Grab your matching rave set, kandi, and finger lights…..get ready for a hot and sweaty weekend of dancing and live music at this year’s HARD Summer Festival. Insomniac Events’ annual festival will hit Inglewood’s Hollywood Park on August 3rd & 4th, bringing in a rich variety of acts which traverse the depths of EDM. Fronting artists that belong to a wide range of EDM sub-genres, the festival will have an act for every kind of attendee including the die hard headbangers, the soft hearted simps ready to cry while clinging onto their rave bae, and even the first time rave babies.
The two day fest will host dozens of high energy acts from around the globe for crowds to choose from. As shows unfold across a spread of 5 stages, making decisions about who to see and who to miss will be a difficult task.
Heading the lineup for Saturday are the brothers of Disclosure. The duo’s new vibrant and sunny house track “She’s Gone, Dance On” has made its spot as my summer anthem this year. Known best for tracks “You and Me” and “Latch,” these two will bring in a sense of nostalgia atop their fresh music to light up the dance floor, making them an act that attendees should prioritize seeing.
The highly anticipated performance by Fisher and Chris Lake under their side project Under Construction will take place Sunday at the HARD Stage. This performance will undoubtedly attract a large crowd that one will not want to miss being a part of. Fisher never fails to bring an electrifying energy to his sets that I can’t get enough of even after witnessing him perform live three times already.
The special guest for Saturday is iconic pop and dance artist Nelly Furtado, who will surely turn the HARD Stage into a nightclub with bodies packed onto the dance floor for her widely popular tracks including “Promiscuous” and “Maneater.” Having seen her performance as a special guest for Dom Dolla at this year’s Coachella, her ability to entertain is an act to watch out for this time around.
Sunday’s special guest is electronic duo Chase and Status, whose fiery DNB tracks had me glued to the dance floor at this year’s Coachella. The two are highly regarded on the UK’s EDM scene and will definitely make a lasting impact on those present at the Green Stage on Sunday.
This week, Insomniac additionally released a host of pre and afterparties for an even “HARDER” weekend. These parties will be scattered around LA, and tickets can be purchased through the HARD Summer website. DJs from the fest’s lineup will play these pre-fest and late night shows; for example, Chris Lake’s Sunday afterparty is already sold out.
I’ve created a playlist for some of my favorite tracks across the many artists from this year’s lineup that you can check out here. I hope to see all of you ravers and head bangers on the dance floor coming up on August 3rd & 4th at the HARD Summer Festival.
Written by Bailey Schroerlucke
Photos courtesy of Insomniac Events