Being held for the first time in Grand Rapids, 20-plus acts will play the EDM- and hip hop-oriented Aug. 25-26 Breakaway Music Festival, which shifts to Ohio in September and North Carolina in October.
Crowd Favorite: Waka Flocka Flame will be part of the first Breakaway Music Festival held in Grand Rapids. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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EDM and hip hop unleashed by nationally acclaimed performers will fire up Grand Rapids later this month in what could become the city’s largest-ever outdoor concert.
EDM Power: Zedd will rev things up at Belknap Park. (Photo/Tori Thomas)
The two-day Breakaway Music Festival will kick off on a ball diamond in Belknap Park north of downtown Grand Rapids on Aug. 25-Aug. 26 with performances by Travis Scott, Zedd, R.L. Grime, Jon Bellion, Blackbear, Waka Flocka Flame, Bro Safari, 3Lau and many more.
A host of Michigan DJs, including Crowd Cntrl, Attak, Cookn and Grand Rapids’ favorites DJ AB and DJ Jay Vee, will perform as well. In all, more than 20 acts will play sets over two days; see the full Breakaway lineup here.
In addition to Breakaway’s main stage, local DJs will perform throughout the festival in a silent disco tent.
Travis Scott (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The festival began in Columbus, Ohio in 2013 and has grown to become a destination Midwest music outing (Chance The Rapper performed at the 2016 festival to a crowd of more than 20,000). In addition to Grand Rapids, Breakaway will expand to Charlotte, N.C. this fall.
Not only is it the first time that Breakaway has been held in Grand Rapids, it’s the first time a music festival has been staged at Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook St. NE, which covers more than 24 acres and features ball diamonds, tennis courts and Griff’s Icehouse.
“I’m ecstatic for a festival this size to hit Grand Rapids,” said Jason Veeder, aka DJ Jay Vee. “There’s never been something this big right here in the city.”
‘INSPIRING’ TO HAVE LARGE-SCALE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN GRAND RAPIDS
Veeder has DJed in Grand Rapids for 14 years, long before the emergence of EDM and large-scale rave festivals. Veeder said he considers it “an honor” to have sets scheduled on the main stage both days of Breakaway.
Festival Site: Breakaway will transform the Belknap ballfield into a stage and audience area.
“I’m happy to see the city embracing the EDM and DJ scene so wholeheartedly.” Veeder said. “It will be a blast playing in front of a hometown crowd.”
The event is being organized by MiEntertainment Group, a Grand Rapids based promoter. MiEntertainment’s Chris Meyer is excited to unveil a large-scale festival in his “backyard” after two years of planning.
“As local Grand Rapids residents, we felt a void in the market for an outdoor music event of scale,” Meyer said. “We have such a vibrant and young community, yet no major outdoor shows downtown. And with support from the city and numerous local sponsors, Meyer said he is thankful for having a “truly collaborative community.”
“It’s been inspiring,” Meyer said.
The Rapid shuttle service will run a special route to Belknap Park from several locations with ample parking off-site. There will be no regular public parking at the festival site itself; walking, biking and drop-offs are encouraged.
Breakaway Music Festival begins at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26 in Belknap Park. Single day, weekend and VIP tickets are available online here.
Breakaway will continue in Columbus on Sept. 1-2, and in Charlotte on Oct. 14.
VIDEO: Breakaway Music Festival 2016 Recap (Columbus, Ohio)
VIDEO: Travis Scott, “Butterfly Effect”
VIDEO: Zedd w/ Alessia Cara, “Stay:
VIDEO: R.L. Grime, “Stay For It”
Breakaway Music Festival Layout at Belknap Park
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