HARD Summer 2014 Preview

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...
HARD Summer

HARD Summer 2014 Preview

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.
Jack U
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.
A$AP Mob
Axwell

One-third of the acclaimed Swedish House Mafia, Axel Christofer Hedfors – a.k.a. Axwell – comes to HARD Summer all on his own.
Axwell
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).
Flosstradamus
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…).
Baauer
Tommy Trash

Tommy Trash (QRO photos at a festival) is one of Australia’s most promising EDM artists.
Tommy Trash
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).
DJ Snake
Carnage

From Maryland by way of Central America, Carnage comes to HARD Summer behind his debut Bang on acclaimed imprint Fool’s Gold.
Carnage
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.
Jack Beats
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.
Seth Troxler
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).
Kill the Noise
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.
Pusha T
Tiga vs. Audion

Juno Award-winning Montreal DJ Tiga takes on the alter ego of Matthew Dear (QRO photos at a festival), Audion.
Audion
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.
Josh Wink
GRiZ

Spinning beats and more at HARD Summer will be GRiZ (QRO photos at a festival).
GRiZ
Rustie

Russell Whyte brings some electronic dance music down from his native Glasgow as Rustie.
Rustie
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).
Juan Maclean
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
Justin Martin





Bro Safari






Alex Metric






The M Machine






Goldroom

 

 

 

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.
Tiësto
Disclosure

British electronic duo Disclosure (QRO photos at a festival) spin beats at HARD Summer (QRO photos at a festival this summer).
Disclosure
Nero

Dubstep big-name Nero (QRO live review) does a full live set at HARD Summer (QRO photos at a festival).
Nero
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).
Dillon Francis
2manydjs

Brothers David & Stephen Dewaele of Soulwax do the brotherly thing on live as side-project 2manydjs.
2manydjs
Martin Garrix

At just eighteen years of age, Amsterdam’s Martin Garrix is already a major up-and-coming DJ.
Martin Garrix
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).
A-Trak
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.
Chase & Status
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.
Maya Jane Coles
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).
Rudimental
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.
Sub Focus
Clockwork

The alter ego of RL Grime (QRO photos at a festival), Clockwork, comes to HARD Summer.
Clockwork
Destructo

DJ Destructo (QRO photos) is a serious HARD favorite (QRO photos at HARD NYC).
Destructo
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.
DJ Mustard
The Chainsmokers

New York electro-house duo The Chainsmokers are riding this year’s hit, “#Selfie”.
The Chainsmokers
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”.
Gorgon City
Cashmere Cat

From cold Norway to hot L.A. comes Magnus August Høiberg, a.k.a. Cashmere Cat.
Cashmere Cat
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
Brodinski



Julio Bashmore





Danny Daze





Trippy Turtle





Kidnap Kid

 

 

 

For festival website, go here: http://www.hardsummer.com/

Categories
Features

Album of the Week