Festival season is underway here in Chicago and fans of pop art and energizing dance music are in for a treat. The annual Heatwave Festival returns to Douglas Park July 16th and 17th and features a wide variety of performers and artists. It is truly a change of pace from other well-known festivals in Chicago such as Riot Fest and Lollapalooza. With that change of pace comes an eclectic selection of artists to look out for if you're considering dancing your heart out in Douglas Park next weekend. These are five bands featured on the roster for Heatwave this year that attendees should be sure to catch this summer, or if you’re new to the dance music scene (like myself), these are bands that can serve as a proper introduction.

#1: Zeds Dead

The first artist on this list is perhaps one of the most anticipated; one of the headliners on July 17th alongside Tiësto, Zeds Dead offers electrifying, bass-heavy beats. Formed in 2009 in Toronto, Canada, longtime friends Dylan Mamid (DC) and Zachary Rapp-Rovan (Hooks) rose from local hip-hop lovers to an international touring duo and have become a staple of the electronic house music scene onstage and in nightclubs around the world.

Selected songs: "I Took a Ride" and "Lights Out (featuring Atlas)"

#2: Blunts & Blondes

Blending a mix of genres such as reggae, hip-hop, synthpop, and electronic in their music, Blunts & Blondes offers a number of surprises. Under the stage name, founder Michael Guard “creates his own, unique vibe by blending all elements of bass music and even sprinkling in hip-hop and deep Rastafarian influences” and “is taking the dubstep game by storm,” as stated in his official website. As such, this is truly an artist whose work anyone with an eclectic taste in music can enjoy and dance, jump, or sway to. He is also associated with several other acts in the dance music scene, including previously mentioned act Zeds Dead, who recently collaborated with Blunts & Blondes on the song “Think of You” earlier this year.

Selected songs: "Think of You (with Zeds Dead)," "My Life Is Good," and "Safe and Sound (Rebelution)"

#3: Slow Magic

This act separates itself from the previously mentioned artists on this list. Emphasizing much more on an ambient beat and less on a bass-heavy tone most frequently heard in nightclubs, Slow Magic will surely take things down a notch at Heatwave this year. Emerging in 2012, Slow Magic has been described by AllMusic as “a producer known for his otherworldly, yet still pop-savvy, synth and electronic sound” and much like acts such as DeadMau5 and MF Doom can be seen donning a mask as he adheres to the persona of an enigmatic DJ.

Selected songs: "Light (featuring Tropics)," “Feel Flows,” and “Circle”

#4: Yellow Claw

If asked to describe the basics of club music, listeners would need to look no further than the music of Yellow Claw. The Dutch duo from Amsterdam became prominent in 2010, featuring beats that combine elements of hip-hop, dubstep, trap, and moombahton, the latter of which combines reggaeton and house music. The duo seem to have plenty to offer, having released multiple projects over 2022, including those under their alias Curo Tra$h, and continue to tour throughout North America and Europe this summer.

Selected songs: “Love and War (Yellow Claw G-Funk Slowed Remix),” “We Can Get High,” “Slow Down” and “DJ Turn It Up”

#5: Above and Beyond

Closing out this list is yet another much anticipated artist that will be headlining Heatwave on July 16th. Formed in 2000, Above and Beyond have dominated the genre of house music and DJ-driven electronica for nearly two decades. Unlike most of the other artists on this list, Above and Beyond focus more on progressive, ambient trance music that is captivating, calming, and electrifying all at once. Those looking for ambience can find such from the artists on the album Flow State, while their latest projects Group Therapy provide more energetic beats that will surely keep Heatwave fans moving.

Selected songs: “Don’t Leave,” “Group Therapy,” and “Morning in Deira”

The open air and the grass beneath your feet; the smiling faces at every turn and the crowds cheering at every stage; the energetic glows of the stunning light show behind each performer, the smoke and pyrotechnics, and the deep bass so loud you could feel it in every inch of your body. All of this and more made the first annual Heatwave Music Festival unforgettable. On July 16th and 17th, Douglass Park was transformed into a paradise for fans of EDM and house music alike, and hundreds upon hundreds of attendees were able to see over 40 acts on three different stages: the Radiance, the Inevitable, and the Reverie. While the Radiance was a bit of a more intimate stage and hosted smaller yet enticing acts that offered plenty of surprises, the Inevitable and Reverie stages hosted anticipated acts such as Above and Beyond, Zeds Dead, and Tiësto, along with stunning, eventually preemptive blasts of smoke, pyrotechnics, and fireworks that added much excitement and energy to the respective performances. By the end of the weekend, fans had more than their fair share of electrifying music and explosive endings to each night, eager for what is to come next summer in 2023.

