Heatwave Music Festival, Chicago’s exciting new art-inspired dance music experience took place this past weekend, July 16-17, at Douglass Park. Attendees were treated to larger-than-life art installations, global EDM icons, and spectacular vibes.
The two-day event, put on by premier event organizers Auris Presents, was a perfect new addition to Chicago’s summer festival roster. After dancing our hearts out, we are certain this festival has a bright and vibrant future.
The debut event hosted three stages: The Inevitable, The Reverie, and The Radiance. Each stage felt like they were taken straight out of a comic book.
The Reverie hosted bass-heavy artists and amazing sets from Zeds Dead, RL Grime, Rossy, Boombox Cartel, Canabliss and more.
The Inevitable welcomed large mainstage acts like Tiësto, Galantis, Above & Beyond, Loud Luxury, and Sam Feldt B2B Jonas Blue (Endless Summer). Every artist brought amazing energy and got the crowd moving. A real treat for attendees was Tiësto closing out the last set on Sunday, complete with fireworks and pyrotechnics.
The Radiance stage brought groovy vibes and hosted primarily house acts. Some highlights were sets by Westend, J.Worra, Dr. Fresch, Shiba San and Goldfish.
Nestled between the two main stages was the VIP lounge: home to art-themed cocktails, ice cream chairs, a barber, wonderfully air-conditioned bathrooms, and more! The shaded VIP areas throughout the venue gave much-needed breaks from the dance floor.
On top of the A-list acts Heatwave brought, the venue was adorned with incredibly fun art installations. Giant gummy bears, statues, a wall of mirrors, Liechtenstein–inspired paintings, a giant banana train, and more took us into a world of imagination. The art exceeded our expectations and definitely made the event worthwhile.
Overall, Heatwave was well–organized with plenty of space to dance and roam around. The vibes were unmatched– ravers young and old danced together and everyone seemed to have an amazing time. We are incredibly excited to see what Auris Presents has in store for us next year.
Thank you, Heatwave!
Feature photo– Courtesy of Heatwave Music Festival / Don Idio
