Lines formed outside The Aragon Ballroom whilst we stood in a chill that embraced a left over pizza feel and drowned in blank stares. We waited in the excitement like an electron moving from the next level of sub-shells. Igniting bonds that integrated the relationship of inebriation.
Patted down and taking pictures within the crowd. The mask seems to break the ice of the enigmatic intimacies a stranger’s caressing eyes.
Inside the venue, the atmosphere was gorgeous – like an Italian country side or an opera house colliding with lasers of the future. Fantasies rang between these walls such of an historical novel. When the music struck me as I entered the pathways into the theatre; I became alive!
Crowds adorned in costumes and swaying into the music. The electricity of souls singing with a freedom which has became found started to reflect upon the endless smiles. Halloween allowed an escape of the alter ego and the one day out of year that the world can become in touch with their sexuality and not be shunned with disapproval. A happiness was instantly felt and we made our way through the crowd to get closer to Klingande as their saxophonist soloed before our eyes.
Oliver Heldon came ready for the night. OH was displayed behind him as my mind began to drift with the Oxygen and Hydrogen mixing with the music. The bonding of hydroxide; the acidic feel traveled deep down and moved me within the aggressiveness of triple drums patterns and melodic rhythms.
I was completely in the moment when suddenly, I fucking found him! Standing above on the balcony. The world stood in slow motion and the music became deafened to my ears. Everyone was smiling but there he was! Just there; staring at me!
IT!
Standing out like a bloody lion amongst a herd of zebra. Dancing with his single red balloon. Gleaming with reflections of lasers.
There.
Just standing.
With his
creepy
clown
smile!
Jaws inspired deep house rhythms began streaming through the air. Sound bites Stripped away into the crowd who became consumed deep within its surrender.
The beauty that was hidden by the media. Was it all along the emotion of happiness we should be awarding? Was it not just as pertinent as the sadness which my adolescent overlooked in a stubborn focused Amy Whinehouse obsession. Those who found themselves intrigued with unworthiness. A running lie an award for nothing that would serve real substance for humanity as an evolutionary species. Realness was just to understand companionship vibration and happiness! Was something happening here ? A return to mother earths rehabilitation. A disturbance of our character pealing it from our core. The light, the being, the realness undermined we are grounded within a core of a red light.
During the second night I found that Dillon Francis seemed to have drawn in a harder crowd. His music selection was diverse blends mixture of pop, rap, dance, and dub. He had every single person in the room singing along to Kendrick Lamar and relentlessly threw down drop after drop. His music took his fans out of their brains and into the repeating patterns of dubstep growls and high energy dance beats.
The night shuffled by as we swam through the Halloween creatures. Costumes, brightened faces, and the thrill of being the mysterious woman behind a painted face liberated us from ourselves. The change of representing something other than a face pushed the ego to take a back seat to this new character. Our bodies shuttled the costumes of our own choosing and the separation opened me to understand our bodies as just that but a vessel in which we can utilize for only a short period of time. Halloween was a time to of complete displacement of how what we define in ourselves as a being. In hopes of what this separation of ego will eventually teach us to perceive.
Photo Credit: George Mulcahy | Freaky Deaky
Tag: Freaky Deaky
August 25, 2017 — This year FREAKY DEAKY returns as a multi-city takeover across the Midwest! Featuring over 20 artists throughout four cities, everyone’s favorite Halloween party will host multiple events in MILWAUKEE, CHICAGO, GRAND RAPIDS and ANN ARBOR. React Presents is thrilled to expand the longstanding party series and bring the fun to fans across the Midwest.
In Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Center, a massive convention and exhibition hall located in the heart of downtown, will host two monstrous shows during the Halloween weekend. Kicking off the first night on Friday, October 27th, champion of the live electronic landscape GRIZ will headline, with supporting performances by FLATBUSH ZOMBIES and BOOGIE T. Headlining the second night on Saturday, October 28th, is renowned experimentalist BASSNECTAR, with support by fellow electronic and hip-hop infused acts including MIJA, BLEEP BLOOP and Milwaukee’s own ARTIFAKTS. For those traveling from Chicago, the Wisconsin Center is only three blocks away from the Amtrak station, with 9 trains running daily to/from the city.
In Chicago, Freaky Deaky returns to city limits with four shows at Concord Music Hall and the Aragon Ballroom.
Concord Music Hall will host experimental electronic producer KAYZO on Thursday, October 26th, as well as a supporting acts from his DOGHOUSE records imprint, which will be announced at a later date. Additionally, UK house duo GORGON CITY will headline as part of their Kingdom DJ Tour on Friday, October 27th, along with support by Hot Creations’ label boss LEE FOSS and KIDNAP KID.
Over at the legendary Aragon Ballroom, OLIVER HELDENS will throw down his futuristic funky beats along with the live French house producer KLINGANDE on Friday, October 27th. To round out Chicago’s Freaky Deaky weekend, everyone’s favorite DJ/comedian, DILLON FRANCIS will make his long-awaited return to the Windy City on Saturday, October 28th, along with Australia’s boundary-pushing producer WHAT SO NOT.
Spanning across two cities in Michigan, Freaky Deaky will take over The Intersection in Grand Rapidsand Necto in Ann Arbor. Located in Downtown Grand Rapids, The Intersection will host UK producerZOMBOY, known for his interjection of uplifting melodies with grimy dubstep synths on Friday, October 27th. Stream part one of Zomboy’s recent Rott N’ Roll EP HERE. Taking over Ann Arbor’s Necto Nightclub on Halloween proper, is the captivating electronic trio, CASH CASH. Support for both events will be announced at a later date.
Tickets Are On Sale Now At www.freakydeakyhalloween.com
Follow Freaky Deaky on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and announcements.
Follow Freaky Deaky on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news and announcements.
Categories
Freaky Deaky
Eerie skies loomed over our heads as We were welcomed into Toyota Park to enjoy another year of their Halloween themed music festival, Freaky Deaky. Figures brandished reapers near the entrance with raw fleshy paws and gigantous claws. These fallen angels in tarnished wings stood snarled and burnt with a faces of a pit bull and a bodies of men. A sky scraping architecture art glowed in neon whilst showcasing in fire dancers. Costumed and uniformed the carnivalesque performers hypnotized us with their pyrotechniques. Rings of fire and poi danced while the sound of whiping flames circled the dancers hips. The graceful hooper danced inside the turbulence from the eye of its fiery tornado.
The venue was nicely laid out with maximum efficiency for walking space. Stages and venues were expertly placed to provide maximum fluidity for the festival goers. There were three stages. Two larger tented stages and A middle roofed stage dedicated to nonstop deep house artists. The large skull in the liking of a misfits skull molded on the middle stage had made for great landmark and in effect a vivid graphic to reminisce upon while the an amsterdam styled bass enticed groups of shufflers.
Brodinski effectively meshed deep house with trap influences. His dark sound filled with high clicks of snares and deep subs perfected his scene. The progressiveness churned the crowd within hypnosis of the undying arpeggiations.
As we continued the walk I became distracted with passer byers whose eyes were concealed in white out contacts. Their eyes pierced through the soft of our retina. It was hard not to be intrigued with this menacing look. This vampire look seemed to draw closer in the pheromones while their teeth thirsty for blood and caressed in the perfume of mint.
There were dozens of costumes from comical to creepy to sexy; but mostly sexy. Girls danced in boy shorts with underbutt cleavage and hour glass silhouettes. Other Dressed in creatures or fantasies of purple unicorns. The beauty disguised behind masks and the beauty of disguise in which allows the mask detach the individual into the figure and human being of all relating body.
DJ Snake mixed hard dance break downs without lulls. Above the spines of his track brass trumpets banged a catchy melodic chops.
