Billed as “Summer’s Last Stand”, Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival has been going strong for 6 years every Labor Day weekend. Known for its focus on jam bands, hip-hop and some EDM, the organizers outdid themselves this year with an homage to its home city that founded an integral part of electronica’s roots: House Music.
DJ Heather at North Coast Music Festival
The Heineken House music stage was a huge, air-conditioned dome placed smack dab in the middle of all the other outdoor stages. With its 21+ policy, it provided an oasis away from the younger attendees and allowed people to cool off amidst a nightclub atmosphere with beautiful ceiling visuals to boot. With the exception of a few out of towners (Moon Boots, Waze & Odyssey and Monty Luke), the stage allowed Chicago’s local talent to shine: Terry Hunter, Roy Davis Jr., Ron Carroll, DJ Heather and Lady D to name a few.
Terry Hunter at North Coast Music Festival
CZR at North Coast Music Festival
With an audience that was open to all kinds of sounds, it was heart warming to see them experience DJs that they normally wouldn’t see, despite the fact that they were all living in the same city. And based on the crowd’s reactions, it looked like they were loving it. Hats off to North Coast and Heineken for a well executed idea!
Moon Boots at North Coast Music Festival
(Damn good) photos here by Nikhil K. Gidwani.
[…] of friends out here and people we like to work with. Our first real performance was in Chicago at North Coast. We love that fest and we’re grateful to have been on it when we were first starting out. […]