This previous weekend Sundown Music Pageant got here again to life as the primary normalized fest to return in Florida after the pandemic, an emotional billet-doux straight to the center of followers. Based mostly within the bustling cultural hub of Tampa, Florida, the two-day competition happened on Could twenty ninth and thirtieth, internet hosting 64,000 followers and 74 completely different artists from across the nation.
With town shortly filling up with patrons for the competition, SMF kicked the weekend off with a sold-out pre-party. Tons of and a whole bunch of music followers made their strategy to the venue in hopes of arriving early without cost entry. Held on the historic The Ritz Ybor in Ybor Metropolis, the pre-party boasted a proficient lineup of a few of Florida’s native greatest artists.
Dazy opened up the night time with a riveting set, adopted by Celo, who took the stage with excessive power and quick cadence. Bringing with him an arsenal of genre-defying bass tracks and rattling low-end tunes, Bernzikial adopted and bought the group shifting. The night time continued on with a closing set from native fan favourite Lizzy Jane, who dropped a wide selection of filthy dubstep tunes.
Simply because the night time gave the impression to be coming to a detailed, particular company Bawdly and Blunts & Blondes stepped on stage for a shock set. With a large lineup of expertise, the SMF pre-party had no scarcity of sensible manufacturing and good instances, the right strategy to welcome the competition weekend.
Day 1
Kicking off the primary day on the Eclipse stage was Bernzikial, Archived on the Cool Down Get Down Stage, Hunter Reid on the Horizon stage, and Trivecta on the Sundown important stage. Throughout Trivecta’s set, he introduced a brand new track known as “Wild And Damaged” with Seven Lions and Blanke, which you’ll be able to take heed to right here.
Because the day progressed, we noticed some unimaginable performances from artists like JVNA, Lucii, Celebration Favor, Kendoll, Lizzy Jane, Vampa, TYNAN, and Kompany. Every stage boasted an impressively colossal manufacturing, with a monstrous array of LED panels, and dozens upon dozens of beams, amongst different lighting. These world-class phases appeared extra like monuments, and had been a sight to behold in and of themselves. Disco Donnie Presents introduced all the efforts for this occasion, and it confirmed within the manufacturing.
With the warmth of the day persevering with to rise, occasion organizers had been ten steps forward and had ready a complete stage devoted to chilling temps down with its indoor air-con, full with a roof for shade. There have been additionally dozens of outside air conditioners scattered across the grounds, together with two huge air conditioners positioned within the middle of every crowd which misted out chilly water all day, leaving followers standing close to them a bit moist however comfortably relaxed. A welcomed addition to when Tampa’s blistering warmth bought to be an excessive amount of. A delicate contact, value noting that the extent of preparedness and care the occasion organizers put into throwing SMF was obvious. It is no straightforward feat housing tens of 1000’s of followers, and Disco Donnie Presents did so safely with precision.
With the most popular a part of the day coming to a detailed, the solar started to set over the horizon as Mentioned The Sky stepped out on the Sundown stage. He performed an immaculate set and was joined by Day Gatsby for a number of songs who performed the snare drum. Later Mentioned The Sky carried out an unreleased track written with ILLENIUM known as “Loopy Occasions.” Moments earlier on the Eclipse stage, TYNAN had simply completed taking part in a high-energy set the place he began a mosh pit. Kompany threw a monstrous set down after, which introduced in a large crowd. Midnight Tyrannosaurus and Kai Wachi continued on the heavy bass earlier than Wooli took the day into night time with a wild set stuffed with emotion and wealthy bass. Wooli additionally performed out his lately launched track with Seven Lions and Amidy known as “Shadows.”
Wooli performs on the Eclipse stage throughout Sundown Music Pageant 2021.
Again on the primary stage simply moments earlier than Journey Membership walked on, SMF performed a message over the audio system that learn, “We’re again, our hope, our power, our unity, all that unites us introduced us again to this second, our sundown second. Let’s cherish it, allow us to be grateful, let’s really feel the enjoyment. Allow us to all join once more beneath the sundown. We’re Florida’s first competition again.”
Journey Membership introduced their basic sound, pushing decibels via the audio system that had the group pumping to every observe. Later of their set, the fellows hopped on the microphone to announce a brand new unreleased track that they performed however didn’t title.
As NGHTMRE got here out for his set, he did so with huge power that the group was prepared for, bringing with him a stage that lit up with hearth cannons and fireworks. He performed a variety of his hit songs, together with his new track with Alexander Smash known as “Converse Straightforward,” the place Smash got here out and joined him on stage in the course of the track.
