- The 12th edition of FYF Fest has brought about a sudden shift in the LA-based festival's music policy. Since it was founded in 2004, it has evolved from a small showcase of local punk rock bands in Echo Park to a 40,000-person, multi-stage downtown event boasting acts like Morrissey, Kanye West and D'Angelo.
Big festivals in the US used to keep electronic acts confined to tents. The EDM explosion has changed all that, and this past weekend saw FYF Fest host its biggest dance music lineup to date. There were two separate stages dedicated to the genre—The Woods and The Arena—as well as various electronic acts on the Main Stage.
The Woods resembled a makeshift rave spot hidden in between trees decorated with cheap party store streamers. The flimsy wooden dance floor swayed heavily under the weight of the crowd during sets from Horse Meat Disco on the Saturday and DJ Harvey on the Sunday. The UK collective's blend of disco and '80s grooves created the perfect summery atmosphere, while DJ Harvey served up a helping of mid-80s electro and house.
The Arena, FYF's designated dance tent, is usually home to the local university's basketball games. The area was reconfigured with disco balls suspended over the floor and smoke machines set up across the stage. On the Saturday, Kaytranada turned out a thrilling set of melodic, bass-heavy tracks fitted together with upbeat funk and R&B samples. The Canadian trio BadBadNotGood performed soulful jazz-rock over hip-hop beats, before Dixon, playing the same stage the following day, threw down driving house beats adorned with delicate, progressive melodies.
On the final day, Australian producer Flume took to the Main Stage to perform his signature brand of catchy pop, layering samples over off-beat percussion. The energy of the show and the scale of his production brought a huge crowd to the stage, including many fellow artists. When Flume dropped his remix of Lorde's "Tennis Court," the New Zealand singer suddenly appeared onstage and started dancing. The biggest cheer, though, arrived during the opening notes of Flume's own "Holdin On."
Electronic music was everywhere at FYF Fest 2015—even a few of the food trucks were fitted with flashing LED lights and speakers blaring classic house music. For a festival once made up solely of punk bands, it's evidence of just how much the industry, and the public's tastes, have changed in that time. It'll be interesting to see how FYF's relationship with the genre shifts into next year and beyond.
Photo credit: Jose Negrete (Lead, Dixon, The Arena), Tod Seelie (The Woods)