Bright Lights, Big City: The electronic dance music festival returns this weekend to Calder Plaza with the likes of Dinka, Krafty Kuts, DJ Kalendr and SuperDre.
Swiss Import: Dinka is part of this year’s City Lights.
By Mary Mattingly
LocalSpins.com
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Who says there’s no electronic dance music scene in Grand Rapids?
Starting Friday, West Michiganders will don their best rave gear, wait for the bass drop and bask in the bright lights: The City Lights Music Festival in downtown Grand Rapids, to be specific.
“Many people believe that this is the same local event that it was when it started five years ago,” said Tim Sinen, the festival’s public relations director. “But we have completely transformed it into the unique experience that it is today. We are trying to bring the best show possible to Grand Rapids while still maintaining the ability to keep ticket prices well below what the larger festivals charge.”
The electronic music festival began in 2009 as a one-night-only, free music night featuring local talent at Rosa Parks Circle. But as the event – and EDM music – grew in popularity, it expanded to a two-day festival taking place on Calder Plaza.
This year, three stages will host international and regional artists, with returnees such as local favorite SuperDre and globally recognized acts Krafty Kuts and Dinka.
“Last year, we raised the level of talent by having (Finnish DJ) Darude headline the event,” Sinen said. “This year, our lineup is even better.”
THE GAMUT OF EDM STYLES
That’s helped add to the local buzz about the festival, which aims to celebrate the diverse spirit of the city. The lineup itself covers a broad range of styles within the realm of EDM. “We have artists that cover many of the different genres of electronic music such as progressive house, deep house, dubstep, dirty pop, breakport and many others,” Sinen said.
Krafty Kuts
That includes the U.K.’s award-winning Krafty Kuts, rising star Kill Paris, Detroit native Kenneth Thomas, Switzerland house DJ Dinka and Chicago’s DJ Kalendr (a Michigan State University alumnus).
The festival has expanded to include art by partnering with the Kendall College of Art and Design to showcase students’ work.
And for the second year in a row, the festival will feature performances by the Daredevil Circus, a Grand Rapids-based circus troupe that boasts contortionists, acrobatic stunts and playing with fire. The troupe recently performed at downtown’s Fourth of July celebration in Ah-Nab-Awen Park and in Holland at New Holland Brewing’s Hatter Days celebration.
TICKET INFORMATION
General admission tickets are $30 for a single day or $35 for the weekend. Alcohol will only be served to those with VIP tickets, which cost $45 for a one-day pass and $65 for the full weekend.
Tickets can be purchased online through the City Lights website at citylightsmusicfestival.com or in person in Grand Rapids at the Peppino’s Downtown Sports Lounge, Purple East, Grand Rapids Smoke Depot and Monte’s Lounge. Tickets also will be available at the gate.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
