This previous weekend, HARD Summer time made its triumphant return after having to cancel in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifting from the Fontana Speedway to Insomniac’s homebase, the NOS Occasions Middle in San Bernardino, HARD gave followers an exuberant and satisfying return to large festivals. Regardless of the oppressive afternoon warmth, HARD Summer time 2021 needs to be certified as a large success. This 12 months’s HARD actually embodied the competition ethos that each one are welcome and there’s one thing for everybody’s distinctive style.
From dance music stalwarts like Dillon Francis, Jauz and Kayzo, to prime 40 rappers like Future and 2 Chainz, to genre-defying artists like A-Trak, Kaytranada and Elohim; HARD Summer time all the time options one of the various lineups on the competition circuit. This 12 months, Insomniac managed to step up the scope and scale of the competition and make it really feel as large as Coachella. HARD Summer time is a “large,” and Pasqualle Rotella and his group didn’t maintain again this 12 months. Right here’s a breakdown of the nice and dangerous of HARD Summer time 2021.
As to be anticipated, there have been some kinks entering into and out of the competition on the primary day. Though Insomniac has devoted free parking heaps, that are vastly appreciated, as soon as it will get previous a sure time of day, it’s simply actually tough to get into the competition. Visitors was at a standstill coming off the Mill Road exit off the 215 Freeway. Regardless of attempting to drive across the perimeter of the competition grounds, I nonetheless discovered myself parking far-off alongside the border of the residential neighborhood/large Amazon transport heart.
As soon as I received into the competition grounds, I used to be blown away by the scope and measurement of the competition. HARD Summer time unlocked elements of the NOS Occasions Middle grounds that had not but been explored in earlier festivals. Whereas the competition grounds had been straightforward to navigate and had clear instructions and signage, it was simply loads of floor to cowl. The warmth was additionally an element; whereas there have been shaded and misted areas, nevertheless it nearly wasn’t sufficient because the early afternoon warmth was blistering.
Though the size of the competition was large, the payoff was there in any respect the phases. The HARD Stage took on the guise of the Coachella Stage, only a large beacon of lights and metal. The HARDer Stage didn’t pull any punches this 12 months. It was simply one other model of the HARD stage, beckoning the lots to come back ahead. Each the Purple and Inexperienced Levels deserve large kudos for his or her distinctive manufacturing design. Nonetheless, the Inexperienced Stage was the shock of the weekend!
Often, the Inexperienced Stage is completely packed to the brim; it’s primarily the dubstep stage, so having a packed crowd is right, however just like the Sahara Tent at Coachella, the stage wanted to evolve to suit the instances. Enter this 12 months’s Inexperienced Stage which was large open and featured low-hanging misters which made it the place to be in the event you needed to sit back with buddies. In contrast to previous years the place you couldn’t breathe at Inexperienced Stage, this 12 months’s stage was a breath of contemporary air.
This 12 months’s HARD was additionally an amazing competition in the event you had a number of pal teams going and also you needed to bounce round phases. Once more, HARD is eclectic by nature, so that you might need buddies who will spend all day at Inexperienced Stage or Pink Tent. It’s enjoyable taking a break from the principle stage to take a look at one thing you may not have thought of. Living proof, I didn’t anticipate to depart HARD or HARDer phases, and I had nice instances at Inexperienced and Pink Levels. HARD is all in regards to the homies, and for no matter motive, this 12 months’s competition made it excellent for connecting with buddies outdated and new.
As was talked about, the lineup for HARD Summer time was second to none. Regardless of pondering I wouldn’t spend a lot time on the Purple Stage, certain sufficient, that was my first vacation spot on Day 1, as I noticed Mr. Carmack throw down some vibey lure that completely set the temper for the weekend. From there, I made my approach to the HARDer stage for a few of Born Soiled’s filthy home beats. I headed over for my first glimpse of the HARD stage for Yultron’s set, and he didn’t disappoint. This was definitely the primary time the gang gained important mass and Yultron delighted the viewers along with his mix of hardcore, hardstyle and dubstep.