NGHTMRE performs on the Sundown stage at SMF 2021
Whereas Sullivan King and Zomboy closed out the night time on the Eclipse stage, Seven Lions stepped out on the primary stage to carry a wrap on Day 1. With a colossal set stuffed with fan-favorite tracks, Seven Lion’s set harbored an enormous array of pyrotechnics and power that rocked the group, taking them on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey. Ending the primary day was a large show of fireworks that lit up the sky overhead behind the primary stage.
Seven Lions closes out day one with fireworks at SMF 2021.
Day 2
As followers fueled up on espresso and meals, similar to that it was time for Day 2. The competition’s second day boasted an equally spectacular lineup, together with heavy hitters and rising artists. Beginning issues off was one to look at, SWARM, who woke the group up on the Eclipse stage, giving them 100% and rocking the group along with his infectious power. Following on the eclipse stage, we noticed huge units from TVBOO, Esseks, Conrank, Inzo, Champagne Drip, and LSDREAM, Riot Ten, and twelfth Planet every bringing their very own particular person set of excessive power and deep bass.
The home stage dubbed the Horizon Stage noticed all kinds of home artists together with Taiki Nulight, who placed on a formidable efficiency, bringing all of the vibes to his set. Different avant-garde artists akin to Kyle Kinch, Sage Armstrong, Lubelski, Doc Martin, Yolanda Be Cool, Minimize Snake, VNSSA, and Drezo carried out inspiring units conserving the home vibes alive at this stage all day lengthy.
Heating issues up later within the night time on the Horizon Stage was none aside from the legend himself, Destructo, who performed a heavy set of high-energy home tracks that took the group on a journey and historical past via home music. Proper earlier than Destructo’s efficiency, we had the possibility to take a seat down and speak about life, festivals, writing and producing music, together with new music releases and extra, which you’ll be able to learn in an upcoming interview. Following an unimaginable set by Destructo was Shiba San, who took the viewers by storm along with his infectious power. Inexperienced Velvet closed out the night time and introduced a sure-fire set that had the group shifting all night time.
On the Sundown stage, we noticed units from fan-favorite Decadon, who carried out a rocking set full of emotion and heavy-hitting dubstep tunes. Followers within the entrance row had been headbanging so exhausting that the railing was lifting off of the bottom. Later, Decadon bought on the mic to inform followers a passionate and heartfelt story concerning the lack of his father, and he requested the group to sing alongside to his and his dad’s favourite track, “Chasing Vehicles” by Snow Patrol. It was an emotional second, which introduced the group to tears and noticed followers placing their arms round one another holding on to 1 one other.
Following Decadon was one other fan-favorite, Kaivon, who lifted the group along with his brilliant and melodic future bass sound. Nitti Gritti B2B Wuki introduced the competition vibes to the celebration which bought followers leaping. Valentino Khan and Malaa rocked the viewers and stored the power going into the sundown as TroyBoi took the stage throughout sunset. Following a loaded set from TroyBoi, the group ready themselves for probably the most anticipated present of the weekend, SLANDER.
SLANDER performs on the Sundown stage at Sundown Music Pageant 2021.
When SLANDER took to the stage, the group was prepared. Beginning off with a few of their basic tunes, SLANDER kicked issues off with great power. The pyrotechnics went off, and it was a sight to behold. The sound power and emotion that poured out of the audio system had followers in a state of trance. It was pure, unfiltered power. Their set was an emotional billet-doux on to the hearts of followers. There have been emotional highs adopted by intimate lows. SLANDER took the viewers on a journey via time, pushing and pulling on all the heartstrings. In the direction of the tip of their set, SLANDER bought on the microphone to announce their new competition curation known as STARBASE, and the stage went darkish studying solely the phrases Starbase, you may learn extra concerning the new competition right here.
Following a formidable efficiency from SLANDER, the competition was coming to a detailed, and there was no higher strategy to finish the night time than to be hypnotized by the house mother herself, REZZ. With an unlimited set of trance-inducing visuals paired with big bass and a large quantity of pyrotechnics, REZZ delivered an immaculate set to carry the weekend to a detailed.
Sundown Music Pageant delivered an amazing weekend competition expertise. An expertise those that had been there’ll always remember. Each artist who carried out delivered an unlimited set with their coronary heart and soul pumping via the audio system. With so many individuals disadvantaged of reside music this previous yr, feelings poured out with pleasure and happiness as all of us united collectively once more. SMF 2021 felt like an much more memorable occasion due to this. As festivals proceed to roll out all through this yr, SMF 2021 will stand as some of the outstanding occasions, being one of many first again, there was a particular power that may very well be felt. The occasion introduced a real sense of unity and shared togetherness to all of the individuals in attendance. There isn’t a doubt that Sundown Music Pageant 2022 will likely be one to not miss.
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