Night One - Saturday, July 16th

The acts at Heatwave Festival expanded upon multiple subgenres of EDM and house music, offering eclectic styles of the popular music as well as memorable performances. A festival such as this proved that it is not just the music that captivates as many fans as this one did; the special effects as well as the contagious energy of the musicians, artists, and dancers was certainly reciprocated by the attendees. The first day of Heatwave kicked off with especially memorable acts Juiceman, With Love, Madds, and Ranger Trucco, fiery (pun absolutely intended) performers such as Frank Walker and Audien before featuring some electronic solo artists and duos from overseas such as Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens–also with him was an enchanting dancer who hopped on and off the stage throughout his set–and French former hip hop artist turned house aficionado Shiba San.

Also performing later in the day was Chicago native J. Worra, who returned to her hometown for an electric performance as one of the headliners on the Radiance stage. Truly the day was filled with relentless energy and constant movement–dancing, jumping, bouncing off the rail and running from stage to stage, and for this writer, snapping as many photos as possible–but it was not over yet. As night fell, the electricity in the air reached its zenith as Above & Beyond took to the Inevitable stage and RL Grime did so on the Reverie stage.

As a DJ duo who has been in the game for over two decades, Above & Beyond truly dominated the night, performing to what seemed to be a majority of the Heatwave crowd and with such exhilaration, a true indication that these artists have loved what they do since the beginning. Of course, the crowd matched their energy tenfold, dancing, cheering, and laughing with friends, and above it all was a single Above & Beyond flag waving in the air throughout the night. Day one was only the beginning of Heatwave, but for EDM fans, newcomers to the genre, and simply those who observed and captured events of that weekend, the mutual love and energy was clearly present in Douglass Park.  

Night Two - Sunday, July 17th

While Saturday was just as exhilarating, Sunday’s lineup featured quite a few anticipated artists that were set to perform all three stages, as well as some surprises. Almost immediately once the festival began, fans gravitated toward the Inevitable stage to catch Win & Woo’s set, who helped the festival pick up right where it left off the previous night. Shortly after, Canabliss and GG Magree took over the Reverie stage with confidence, feminine energy, and powerful beats.

Over on the Radiance stage, Slow Magic performed around the same time, and as stated in our preview feature, this enigmatic artist proved to be as otherworldly as his persona suggests. Perhaps one of the most animated sets of the festival, Slow Magic was backed by a relentless synth and an enthusiastic crowd screaming “We love you!” as they broke away from their turntable to provide their own drum beats, occasionally interacting with the audience without a single word.

Directly after Slow Magic’s set, South African DJs Goldfish kept the energy high with jazz elements, paper fish, and plenty of saxophone and upright bass solos. On the same stage several hours later, Two Feet also offered a great change of pace as an electronic alt-rock band.

Back over on the Inevitable stage, Los Angeles-based Lost Kings’ set was equally exciting, the duo riling up the crowd and offering perhaps one of the best pyrotechnics shows of the day. Much like day one, as the night progressed, more anticipated artists and duos took to the stage. At 7:30, the Reverie stage saw Blunts & Blondes–formerly known as Michael Guard–light up and perform to one of the biggest crowds of the night. Fans erupted once he began “When I Think of You,” one of his most recent singles released in April and his collaboration with Zeds Dead, who would go on to play their own take of the song nearly an hour later. Both electronic acts brought the Reverie stage to an explosive close as did Brazilian artist Tiësto on the Inevitable stage–pushing the sound barrier to its limits onstage as probably one of the most energizing conclusions to the night, fireworks and all–and Norway’s Matoma on the Radiance stage.