After having fun with a few of Yultron, I headed again over to HARDer stage for a few of Wax Motif’s set. His distinctive bass home stylings and impeccable visuals had been the right intro for the throng of headliners heading into the competition grounds. After that, Jauz on the HARD stage was the place to be. The Southern California sky reworked from day to nighttime as Jauz dropped hit after hit, mashup after mashup. From “Gassed Up” to “Ghosts & Sharks” to “Rock the Social gathering,” Jauz’s versatility was on show for all to see. In case you had been like me, this was the primary nice second of the weekend.
To not be outdone, the subsequent set on the HARD stage was RL Grime b2b Baauer. At this level, we all know their facet mission is HÆRNEY, and the HARD crowd was delighted by a mashup of a few of the two DJs best hits, in addition to some IDs and edits that put them within the Jack U / Canine Blood pantheon of HARD tremendous teams. From there, rap celebrity Future closed out the evening dropping a bevy of hits together with “Masks Off,” “Similar Rattling Time,” “Bugatti” and lots of extra. The gang was vibing arduous with Mr. Hendrix. Shoutout to his intro, the place he leaned into all of the memes that he’s now part of.
Day Two was equally as sizzling, although I went a lot earlier, so site visitors and parking weren’t a problem. Those that did arrive early discovered no respite from the warmth although. The crowds had been miniscule up till JOYRYDE’s set on the mainstage at 5:50 PM. I watched all of Nitti Gritti b2b Wuki, their set was upbeat and energetic, however the crowd was miniscule and the warmth oppressive. Whereas the complete competition appeared to converge on JOYRYDE, I discovered myself wishing for extra throughout his set. I didn’t hear any new IDs or sounds that perked my ear up.
From there I headed over to the Inexperienced Stage for the primary time of the weekend to catch Dangerous Boys Membership (Cray X GG Magree). They got here out in cute matching pink button Louis Vuitton shirts and matching bucket caps. The gang was energetic and enraptured, and whereas their mixture of bass home was dope, they performed a number of JOYRYDE songs, proper after JOYRYDE performed! Regardless, I can see Dangerous Boys Membership changing into a Inexperienced Stage staple.
It was the HARD stage from there on out as I made my approach to 2 Chainz’s set. The legendary rapper didn’t disappoint, dropping an array of hits together with “Huge Financial institution,” “I’m Completely different,” “No Lie” and a lot extra. This was the vibe Future closed out with on Night time 1, so you recognize that Night time 2 goes to go off after this. Certain sufficient, Dillon Francis didn’t disappoint. Certainly one of HARD Summer time’s absolute veterans, Dillon delivered an all-time set, recalling the scope and grandeur of a few of his Coachella units and delivering for all his followers in attendance. Dillon dropped unbelievable IDs with Eptic and TV Noise, a few of his best hits together with “Say Much less,” “When We Had been Younger,” “Let it Go,” “Bomboclat,” and a second that slayed the gang, when he dropped My Chemical Romance’s traditional, “The Black Parade.”
After that, DJ Snake and Malaa took over, because the HARD Stage signal turned to the French tri-color, blue, white and purple; and Pardon My French dominated the evening with some nice home music. Whereas the gang was congregated there, the perfect set was really occurring on the Inexperienced Stage. On the behest of a educated pal, I head over to the Skream Outdated Skool Dubstep set. The bass and wubs had been heavy because the comfy and dispersed crowd delighted within the nostalgia of touring again to 2007-2010 period dubstep.
HARD Summer time 2021 was proper on the mark, each assembly and exceeding expectations. The music and lineup was unbelievable. The vibes had been fairly darn good too. For the primary competition again after the Pandemic, HARD delivered on all ranges. I can’t wait to see what Insomniac has in retailer for Past later this month.