The crowds were body to body cheering on the DJ. Young go hards with green hair forcefully stepped side to side cutting shapes.cutting shapes with force that shook pebbles on the concrete from under their sneaker tops in Constance of a rhythm. There were hyped up smiles and laughter as groups of friends ran from Stage to stage in the hopes to catch each artists set. The continuance of dancing was a medicine for the soul and the counter cultured presence in humanitarianism. The artists herded us together with the magic of vibration and moved us with panels of computerized madness.
Snails undoubtedly was the filthiest set of the weekend.Extraterrestrial machines begin quarreling from the magnetized outer space battlefield. I’m always impressed with the songs he likes to remix because reminds me of my old rock days when I was utterly infatuated with System of a Down. I definitely respect the innovation and his courage to take computerized music into a different direction than most. He his consistently influences his peers.
Jauz rap styled hard with a consistent trumpet riffs matched with synthetic jolts of swooping womps. Enlightening the confidence and a mind set to conquer. A marching band followed the embarking into our psychological pathways unto an overjoyed meditation. He had stylized an undeniably recognizable style within the day’s pool of producers which has set him aside.
A vogue depicted go go dancer earned her place onstage along the side next to Juaz. She interpreted the music into the physical realm which really made the show more interactive. She dressed of the Victorian ages with a large powdered wig portraying the madness behind Mozart timeless compositions. She used her body and hands in freeze frame; contorting the beauty behind the human form. She represented the undeniable allure of the natural body intertwined with the brilliance behind the imagination of fashion.
Tiesto ended the weekend with a mixture of old school and new school. It was quite a surprise to hear the newest endeavors of music that he had compiled into his mix. He left no stone unturned and even threw down trap! Older fans were surprised but not upset with this new route he was carving into. His heavy trance roots still remained but a new attitude flourished from within.
All in all, Freaky deaky was wild and well worth the time checking it out. The Halloween theme festival is definitely a favorite of mine. Everyone is as much part of the fest as the artists and dancers. This fest gives you a chance to show off your creativity with wild costumes and brings out an extra playfulness within the crowd.
Categories
FREAKY DEAKY RELEASES 2016 LINEUP
FREAKY DEAKY – The Largest Halloween Event in the Midwest – is thrilled to announce the complete artist lineup for its eighth anniversary! The 3-day festival returns to the expansive Toyota Park just outside of downtown Chicago in Bridgeview, Illinois over Halloween weekend. Featuring 50+ artists spanning multiple genres, Freaky Deaky 2016 promises a chilling and thrilling experience that will bring the freak out of everyone this October.
3-Day Passes are on sale now at freakydeakyhalloween.com!
This year’s headliners include UK brothers DISCLOSURE (DJ Set), the house godfather himself TIËSTO, one of trap and pop music’s most esteemed contributors DJ SNAKE, DJ Mag’s #1 electronic act DIMITRI VEGAS & LIKE MIKE, the master of success DJ KHALED, and hip hop’s Top Dawg SCHOOLBOY Q, coming off his sophomore album, Blank Face. Watch the theatrical announce trailer below.
Alongside the lethal array of headliners, hip hop makes its mark on this year’s festival as TRAVIS SCOTT is set to make moves in celebration of his forthcoming album, Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight, along with DESIIGNER, best known for his Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Panda,” and wunderkind producer METRO BOOMIN who promises to bump some of the hottest beats from the past two years. A$AP FERG, fresh off of his widely acclaimed album Always Strive and Prosper, will follow suit, while New York trio FLATBUSH ZOMBIES and Freshman XXL 2016 honoree LIL DICKY both make their coveted return to Chicago after each of their massive sold out shows at Concord Music Hall.
On the electronic side of the spectrum, bass music champion and Shark Squad captain JAUZ, long-heralded female DJ duo NERVO, funk-mastermind GRAMATIK, Montreal’s own dubstep hero SNAILS, acid house legend BOYS NOIZE, and more all contribute to the weekend’s spooky soundtrack.
