The Imagine Music Festival Was Awesome!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this pic perfectly encapsulates how I felt for 48 straight hours over Labor Day weekend.
I attended the incredible Imagine Music Festival (take a quick peek at this post for my introduction of it), and I am surprised I was able to speak and stand once the weekend was over.
To say I screamed and danced the whole time would be an understatement!
I mean, I spent the weekend HERE:
This awesome picture was achieved by one of the drone cameras that flew overhead. I wish all of my pics had this cool vantage point!
Hundreds of people poured into the 17 acres of the concert venue, which was spread across The Masquerade and Historic Fourth Ward Park.
Both of those venues are along the Atlanta BeltLine, which is a cool and vibrant urban redesign project that is transforming Atlanta. My photographer and I walked underneath the BeltLine on North Ave and spied this incredible street art, as well as a saxophonist playing his heart out.
But as much as I love to hear live saxophone, we were here for music with much more bass than that.
After a quick media check in, we dove headfirst into the festival. With gorgeous and creative decorations like giant jellyfish and billowing ocean canopies overhead, it was an underwater dream world.
(I apologize in advance for being mid-scream in almost every picture. I tried to warn you, lol. Be thankful you can't hear me!)
In case you haven't clicked on the previous post explaining all about the festival (tsk tsk), here's a quick recap.
Imagine is a two-day music festival founded by IRIS Presents that invites some of the world's best electronic and dubstep DJ's, musicians, and bands to Atlanta for Labor Day weekend in an epic show of lights, captivating cirque-style performances, and of course body-rocking music.
Allow me to draw you into my experience there, showing you the sounds and sights that I saw. Scroll below to view photos, videos, and Instagram snaps from me and other attendees! The shared experience of this festival is not one I'll soon forget.
One note: the pictures may oscillate between daytime and night, which means they aren't in chronological order. Just ride with it, babe, and let the experience wash over you.
Also, you may notice that I'm wearing three outfits. No, I'm not a diva, with scheduled costume changes or anything, lol.
The festival was rained out for a few hours on Saturday, during which we ducked for cover, wrung ourselves out, and were thankfully able to change clothes before returning to rock out.
In the beginning, every raindrop and clap of thunder brought a thrill of joyous yet defiant excitement that rippled through the crowd, creating an almost nature-worshiping celebration. But as the sky grow darker and the raindrops grew fatter, we began to understand what was coming.
The sky completely opened up and poured on us. The technicians scrambled to get the speakers and equipment protected in time.
But a couple hours later, the sky was clear again!
And the party rocked on.
The lights cast magic over the crowd:
[cycloneslider id="imagine-lights-from-concert"]
Press PLAY ► to see this lady on stilts fly through the air:
The attendees were part of the spectacle as well:
[cycloneslider id="imagine-hoop-dancer"]
Press PLAY ► to watch this hoop artist:
This guy was working at least five hoops at once
[cycloneslider id="imagine-breakdancing"]
And I loved the sense of friendship that flowed through this festival. It was great to see people meet up and enjoy themselves together, make incredible memories. ♥♥
The clothing and costumes worn by festival-goers were nearly as entertaining as what was happening on stage:
As we roved around the grounds, we happened to be photographing the art in the retention pond... when the artist who made it happened to be walking by! She told us how nice it was to see people's reaction to her work and we stopped and talked for a while.
Shouts out to Megan Robinson and Joey Appleseed, the artists who carved these letters and the "rock" from foam using hot wire! I really like fonts in general, but I cannot imagine attempting to carve in a font. I'd be lucky if the "e" turned out recognizable and not a massive blob. Hats off to y'all.
[cycloneslider id="imagine-by-the-pond"]
My love of electronic music started a few years ago, with the Canadian electronic-dance music duo Adventure Club, so I was thrilled when they performed on Sunday night:
[cycloneslider id="imagine-adventure-club"]
I was too busy rocking during their performance, but I did capture some audio of my favorite part of their mix of Flight Facilities, "Crave You". I'm here for the bass, baby.
Press PLAY ► to hear it:
All around, this festival was A+. Everywhere you looked, there was a visual spectacle.
Drinks, food trucks, and vendors were plentiful, and there were thoughtful touches like the misting dome:
Stand inside this baby and feel cool water misting on your body. Considering how hot it was at the end of August in Atlanta, these innovative domes were a godsend. The beads of moisture that roll down your skin won't be sweat with this.
I had such a awesome time at this festival. I cannot wait until next year. Even though, the next day, all I could do was twitch in a heap:
I ♥ Imagine Music Festival!