The opening day of the 2025 music festival in Grand Rapids on Friday sizzled with sets from up-and-coming stars as well as established acts such as Zedd, Gryffin, Disco Lines and more. The recap and photos.
Triumphant Breakaway: Friday’s opening salvo featured sets from Frank Walker and six other artists. (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, SATURDAY SCHEDULE
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The sizzling return of Breakaway Music Festival to Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park on Friday matched the heat of Michigan’s blazing hot summer.
German electro-house producer Zedd closed out Day 1 on the main stage, putting an exclamation point on seven hours of electronic music revelry that drew more than 15,000 people on another steamy day.
Blending many different pop tracks into an eclectic set of music, Zedd had the audience enjoying the euphoria that comes from live music.
Friday’s lineup included a variety of different EDM artists taking both the main stage and “The Launch Pad,” where STVSH performed an early set blending many hip-hop artists, including Mac Miller’s “Loud.” Droves of people began marching up Belknap Hill to see JKYL & Hyde, with many waving fans and bouncing to the bass of each track.
Pyrotechnic-Powered: The evening scene at Belkanp Park on Friday. (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
An artist to watch this year at The Launch Pad: Delato, the 18-year-old from Mount Pleasant who’s been making waves at Breakaway for years. “I’ve been doing Breakaway since I was a real young kid, about 9 or 10 years old,” he told Local Spins. “Playing this festival means everything to me.”
Delato plays The Launch Pad at 4 p.m. today (Saturday). “I’m very excited because I’ve never played The Launch Pad. So being able to play The Launch Pad this year is going to be amazing. I’m very excited for it.”
As for the main stage on Friday, Disco Lines left the audience in a trance with an immersive set, including body-shuddering beat drops that had the crowd hyped and engaged throughout the entire set. Gryffin unleashed another explosive set featuring wonderful pyrotechnics, the fireworks and flames emerging from the top of the Breakaway sign above the stage.
The silent disco stage also had a lively crowd with many having a drink while dancing to DJ sets from all of their favorites including DJ Dig, Lümix and Rinbossanova.
Breakaway continues today (Aug. 16) with headliner https://www.facebook.com/OfficialREZZ/, a Ukrainian-Canadian DJ/producer, and a host of other acts, including Michigan’s own Delato, Blüejay and Lowke also performing. Saturday general admission passes are $99 ($160 VIP), available online here.
View the Saturday schedule below. The official after-party takes place at 10:30 p.m. tonight (Aug. 16) at The Intersection in Grand Rapids with Wax Motif, Chase Carter and Delato. Tickets and information here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Breakaway Music Festival 2025 – Day 1
After Party at The Intersection with Inzo
Photos by Veronica Ann Dearborn and Eric Stoike
BREAKAWAY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2025: SATURDAY SCHEDULE
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