It may seem dreary, cold, and grey outside right now, but the summer season is soon approaching. The trees will start getting their green leaves back, the snow will finally melt, and days will get a lot longer.
Not only does this mean that second semester finals are that much closer (no matter how much we don’t want to think about another round of final exams), but the summer also brings massive music festivals.
Whether it be Lollapolooza, the Vans Warped Tour, Country Thunder, Pitchfork, or any concert at Ravinia, the summer time is jam packed with music and time spent with friends and family outdoors.
Luckily, you don’t have to wait too long to enjoy the massive outdoor concerts. The Spring Awakening Music Festival is going to make Soldier Field bounce from the high amount of bass only a few weeks after school ends.
The festival starts on June 14 and runs through June 16. This festival is only in its second year and the Facebook page sums it up perfectly: “An Electronic Music Festival featuring the top DJs & Producers from all over the world.” With huge headliners like Bassnectar and Calvin Harris, it’s sure to be an incredible show.
Spinning with these world-renowned DJs are some of New Trier’s own. One of the members of the lineup is Louis the Child, a duo composed of sophomore Robby Hauldren and freshman Freddy Kennett. They have only started working together recently. Hauldren participated in the DJ contest last year, under the name Haul Pass, and made it to the final round.
“It’s funny because it was the first show I had ever DJ’ed before. I mean I had done countless little ‘shows’ in my room by myself but playing the Mid was a heck of a first show,” Hauldren said.
This was what introduced Kennett to Hauldren. “I saw him in the contest for Spring Awakening last year, and I just thought it’d be cool to talk to him about it. Then we got together and made some music,” said Kennett.
“We talked over Facebook about working together and when we finally did it worked really well,” said Hauldren. “I met a lot of promoters and gave my contact information to a ton of people after the contest last year, and Freddy is a wiz at producing. We kind of just put those together and it’s a solid duo.”
Kennett actually attributes to his interest in DJing to two New Trier graduates. “Last year, when I was just beginning, I met Jon Soifer and Andy Peterman. They were both music theory geniuses and got me into it. I’ve spent a lot of time figuring things out and understanding it, but I really owe it all to John and Andy,” he said.
In addition, there is a contest for up-and-coming DJs in Spring Awakening. The grand prize is a chance to perform on one of the four main stages in Soldier Field. Four runners-up will be able to spin at the official Spring Awakening pre-party at the Mid nightclub and official after parties. Fans of the DJs can vote for their favorites online once a day.
Other Trevians are participating in that as well. The duo Free World Seppie is composed of juniors Joey Montesano and Marco Scotese. “It’s funny because we met through Band-Aid at NT. One day we were talking in the Scrounge and found out that we had both submitted DJ apps,” said Scotese.
The amount of adrenaline and feeling of being on stage is a huge driving force for both groups. “It’s amazing. Joey and I both love being in control of huge crowds, and better yet, the party! It seems so incomprehensible to think about, until the moment that you’re in our positions. Especially if a drop happens in a set or a song we play, the build-up is awesome,” said Scotese.
“It’s freaking awesome,” said Hauldren. “Nothing beats it. It’s very nerve racking and before every show I’m terrified, but once you nail the first transition and really get going it feels awesome.”
“The adrenaline is amazing. Picking a song and seeing people’s reactions to that song, especially if it’s an original of yours, is so cool. It’s so cool to see that reaction,” said Kennett.
Tickets for the festival have sold fast. The Early Bird sale and Limited Ticket sale have already sold out, but the 3-Day General Admission tickets and 3-Day VIP Passes are still on sale. The current General Admission price is $150 while the current VIP pass price is $200 at springawakeningfestival.com. Get tickets while you can!