with thousands raging right along with two of the most respected in the electronic space.
While Friday may have been more energetic, as it was when many had just arrived, Saturday was easily the best day, as it wasn’t too hot, and everyone was warmed up and ready to go all day long. Throughout the weekend, those acts at The Opera seemed to bring the best performances, and the music was always top notch. On Saturday, Lost Frequencies hosted an afternoon with some of their “friends,” A.K.A. some of the best musicians out there, including FEDER and Sigala, both of whom are too cool for school. Lesser-known names like Solomun, Hard Rock Sofa, and Sick Individuals were also excellent in their respective timeslots. The Chainsmokers also rocked the main stage for the first time, and though it was still the middle of the day, they brought an enormous crowd, thanks to their many hits. The duo thanked the thousands in attendance for putting them there, noting that just three years prior, they had a set on the smallest stage, and now they were at the top of the bill.
Sunday felt a bit more calmed down, as the revelers were tired from two full days of dancing and running around the miles-long festival grounds. Acts like Jonas Blue turned up on the animated dragon stage, and he even brought out vocalist Dakota, who features on his international hit “Fast Car,” which made him a star. Not long after him at the same location, Matoma would also prove why he’s pop’s new favorite from the house world, spinning radio-ready tunes he’s crafted over the past year or so.
There were other notable performances, such as ALOK, The Magician, and especially Dave Lambert in the Garden of Madness (which is as much fun as it sounds), but it was really all about Martin Garrix, who closed out the final night on the largest stage to an unbelievably large audience. It’s incredible that he has only been a well-known name for such a short time, and yet he can command such a highly-coveted timeslot, and there are tens of thousands that want to end their weekend with him.
by @Philippe Wuyts Photography
As I said, TomorrowWorld isn’t happening in 2016, and no one will say if it shall return again in 2017, so if you want a taste of “Tomorrow,” you should prepare to head to Belgium next July. If you’re a big EDM festival fan, this is a box you need to check off, and even if you’re not, this is just too much fun to skip.