[EVENT REVIEW] Heatwave Music Festival 2023 Finds a New Home

Heatwave Music Festival took Chicago by storm final 12 months, including one other nice native fest to Chicago’s vibrant competition scene. The two-day fest was the proper mid-summer buffer for some very much-needed dance remedy below the Chicago Summer Sun. In a metropolis full of festivals and genres, it’s at all times nice to have festivals of all sizes and styles to fill out your schedule. 

Heatwave made its return to Chicago in 2023 to a model new venue. Heatwave took over Chicago’s iconic Northerly Island with 3 phases all packed to the brim with expertise.

Just like in 2022 music was unfold out throughout three phases giving followers an opportunity to ‘choose your own adventure’ throughout all weekend. Heatwave made some extent to focus on artistic artwork installations all all through the competition. The spotlight for me being the world’s largest rubber duck, whose sheer measurement towered over the competition as a beacon of hope. 

But any competition in Chicago just isn’t full with out afterparties. Due to Chicago’s sound laws most festivals have to finish strictly by 10 or 11 pm, however the social gathering doesn’t finish there. Thousands of social gathering goe-rs then descend to after events throughout Chicago for unimaginable afterparties. Festival headliners GRiZ and Tiesto took over Radius, whereas attendees at Prysm had been handled to intimate units from Kaskade and Gryffin, respectively. There was one thing for everybody. 

If you’re from Chicago you know the way unstable the climate could be, particularly within the Spring, and much more as you get nearer to the lake. Heatwave’s venue being mere steps away from Lake Michigan, all of the locals had been ready for something.

It was a story of two Chicago weathers over the weekend with Saturday being a shiny, sunny virtually Summer day whereas Sunday’s intrusive ideas took over with a depressing wet day. Almost instantly, the competition offered out of hoodies, however these ready for the climate had been in a position to expertise the competition in a complete totally different manner. It could also be a little bit of an unpopular opinion, however I’ll take bundling up a bit then be dripping with sweat 10/10 occasions.

But the primary attraction was and can at all times be the music, we highlighted a few of our favourite units beneath.

See you in 2024, Heatwave.

Whethan

When hometown hero Whethan was introduced he jumped to the highest of my must-watch checklist. His evolution as an artist has been unimaginable to observe all through the years, and his Heatwave set actually proved that. In an EDM world that appears to be presently centered round dubstep and tech home, Whethan actually shines. His distinctive remixes and originals delivered one thing that no different artist delivered all through the weekend. 

Sidepiece

You can ask 20 totally different individuals what EDM must be and also you’ll get 20 totally different solutions (and that’s okay!). But for me, dance music must be enjoyable. Sidepiece, the collaborative challenge between Party Favor and Nitti, is the epitome of enjoyable dance music. In the town the place home music was born, they confirmed off their model of home music. A excessive vitality, enjoyable home music set full of sing-along moments to convey the group collectively. 

Deorro

Deorro’s party-starting anthems have been in so many individuals’s playlists for therefore a few years, however seeing Deorro virtually ten years after his iconic “Five Hours” monitor is far totally different in 2023, and in one of the simplest ways doable. His set was a beautiful mixture of the bops we’ve come to anticipate from Deorro, and absolutely the satisfaction he has in his Mexican heritage. The Mexican flags within the crowd went into absolute overdrive when Deorro really performed a tune by fellow Mexican artist, Peso Pluma. For a minute, everybody within the crowd forgot in regards to the chilly and danced within the Mexican warmth.

Tiesto

At 54 years previous, Tiesto continues to be headlining major phases internationally – and that’s not one thing you get to maintain doing if you happen to don’t sustain, and Tiesto has by no means had an issue doing that. His mainstage units are usually a splendidly curated mix of what’s scorching, and Tiesto originals. And each time I’ve seen that mixture, it’s as positive to be a celebration as 1+1 at all times equals 2.

[EVENT REVIEW] Heatwave Music Festival 2023 Finds a New Home