Throughout the weekend, the Crypt Stage will transform each night to highlight a diverse scope of dance music’s most noteworthy contributors. On Friday, October 28, dubstep veteran and original Evol Intent member BRO SAFARI taking the lead with the best that bass music has to offer. Bass lovers are sure to find refuge when fellow dubstep creators FIGURE, CRIZZLY and ILLENNIUM join the renowned trap stylings of duo LOUDPVCK and 4B.
On Saturday, October 29, fans will discover an unforgettable blend of live electronic music on this dynamic stage, with 3D animation and live lighting from the DUBFIRE HYBRID:LIVE showcase. Alongside him, an all-inclusive blend of deep house, hip hop and techno will be represented by the likes of CLAPTONE, MK, BRODINSKI and KILL FRENZY.
Closing out the Cyrpt Stage on Sunday, October 30 is house music pioneer JAMIE JONES. Known for his ground-breaking Hot Creations label and global event series, Paradise, Jamie will play alongside his cross genre Hot Natured bandmate and native Chicagoan, LEE FOSS. Fellow house and techno cornerstones GUY GERBER, ARDALAN and GENE FARRIS will support the takeover to provide underground aficionados with their very own sanctuary for the day.
Each year, Freaky Deaky provides an unmatched atmosphere with its inclusivity and powerful visual spectacle. In addition to three epic stages, which showcase their own unique, eye-popping designs, festival attendees promise to be immersed in droves of costumed performers, artful pyrotechnics, and a wide assortment of devilish food and drink vendors.
Follow Freaky Deaky on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and announcements.
About Freaky Deaky:Ever since this dark and twisted adventure was founded in 2008 by React Presents, Freaky Deaky continues to grow bigger, better, and a little spookier every year, transforming into the freakiest costume party in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, the single day event expanded into Detroit with over 5,500 people in attendance. In 2012, Freaky Deaky expanded to two days, which attracted over 9,000 attendees, making it the largest Halloween event in the Midwest. Offering a diverse range of world class artists, past performers include MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, GRiZ, Claude VonStroke, Flux Pavilion, Nervo, Knife Party, Danny Brown, Tommy Trash, A-trak, Araabmuzik, Kill the Noise, Tchami, Bloody Beetroots, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, TOKiMONSTA, and more.
Toyota Park
7000 Harlem Ave
Bridgeview, IL 60455
18+ | 2:00 PM Doors
www.reactpresents.com
www.freakydeakyhalloween.com
July 20, 2016 — FREAKY DEAKY – The Largest Halloween Event in the Midwest – returns for its eighth year to the expansive Toyota Park this Halloween weekend on October 28 – 30, 2016.Featuring a chilling and thrilling experience with 50+ artists spanning a wide variety of genres, Freaky Deaky 2016 promises to bring the freak out of everyone this October.
A limited number of pre-sale tickets are now on sale at the lowest available price, courtesy of React Presents! Don’t wait to cash in on the savings, and head over to freakydeakyhalloween.comto secure your passes before they sell out.
A limited number of pre-sale tickets are now on sale at the lowest available price, courtesy of React Presents! Don’t wait to cash in on the savings, and head over to freakydeakyhalloween.comto secure your passes before they sell out.
In the meantime, fans can transport themselves back to last year’s spooktacular Halloween and all its festivities and frights with Freaky Deaky’s 2015 Official Aftermovie. From towering views of a decked out Toyota Park, to glimpses of the mayhem inside the tented stages, every ghastly moment can be experienced once more in anticipation of this year’s celebration. Click below to watch.Last year, Freaky Deaky expanded to three full days of festivities for the very first time, with headliners BASSNECTAR, CARNAGE, PRETTY LIGHTS, ARMIN VAN BUUREN, 2 CHAINZ and more drawing in crowds by the thousands. The atmosphere surrounding Toyota Park was unmatched in its inclusivity and powerful visual spectacle. In addition to three epic stages which showcased their own unique, eye-popping designs, festival goers were greeted by droves of costumed performers, artful pyrotechnics, and a wide assortment of devilish food and drink vendors.
