Nora En Pure & Jono Stephenson: A Night of Melodic Dance Music

The Concourse Project in Austin, TX are known for being stellar hosts to all things dance music, especially Seismic Dance Event. This past weekend they welcomed yet another unforgettable night of melodic dance music, headlined by the inimitable Nora En Pure and featuring Jono Stephenson as the direct support act. We have been lucky enough to be afforded the opportunity to catch Nora En Pure multiple times at this venue, and somehow things continue to get even better than they were last time.

The Concourse Project stands as one of Austin’s most iconic music venues, renowned for its cutting-edge design and dedication to delivering unmatched live experiences. Its expansive layout, state-of-the-art sound system, and upgraded lighting design created a truly beautiful night of dance music. I can recall looking up at one point surrounded by the ocean blue that Nora En Pure and record label Purified Records is known and feeling baptized in the sound. Beyond its technical excellence, the venue’s commitment to fostering a sense of community among artists and fans alike makes it a special gathering place for music enthusiasts. Events at the Concourse Project are more than just shows; they are experiences to be enjoyed by attendees and artists alike that leave lasting memories. This show was no different.

Jono Stephenson set the tone for the night with a captivating performance.

Known for his emotive melodies and polished production, Jono delivered a set that blended sounds from multiple house adjacent genres. His latest track “Digital Rain” dropped that Friday morning and one of our favorite moments was getting to see and hear the crowd reaction once he worked it in. We have been following Jono Stephenson for awhile now, so getting to hear his touch on the music in a live setting was special. Hearing tracks such as “I Can’t Save You” was encapsulating, but one track stood tall and mighty in this crowd. The moment he started to bring in “Midnight Sun” we could feel a shift in the energy in the building again. The second drop of that track is so big it absolutely crushed the dance floor and from that moment on the crowd was wide awake. His ability to command the room and seamlessly transition between tracks showed again why he one of the brightest rising stars in the melodic dance scene.

We had the chance to talk with Jono Stephenson after his set and he had nothing but good things to say about the venue, the crowd, and how the night went. He mentioned on multiple occasions just how booming that sound system was and we shared a laugh about how rattling it felt up in the booth. Jono is truly a class act and a master mind when it comes to delivering a solid track. By listening to a few of the singles aforementioned, one can get an idea of this. However, where he truly shines is in front of the crowd and in the mix.

There were so many various mixes that he had from track to track this night that were top notch. Each track felt like a seamless weave from one to another. By the middle of his set, everyone in the room could tell just how much of a groove he was in. For those of you reading who are into any of the latest hot tracks in melodic dance (Adam Sellouk’s “We Are The People” as an example), we highly suggest getting to a show of his, as he had them all firing away. So many of our favorite tracks from the night were unreleased works of his that are already in a perfect spot and primed for release. We are so excited to be on the journey with him as he begins his takeover.

As the night begun to reach its peak, Nora En Pure took to the stage, delivering a performance that was both ethereal and invigorating. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in deep and melodic house, Nora masterfully curated a set that kept the energy flowing while taking the crowd on another great journey. She always does such an incredible job at commanding the energy no matter what setting she is in. On this night we were barraged with plenty of her traditional melodic sounds, but also feel the increased energy in more of her latest tracks such as “Vigilant” and “Gratitude“. The way a lot of these tracks sound on such a magnificent sound system is mind blowing. Tracks that one might play in earbuds and think “this is a nice groove and chilled track” now is thumping out on the dance floor. This set also served as a massive treat for fans of her record label, Purified Records, as she dropped tracks from Alex Breitling, Dominik Gehringer, and of course, Jono Stephenson.

In fact, one of our favorite moments of the night came early on in the set when she played Jono Stephenson’s “Pulling Me to You,” a gesture that not only highlighted her keen ear for talent by signing the track, but also served as a symbolic nod to her good friend who was on the show with her. The best thing about this moment however, is the fact that we were currently in an interview with Jono when we all realized what was happening. In that moment Jono paused for a second and said “should we go?”, we paused the interview, and rushed to the stage as respectfully as we could. Nora then welcomed Jono on stage to share a moment with her while the track was playing out. Check out the video below to see this from our perspective.

This night felt as if it were a celebration of melodic dance music.

From start to finish this night was a melodic music enjoyers delight. The visuals and the atmosphere in the crowd perfectly matched the sounds that Nora and Jono were delivering all night long. The synergy between the two artists was soothing to the ear, with Nora’s set complementing the groundwork laid by Jono prior to her performance. This is just another testament to how talented both of these artists are. Nora’s set was roughly two hours long, and we ultimately could have done another two (not that it was needed) after all was said and done. The energy throughout the night peaked at highs delivered by both artists, but also had room to breathe when necessary. This shows how much preparation and care goes into shows like these, on all fronts.

We would be short changing the night if we don’t mention once more just how splendid The Concourse Project is. We are just going to say it, this by far a top five venue in the United States. There is a reason that acts as esteemed as Nora En Pure, Eric Prydz, and so on, keep coming back. It is clear that they have the right vision behind what it takes to make a venue we all love.

I would highly recommend getting to a show at the Concourse Project as soon as possible, as well as making your way to check out these two artists as well. Make sure to follow their socials (Nora En Pure / Jono Stephenson) to stay up to date.

For those wanting to relive the night or those who want to experience what the room felt like, check out the playlist below!