July 28, 2014
Electronic dance music has taken over America’s airwaves, dance floors, and now its festival season. One of the leaders in this moment has been HARD, who throw events across the country and beyond. And one of their leading events is HARD Summer, which comes to southern California’s Whittier Narrows Recreation Area this weekend, August 2nd & 3rd:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2nd
Jack U Jack U is the latest, biggest, team-up in EDM – Skrillex + Diplo. ‘Nuff said. |
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A$AP Mob The impressive Harlem collective led by A$AP Rocky, A$AP Mob stretches from rappers and producers to directors and fashion designers. They come to HARD Summer in the run-up to the release of debut studio album, L.O.R.D., on August 25th. |
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Axwell One-third of the acclaimed Swedish House Mafia, Axel Christofer Hedfors – a.k.a. Axwell – comes to HARD Summer all on his own. |
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Flosstradamus Chicago-based DJs J2K and Autobot are Flosstradamus (QRO photos), and while they’re best known for touring with such similar techtronica acts as Chromeo (QRO live review), they’ve also shared the stage with indie groups like Matt & Kim (QRO spotlight on) on more than one occasion (QRO photos, again on the bill with Matt & Kim). |
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Baauer While Henry ‘Bauer’ Rodriguez (QRO photos at a festival) has been producing bass & electro music for years now, he only recently got big-time notice with his meme-spawning “Harlem Shake”. So expect the “Shake” at HARD Summer (though QRO would prefer to return of the gone-too-soon Harlem Shakes – QRO spotlight on…). |
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Tommy Trash Tommy Trash (QRO photos at a festival) is one of Australia’s most promising EDM artists. |
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DJ Snake France’s trip-hop producer DJ Snake comes to HARD Summer off of working with Diplo (of Jack U – see above) and touring with Skrillex (also of Jack U). |
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Carnage From Maryland by way of Central America, Carnage comes to HARD Summer behind his debut Bang on acclaimed imprint Fool’s Gold. |
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Jack Beats DJ Plus One from Scratch Perverts and Beni G from The Mixologists form the award-winning duo Jack Beats, whose sounds go from big bass to a cappella. |
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Seth Troxler From Kalamazoo, Michigan, Seth Troxler draws on the electronic musical heritage of both of his nearby metropolises, Detroit and Chicago, for underground house and techno. |
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Kill the Noise Jacob Stanczak, a.k.a. Kill the Noise, has worked with everyone from Skrillex (of Jack U – see above) to Korn (QRO album review). |
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Pusha T Pusha T (QRO photos at a festival) began as one-half of Clipse with his brother No Malice, but has since headed out on his own, signing to Kanye’s GOOD Music and releasing his debut My Name Is My Name last fall. |
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Tiga vs. Audion Juno Award-winning Montreal DJ Tiga takes on the alter ego of Matthew Dear (QRO photos at a festival), Audion. |
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Josh Wink A veteran at the young HARD Summer, Josh Wink helped pioneer the American rave scene way back in the Clinton administration, and has just kept on going. |
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GRiZ Spinning beats and more at HARD Summer will be GRiZ (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Rustie Russell Whyte brings some electronic dance music down from his native Glasgow as Rustie. |
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Juan MacLean One of the founding members of LCD Soundsystem (QRO live review), Juan MacLean (QRO interview) comes to HARD Summer for a DJ set (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Also: Justin Martin The Martinez Brothers What So Not Tchami Oliver Dusky Bro Safari Alex Metric Lunice The M Machine Cyril Hahn Henry Fong Goldroom (DJ set) – QRO photos J. Phlip Justin Jay Le Youth Shift K3Y TWRK Valentino Khan David Heartbreak Louisahhh!!! Sharooz Worthy Eprom Harvey McKay Snails Etnik Cut Snake Alix Perez Brillstein Filthy Gorgeous Monsta Squad Noise GT |
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 3rd
Tiësto Headlining the second day of HARD Summer is one of the biggest DJ performers in the world, Tiësto. The Dutch musician has played everything from the Athens Olympics in 2004 to the biggest electronic audience in America (QRO live review), and is highly suited to headlining HARD. |
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Disclosure British electronic duo Disclosure (QRO photos at a festival) spin beats at HARD Summer (QRO photos at a festival this summer). |
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Nero Dubstep big-name Nero (QRO live review) does a full live set at HARD Summer (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Dillon Francis American electronic artist Dillon Francis (QRO photos at a festival) has worked with big name DJs like Calvin Harris (QRO album review) and Diplo (of Jack U – see above). |
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2manydjs Brothers David & Stephen Dewaele of Soulwax do the brotherly thing on live as side-project 2manydjs. |
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Martin Garrix At just eighteen years of age, Amsterdam’s Martin Garrix is already a major up-and-coming DJ. |
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A-Trak Montreal’s Alain Macklovitch – a.k.a. A-Trak (QRO photos at a festival) – got notice when picked to be the personal DJ to none other than Kanye West (QRO album review), but has also produced for the likes of Lupe Fiasco (QRO photos at a festival) & Kid Sister (QRO photos at a festival), as well as his work with Armand Van Helden as Duck Sauce (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Chase & Status Electronic music duo Saul Milton & Will Kennard – a.k.a. Chase & Status – broke through in the last few years, rising to be one of the U.K.’s top electronic acts. They’re also much in demand on the festival circuit, with the kind of full-fledged live show that so many in electronica don’t bring. |
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Maya Jane Coles While London’s Maya Jane Coles plays house music, her alter-ego Nocturnal Sunshine goes dubstep – and she’s one-half of electronic dub duo She Is Danger, so who knows what to expect at HARD Summer. |
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Rudimental A major hit in U.K. & Australia, London’s Rudimental (QRO photos in the U.K.) bring their liquid funk stateside at HARD Summer (QRO photos at a festival). |
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Sub Focus The electric electronic performer Nick Douwma, a.k.a. Sub Focus, comes to HARD Summer off of last year’s sophomore full-length, Torus. |
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Clockwork The alter ego of RL Grime (QRO photos at a festival), Clockwork, comes to HARD Summer. |
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Destructo DJ Destructo (QRO photos) is a serious HARD favorite (QRO photos at HARD NYC). |
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DJ Mustard The official DJ to Compton’s YG (QRO photos at a festival), DJ Mustard has produced such hits as 2 Chainz’ “I’m Different”, Kid Ink’s “Show Me”, and more. |
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The Chainsmokers New York electro-house duo The Chainsmokers are riding this year’s hit, “#Selfie”. |
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Gorgon City English electronic duo Gorgon City comes to HARD Summer off of last year’s hit single “Real” and this year’s hit single “Read For Your Love”. |
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Cashmere Cat From cold Norway to hot L.A. comes Magnus August Høiberg, a.k.a. Cashmere Cat. |
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Also: Brodinski Julio Bashmore Mercer Hucci Breach Jesse Rose Claptone Danny Daze Wave Racer Jacques Greene Kastle Jimmy Edgar Sharam Jey DJ Slink Trippy Turtle Kidnap Kid Branchez Milo & Otis Etc! Etc! Kill Frenzy Shiba San Hannah Wants Bixel Boys Blood Diamonds Mr. Carmack Vanilla Ace Djemba Djemba Wax Motif Vindata Kry Wolf Cory Enemy Bones |
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For festival website, go here: http://www.hardsummer.com/
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