As Freaky Deaky 2016 draws nearer, fans can expect the complete artist lineup and official on sale of regular priced ticket options very soon. Follow Freaky Deaky on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and announcements.
###
“Freaky Deaky’s new home was full of crazy costumes and big beats. The grounds had three stages, each with its own spooky name and design [from] spider webs and smoke machines at The Crypt stage to a bizarre carnival setup at The Big Top.” — Chicagoist“The expanded footprint leads toward a more immersive all-day experience, complete with carnival rides and detailed stage backdrops highlighting both the lighthearted and more sinister elements of Halloween.” — Consequence of Sound
“From clowns on four-foot stilts to literal “ghost” producers, Toyota Park’s crowd was a wash of color, masks, make-up and fake teeth. From start to finish, Freaky Deaky was an immense, visual spectacle.” — Your EDM
“Freaky Deaky from start to finish was a visual spectacle and the music keep the crowd immersed.”
— Chicago Music
“Freaky Deaky’s aesthetic was unforgettable and the Chicago mood is always unique. This festival is truly superb.” — Benny Benassi
“The variation of acts on the lineup was pretty awesome, and all the stages looked great with state of the art production!” — Super8 & Tab
“From clowns on four-foot stilts to literal “ghost” producers, Toyota Park’s crowd was a wash of color, masks, make-up and fake teeth. From start to finish, Freaky Deaky was an immense, visual spectacle.” — Your EDM
“Freaky Deaky from start to finish was a visual spectacle and the music keep the crowd immersed.”
— Chicago Music
“Freaky Deaky’s aesthetic was unforgettable and the Chicago mood is always unique. This festival is truly superb.” — Benny Benassi
“The variation of acts on the lineup was pretty awesome, and all the stages looked great with state of the art production!” — Super8 & Tab
About Freaky Deaky:
Ever since this dark and twisted adventure was founded in 2008 by React Presents, Freaky Deaky continues to grow bigger, better, and a little spookier every year, transforming into the freakiest costume party in the Chicagoland area. In 2011, the single day event expanded into Detroit with over 5,500 people in attendance. In 2012, Freaky Deaky expanded to two days, which attracted over 9,000 attendees, making it the largest Halloween event in the Midwest. Offering a diverse range of world class artists, past performers include MSTRKRFT, Chromeo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, GRiZ, Claude VonStroke, Flux Pavilion, Nervo, Knife Party, Danny Brown, Tommy Trash, A-trak, Araabmuzik, Kill the Noise, Tchami, Bloody Beetroots, Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, TOKiMONSTA, and more.
Toyota Park
7000 Harlem Ave
Bridgeview, IL 60455
18+ | 2:00 PM Doors
www.reactpresents.com
www.freakydeakyhalloween.com
Along ran the night crawlers caught in our headlights like anxious deer crossing the road. Two sexy cheetahs in leotards and an over weight penguin adorned with bright red bow crossed our path entering the festival. Freaky Deaky Music Festival meets Halloween party was offering something completely different; being the hybrid of two amazing aspects of parties. The line up was one of the best of the year including acts like Bassnectar, Armin Van Buren, Benny Benassi. Markus Shulz, Pretty lights, Big Gigantic, Oliver Heldens, Carnage and many more up and coming djs as well. We were pleased to have gotten a close parking spot to the festival and of course this being a non-camping; it wasn’t as much of a hassle to enter. The lines looked moderately long but even as the gathering of these estranged characters waited for entry; I couldn’t see a sad face insight. We went through the press entry which allowed us to quickly start enjoying the scenery that the festival had to offer. Even upon entry, the bass rumbled loud enough to literally wake the dead. The mass of people were dressed all the way from evil spirits to corny 90’s cartoons and more. Reminiscence childhood memories replayed as a pink Power Rangers, Teletubbies and a gang if Pikachus passed by.
