Breakaway Fest's Day 1 electrifies Grand Rapids

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With non-stop electronic music revelry on two stages plus a silent disco, Breakaway 2024 amped things up with Louis the Child, Slander, Bob Moses & more. The recap, photos, video at Local Spins.

Opening Night Salvo: Breakaway brought the bass, beats and multitudes to Belknap Park. (Photo/Eric Stoike)

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

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The familiar reverberations can mean only one thing: Breakaway Music Festival is back.

Those approaching Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park from any direction this weekend are greeted with the unmistakable, chest-pounding bass and throbbing melodies of electronic music powerhouses and fast-emerging bass/dubstep stars.

And this year, it’s double the action, double the fun with a second stage (Launch Pad) and a jam-packed silent disco that provide non-stop revelry of the DJ- and dance-fueled kind.

On Friday’s opening night, stars such as Slander, Louis the Child and Bob Moses lit up the Main Stage while the Launch Pad did much the same, courtesy of Kai Wachi, Trivecta, Smoakland and others, including Michigan’s own Riink and D-Wrex (who got the party started on each stage).

Touting the theme, “Leave It All Behind,” emblazoned on signs at the festival, upwards of 15,000 attendees did just that, escaping into a world of glittery festival garb, hypnotic lighting and mesmerizing beats.

Sun-Splashed Launch Pad: Filled to the brim. (Photo/John Sinkevics)

Bob Moses’ “Round & Round” may have described Friday’s sprawling scene of festivalgoers perfectly with the lyrics: “In this moment, you and I arе connected, strangers from afar; with you as my witnеss, we won’t ever forget this — tonight is forever.”

Those strangers waved arms, gyrated and bobbed to thunderous sets on the Main Stage and atop Belknap Hill, some of them even joining Louis the Child on stage for the duo’s mid-evening set filled with pyrotechnics and dazzle, along with a mix featuring a sample of Fleetwood Mac.

Bob Moses gave a nod to classic rock as well, injecting snippets from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” at one juncture.

The new Launch Pad certainly stood out as one of the opening night’s highlights with fervent fans packed elbow-to-elbow to revel in sets overlooking Belknap Park with the city’s skyline in view.

And that upbeat air of escapism hung over it all.

“You guys have been absolutely amazing,” Kazbo declared at the end of his Main Stage performance. And that’s just the halfway point.

The festival continues starting at 4 p.m. today, with Marshmello, Alison Wonderland and ARMNHMR headlining the Main Stage and Noizu, Deeper Purpose, Ian Asher and more on the Launch Pad. Scroll down for the full Saturday schedule. General admission day passes for Saturday are $99, with discounted college student tickets available for $65. Get tickets online here.

The official after-party with ARMNHMR, Lowke and D-Wrex takes place at Elevation inside The intersection. Tickets are $35 day of show. Get details, tickets at sectionlive.com.

PHOTO GALLERY: Breakaway Music Festival – Day 1
Photos by Eric Stoike and John Sinkevics