Making its debut at Hollywood Park, the notorious HARD Summer time Music Pageant returned but once more to SoCal for an unbelievable, jam-packed weekend from August 3-4, 2024. Digital powerhouses like Zeds Lifeless, Subtronics, FISHER, Chris Lake, Levity and Disclosure joined native up-and-coming artists to unfold a masterful lineup.
Previous to the occasion, rumors swirled round Los Angeles about what to anticipate from the sixteenth version of the occasion because of the new venue and previous experiences. Worries of warmth exhaustion, impolite crowds, and a concrete jungle venue ran rampant.
As soon as we stepped foot contained in the venue, our expectations have been flipped the wrong way up. Upbeat attitudes and free-flowing enjoyable swept us off our ft. Learn EDM Maniac’s full report on Laborious Summer time 2024 under.
Vibes: B+
Going into the weekend, the environment at HARD Summer time was difficult to foretell. The competition has a fame for attracting a various crowd and being positioned within the coronary heart of Los Angeles; it doesn’t instantly evoke the standard PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect) vibes related to different festivals. We couldn’t have been extra mistaken — in one of the best ways attainable.
The competition vibes have been nice, with a palpable sense of pleasure and pleasure all through the gang. There have been loads of smiles and dancing all through the weekend, and festival-goers absolutely embraced the themes of HARD Summer time. Many wore pink, inexperienced, or purple to indicate their allegiance to their favourite levels or music genres. This visible expression added a vibrant and cohesive ingredient to the occasion, enhancing the general expertise.
Manufacturing: B-
The LA-based competition showcased the potential for enhancement in its manufacturing, significantly in stage design and laser results, which didn’t absolutely align with the sophistication usually skilled at most EDM festivals. Nevertheless, contemplating the competition’s location in a big metropolis, a number of challenges should be acknowledged, significantly concerning manufacturing. For example, proximity to LAX airport possible launched stringent laws that will have impacted using lasers. Moreover, the absence of grand fireworks in the course of the finale occasions and intermittent sound high quality points over the weekend have been noticeable.
The competition’s early closing instances — 11 PM on Saturday and 10 PM on Sunday — contributed to a way of brevity. Regardless of these constraints, HARD Summer time demonstrated its dedication to festival-goers by organizing spectacular after-parties. These occasions featured a number of the greatest names in digital music, together with Subtronics, Dimension, Hamdi, Matroda, and Tchami x MALAA.
Music: A
For the reason that lineup was launched, music has been the calling card of HARD Summer time 2024. Inexperienced stage showcased acts of bass and drum n bass from artists like Zeds Lifeless, Chase & Standing, Sub Focus, ALLEYCVT, and HEDEX whereas Pink stage honed in on home from artists like Eli Brown, DJ HEARTSTRING, HoneyLuv B2B Bontan and Chris Stussy.
The Purple Stage, Laborious Stage, and More durable Stage boasted spectacular types of headliners like SOFI TUKKER, Disclosure, Rezzmau5, Wax Motif, Main Lazer, Jamie xx, TroyBoi, and Elderbrook.
Artists shared their excessive power with attendees and didn’t hesitate to deliver the warmth. Particular moments have been boasted on stage, and there have been shock acts from artists of all realms. Levity introduced explosive power to Sunday afternoon’s set whereas inviting ALLEYCVT to carry out their brand-new Tame Impala flip collectively. Wax Motif welcomed Ty Dolla $ign to debut an unique, unreleased observe named ‘Make Me Higher’, and Subtronics closed out the weekend Sunday night time beside the love of his life, LEVEL UP.
One-of-a-kind performances have been plentiful all weekend, and particular VIPs have been sprinkled all through the units. Subtronics’ set was fascinating and downright soiled—the most effective we’ve seen from him in a very long time.
With music lasting roughly 8 hours every day, set instances have been compelled to be quick and candy.
Venue: B
Hollywood Park, adjoining to SoFi Stadium, appeared like an odd spot to host a major digital competition. It has traditionally been held in late July or early August, and warmth waves are all the time difficult for HARD Summer time. Spicy temperatures and a concrete car parking zone to host hundreds of ravers appeared like a recipe for catastrophe.
The competition got here extra ready than ever, impressively offering many alternatives to maintain cool regardless of the situations. Misting followers, free popsicles, and VIP pool events have been a number of methods attendees beat the warmth.
All through the weekend, attendees steadily commented on the gap between levels. Whereas the prolonged walks between levels allowed for extra spacious crowds throughout performances, navigating between them proved difficult. Visitors management may have been more practical, as the shortage of clear course led to congestion, significantly in narrower areas like bridges and walkways.
Concerning transportation, the absence of designated pickup and drop-off factors for rideshares confused drivers and attendees. This resulted in longer wait instances after the occasion, with many attendees returning to their lodging by foot.
Hollywood Park gives a novel location close to many Los Angeles sights and proper subsequent to LAX airport, making journey and lodge lodging handy for these staying close to the venue. Nevertheless, post-festival occasions being positioned 20-40 minutes away posed a problem for late-night plans.
The competition offered quite a few areas for attendees to sit down and loosen up, such because the Oasis and all kinds of spectacular meals choices, together with oyster platters. We additionally loved the smaller, Locals Solely stage hosted by Jose Cuervo and the Boombox Artwork Automobile hosted by BeatBox.
The VIP expertise was notably distinctive at HARD. With separate passageways behind the levels, attendees may simply entry completely different areas with out navigating crowds. The VIP viewing areas have been spacious and provided a wonderful vantage level, significantly on the Inexperienced Stage. Extra facilities, corresponding to unique video games like DDR, contemporary meals choices, and posh pool events, made the VIP expertise extremely pleasing. Nevertheless, the overall admission (GA) space additionally had an incredible environment.
General: B+
General, whereas there have been no standout moments that fully exceeded our expectations at HARD Summer time, there have been additionally no main disappointments. If HARD Summer time continues to showcase expertise on par with this yr’s lineup, it should actually stay a must-visit occasion for us. The recent climate and the challenges with foot site visitors have been minor inconveniences in comparison with the unbelievable performances we loved over the weekend.
We hope that future attendees proceed to deliver the optimistic and welcoming PLUR attitudes that have been evident this yr, enhancing the general competition expertise. We additionally sit up for seeing competition organizers tackle the logistical points, significantly the transportation to and from the venue. HARD Summer time has been a cornerstone of the digital music scene in Los Angeles since its inception, and this yr’s occasion was one other memorable expertise.