The 3 day event created by React Presents was held at an outside venue at Toyota Park near Chicago. No indoor venue was suitable because of the sheer mass of acts performing. The park was laid out very conveniently and even under inebriation, there was a continuous flow from one stage to the next. Another great factor was the the massive amount of space that kept the traffic moving smoothly and an ample amount of space for dancing. Modern artwork of lighted sculptures reached for the scatter of clouded ceilings as the florescence of a ferris wheel framed us within the night. The Festival also offered stands full of wine, beer; and uniquely to many other festivals, shots of Jameson allowed for the general admission. The outside infinities above us created the sense of freedom to wander within the Halloween weekend nights and although there was a chill in the fall air; the constant motion warmed us from under the tents.
Friday night was full of talents such as Griz, Flying lotus and Tokimonsta. Always a must see, Flying Lotus had a great mix of old school and new school. He seamlessly mixes acid jazz with Alternative hip-hop. His intriguing sound has the ability to take you from the humbleness of the city street to outer space and back again. We began snapping photographs of the crowd as the sheer energy could be scene even within the stillness of a picture. Lasers and LED lights sprayed across the tents like flames in a web of matrices. We had no choice but to surrender ourselves to the magic of it all and completely let go.
As high energy shufflers fill the floor, the creation of PLUR aided in this hippy reinvention. It became an all inclusive party that truly excepted any diversity of backgrounds or religions. No one here is turned away and we all respected each other far past any genre of music. This was clearly because one incredible aspect of this scene was the way a song can go from a filthy dub song into hip hop then touch upon aspects of jazz or even rock. It is the instantaneousness of appreciation that will drive this music into progressive singularity and allow our minds to expand past the borders of genres. This generation of music has blown any conventional perspective of what music should sound like by completely bending the rules backwards and inside out.
Also headlining, was Markus Schulz and Benny Benassi. Being legends amongst electronic scene; they can each be known for their unique styles setting them aside from any other dj performing. At times during the Markus Schulz set a heavenly feel can overtake you. He has worked his way through his career to become impossibly replicated.
Also headlining, was Markus Schulz and Benny Benassi. Being legends amongst electronic scene; they can each be known for their unique styles setting them aside from any other dj performing. At times during the Markus Schulz set a heavenly feel can overtake you. He has worked his way through his career to become impossibly replicated.
Celebrating sexuality, social freakiness, or just a love of music; a constant 4/4 time stamp brought the crowd together. Sunday night, Datsik dropped some of the filthiest beats of unheard of worlds with sound fx that your imagination could only wish to have adventured. In contrast, Pretty lights that has a youthful feel with strong hip hop influences, soulful funk, as well heavy synth lines. Their music allowed each and everyone to forget for a second about the physical self or the mind controlling interferences and become one with the rhythm. Unicorns with pastel curls danced of pure elation untapped before. The senses emitted from the mass could never have been felt from the 9-5 work world. As Richie Hawtin mixed deep trance, intermittent fire extinguishers blew down upon the crowd and the let the a cool fog dissipate over us. His music was more chill scene and allowed a certain type of meditative dance amongst the crowd. His sound drew images of very contemporary art pieces and underground city music scenes. As the tent was illuminated with lights of geometric shapes; they fed our own imaginations behind the blackness of our eye lids and allowed our minds to create its own fractal art to his music.
All in all, I was overwhelmed with the vibrations that this festival had to offer. In my own opinion; as well as many other peer reviews, this festival had some of the best vibes of the festival season. This is a must for any festival lover and we will definitely see you there next year 2016 Freaky Deaky.
Check out the full photo album here!