Pop Art, House, and the Future of Heatwave

Of course, the summation of the first Heatwave Festival would not be complete without mentioning the beautiful art of EVOL Chicago–known for “creating designs that embrace the evolution of Chicago and embody the spirit of house music,” as stated on their official Facebook page–Pretty Done–abstract pop artists–and other artists that were able to showcase their work this past weekend. Thanks to Chicago’s art scene and its obvious love and appreciation for the craft, Douglass Park was not only filled with a bass deep enough to make every part of you vibrate with rhythm but also beautiful pop art, abstract statues, and stunning merchandise by EVOL Chicago such as shirts, shawls, and blankets with eccentric prints, gorgeously detailed pins and pendants, and colorful bracelets that attendees were able to purchase as a souvenir. As such, Heatwave has proven itself to be more than a music festival–it is an appreciation of house culture and pop art, two genres that stand out from its respective forms and that have blended to create an unforgettable weekend. Heatwave’s debut was truly a highlight of Chicago’s festival season and will hopefully provide the city with their fix of EDM for years to come. If 2023 and beyond is just as electric as Heatwave’s first year, there is no doubt that the festival will be on track with Chicago’s biggest music festivals such as Lollapalooza and Riot Fest to provide fans with an incredible experience.

With summer just a few short weeks away once again comes the peak of festival season, and Chicago is diving in head first with Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, and of course Heatwave. The two-day EDM festival’s second year, this time hosted at Northerly Island’s Huntington Bank Pavilion, will feature both new artists and familiar faces on Saturday, June 10th, and Sunday, June 11th. Here is what to expect and how to prepare for this year’s party.

Last year saw the electrifying debut of Heatwave at Douglass Park featuring just over 40 dance artists and DJs performing across The Reverie, The Inevitable, and The Radiance stages. Heatwave 2022 saw fans of EDM and house music fly in from all around the country for this stunning display of performances and beautiful pop art. This year, Heatwave will further cement its place in Chicago’s art and music scene by moving to the beautiful lakefront’s outdoor amphitheater seated on Chicago’s Lake Michigan peninsula, featuring 45 artists on the Nova, Luna, and Rising stages. Tiësto will be returning as one of this year’s headliners after taking the Inevitable Stage by storm in 2022.

June 10th will kick off with local support from up-and-coming artists Tvvin, Ktrl, Tazu, DanceLoud, Levity, and Sonorous. Following the up-and-comers are a few more small acts such as Swiss-Italian artist EDX, The Sponges, TWINSICK, Zingara, electronic trio Cheat Codes, DJs Nitti Gritti and Party Favor’s house project known as SIDEPIECE, and more all filling the mid to late-afternoon schedule. Loud Luxury will also be taking the Nova Stage toward the end of the night, marking a return to Heatwave after directly opening for Tiësto on Heatwave’s second day last year. Finally, at the end of night one will see headliners Whethan (a Chicago native and music producer) on the Rising Stage, EDM trip-hop and future funk multi-instrumental GRiZ (returning to the Midwest after last year’s Triple Rainbow event) on the Luna Stage, and superduo consisting of Kaskade and Deadmau5 known as Kx5 on the Nova Stage.

Of course, the party won’t be over yet after these headliners close out the night, as Auris Presents has announced a number of afterparties at various Chicago venues. GRiZ will be taking over Pilsen’s Radius after his set on Northerly Island, while TWINSICK and Kaskade will be keeping the night alive at No. 9 and Prysm respectively. Testpilot of Deadmau5 will also be performing at Cermak Hall.

June 11th will feature Chicago natives Avi Sic, Fiya Fly, and Shes.Haute and more up-and-comers Apollo Xo and Automhate, as well as Canadian house artist Nostalgix and twin sisters Coco & Breezy kicking things off for the first three hours of Day Two. Following these performers will be melodic tech house duo KREAM, Kaivon and Kai Wachi separately taking the Luna Stage at 6:30 and 7:30 respectively, chart-topping producer Deorro on the Nova Stage, and A-Trak and newcomer VNSSA performing back-to-back on the Rising Stage. After Deorro will follow EDM favorite Gryffin before Night Two’s headliners Tiësto, Slander, and Noizu dominate the Nova, Luna, and Rising Stages respectively for what will surely be an explosive conclusion to Heatwave’s second year as yet another prominent Chicago festival.

If Heatwave’s attendees still aren’t ready for the weekend to end, afterparties will include Slander at Cermak Hall, Alec Monopoly, who will also be performing on the Rising Stage on Sunday, at No. 9, Gryffin at Prysm, Tiësto at Radius, and VNSSA at Spybar. Fans should be ready for yet another electrifying weekend of immersive art and dance music.