15 Global Dance Festival 2014 Moments

Two years ago at Global Dance Festival (GDF) 2012, trance duo Above & Beyond reminded a sold-out crowd that “Life is made of small moments like these” during one of their famously uplifting DJ sets – but anyone can tell you that the moments you experience at major music festivals feel anything but small. Here are 15 of DJOYbeat’s favorite instances from GDF 2014, but as with prior years there were too many to count, so include your own in the comments below.

Day 1, Moment 1: Bro Safari’s Set

The sun set behind the amphitheater as its terraced rows finally began to fill up with bodies during Texas-based DJ producer Bro Safari‘s set on the EDM.com stage. Even though he initially made his name as a drum ‘n’ bass DJ in 2012, trap-heavy sets hosted by his collaborator, MC Sharpness, characterize his 2014 Blackout tour.

 

Day 1, Moment 2: The Team EZ Gogo Dancers Giving the Crowd Even More to Look At

Having formed in 2006, Team EZ Entertainment has provided dancers and other costumed performers for events all over the nation. “As an artist in general – like, music or any type of artistry – I think that you wanna outdo yourself every single time,” the dance crew’s founder, MsEasy, told DJOYbeat backstage.

 

Day 1, Moment 3: Infected Mushroom’s Instrumental Set

Although they were once a staple of the EDM world, Israeli psytrance duo Infected Mushroom‘s instrumental set fell somewhat on disinterested ears at GDF 2014. Symptomatic of the changes in audience expectations that have accompanied the genre’s rise in mainstream popularity (much to the dismay of its long-time enthusiasts), the band’s lackluster reception made for an awkward blip in the otherwise lively festivities of the night.

 

Day 1, Moment 4: The Audience Participating Just as Much as the Performers

Even though the scenery of raves has changed immensely over the decades, audience members like this winged pixy do everything in their power to keep PLUR alive during parties like GDF.

 

Day 1, Moment 5: Adventure Club Trolling the Crowd with Botnek’s Remix of “Selfie”

During their closing set at Day 1 of GDF, duo Adventure Club dropped Botnek’s version of “Selfie” in which the titular lyric has been replaced with a male voice saying “fuck no,” after jokingly telling DJOYbeat that the artist was too big for them to give a shout out during their green room interview.

 

Day 2, Moment 1: The Day 2 Climb

As if ascending the amphitheater steps wasn’t already difficult enough, the fatigue and hangover from the previous night makes it twice as strenuous – and it’s safe to say that it won’t get any easier by Day 3.

 

Day 2, Moment 2: Ecotek’s Set at the Beginning of the Night

At the second-to-earliest time slot of the EDM.com amphitheater stage, Denver favorite Ecotek played his classic brand of trance to set the tone of the evening.

 

Day 2, Moment 3: Acrobatics on the Top Plaza

For male dancers to join the ranks of the night’s entertainers they have to perform somewhat more difficult feats than those of their female counterparts – as evidenced by this dancer on the stage across the top plaza from the NRG stage.

 

Day 2, Moment 4: Showtek’s High-Energy Set

No matter where members of the audience fell on Dutch brothers Showtek‘s sound during their pre-2012 hardstyle days as opposed to their updated electro sound, nobody could deny that they brought the heat during their performance at the EDM.com stage. Tracks like last year’s “Get Loose” made almost as much of an impression on the audience as Wouter Janssen’s hair.

 

Day 2, Moment 5: Destroid’s Live Performance Being Worth the Hype

With eccentric marketing tactics like calling their street team “The Elevated” and releasing a group bio that reads like a religious cult pamphlet, it’s no far cry to expect this bass music collaboration between Excision, Downlink and KJ Sawka from Pendulum to oversell itself. Between the Predator-like costumes of the instrumentalists and their patently earth-shaking stage energy, though, nobody in attendance felt short changed when Destroid closed out the night.

 

Day 3, Moment 1: Ha Quang Hau Doing Looking at His Creation

At the beginning of Day 3, Triad Dragons Founder Ha Quang Hau took a moment to watch the crowd pour in from the South Gate Entrance. Like everybody else in the scene, he got involved because of the music, and he briefly told DJOYbeat that his favorite set of the festival up to that point had been Kygo.

 

Day 3, Moment 2: Tchami Opening His Set with “Gangsta’s Paradise”

For a sub genre that was not all that long ago perceived as being underground and boutique, deep house has garnered substantial mainstream appeal as of late considering that Triad Dragons booked him for a set on the EDM.com amphitheater stage. Tchami fans undoubtedly looked forward to tracks like “Promesses,” but his deep house remix of “Gangsta’s Paradise” succeeded in turning heads from the get go.

 

Day 3, Moment 3: James Egbert Rocking the NRG Stage

The NRG stage on the top plaza of the amphitheater hosted countless local acts – the most noteworthy of which being James Egbert, who has arguably seen more global success than any other Denver-based artist on the roster. “Last year I was unable to play Global because I was playing Tomorrowland in a little European tour, so it’s great to be back,” he told DJOYbeat.

 

Day 3, Moment 4: Savant Interacting with Fans After his Set

True to his name, Norwegian DJ/producer Savant was born with a type of autism that he told DJOYbeat enhances his musical creativity. Before he did, though, he excitedly greeted all of his fans with an ear-to-ear smile on his face.

 

Day 3, Moment 5: Zedd Shutting the Party Down

Playing chart-topping hits like “Spectrum,” “Clarity” and “Find You,” Zedd‘s set made for a beautifully climactic close to an already memorable weekend.