Seismic Dance Event 4.0 kicked off with an absolute banger of a day yesterday! The sun was still shining brightly when the gates opened, allowing the early comers to trickle in and take in the unique stages as well as the art displays ranging from hanging circular chairs to live-painted murals. The stream of entering attendees was fairly constant as the sounds of HoneyLuv, KIVI, and Colton Cameron filled the space. Each stage was given an associated color scheme, making it easy to remember who was playing where – yellow for the Frequency Stage, which also had wooden cut-outs to match frequency waves, blue for the Tsunami Stage, and red for the Volcano Stage, which was the indoor stage that transported attendees into a warehouse rave environment upon entry. There’s no doubt about it – the festival organizers pay a lot of attention to detail.

As the time neared the end of the workday, more festival-goers trickled in as Öona Dahl, Martin Ikin, and Kyle Walker played to a setting sun. The best part of seeing everyone filter in, aside from the joyful energy that continued to build up, was seeing the festival fashion. There’s a wide variety of styles that one may choose to wear to an electronic music festival, but the techno/house scene is by far the most dominated by black clothing and tactical streetwear. Yet there was still a brilliant pop of color here and there to keep things interesting; at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you choose to wear to a festival – everyone is there just to vibe out and have fun.

Once the sun went down, the energy levels just seemed to explode. I’m not sure if it was because Patrice Bäumel, Will Clarke, Tom & Collins, Luttrell, Eats Everything, and Steve Darko masterfully guided listeners into fun dances, or if it was because the darkness allowed for better use of lighting and lighting design. Honestly, it was a little bit of both, but in any case, the air moving through The Concourse Project was absolutely electrifying. People everywhere were moving to the beats and a shuffle station was even set up in a patch to allow attendees to showcase their talents and meet fellow enthusiasts.

Things reached new heights as Ben Böhmer played a live set at the Volcano Stage. The space was filled with eager listeners, entranced by his melodic soundscape which was accompanied by a dazzling light show. Jamie Jones and Mason Maynard held it down on the outside stages, filling the exterior with groovy sounds that kept people moving and the blood flowing as the temperature chilled. The night closed out with Stephan Bodzin, Amelie Lens, Claptone, and AC Slater all playing to those who were ready to keep the party going. And the party was still going – right into an after-party with Jamie Jones and Will Clarke right on site.

We all know that day 1 of a festival weekend is simply a taste of what is to come, and with the tone that was set yesterday, it should be an extremely exciting and eventful next few days at Seismic Dance Event in Austin, TX! Doors open at 1 PM, so get there early to make the most of this glorious weather.

Photos by Elena Lin and Chilly Media.

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Elena Lin Administrator

I am a concert/festival photographer based in St. Louis. I’m always eager to travel for new music and experiences and to meet new faces!

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Elena Lin Administrator

I am a concert/festival photographer based in St. Louis. I’m always eager to travel for new music and experiences and to meet new faces!