Marshmello mashes up fanfare at Breakaway Festival

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The electronic music fest at GR’s Belknap Park drew an even bigger crowd for Day 2 on Saturday, with other shows across West Michigan also attracting lively fans. The photo recaps at Local Spins.

Closing The Festival Out: Marshmello on stage late Saturday night at Breakaway Music Festival. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)

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One look at the ebullient sea of 15,000-plus fans waving their arms, bouncing in unison and roaring in delight to the rhythmic attack of Marshmello’s headlining set told the story of Saturday’s Breakaway Music Festival inside Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park.

The communal celebration of electronic music’s oft-mesmerizing, light-and-laser-enhanced spectacle attracted fans from across the Midwest, bringing them together for an all-absorbing weekend experience.

“We were here last year and this year just feels so different. Like the vibes and everyone just feels so welcoming and so loving,” said fan Kaily Denniston of Plainwell, who was attending Breakaway for the second year with her friends.

Pyro-Enhanced EDM Mania: Breakaway on Saturday night. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)

“We always go to Lost Lands (in Ohio) every year and the energy there is so different from everywhere else, but I feel like Breakaway is finally catching up to that. That’s been my favorite thing to experience so far this weekend.”

Shawn Deboer and Stephanie Hillabrandt of Grandville echoed that sentiment, expressing how much they enjoyed the vibe of the festival and the kindness of the people who attend Breakaway.

“This is my third year, so I keep coming back because I like it. It keeps getting better every year, especially the lineup. This year’s lineup is really good,” Deboer said of the festival that managed to dodge most of the rain that washed over West Michigan at various times over the weekend.

That lineup on Saturday boasted an impressive array of artists on two stages, including Marshmello, Alison Wonderland, Noizu, ARMNHMR, Deeper Purpose, Bonnie X Clyde, Ian Asher and more, including local/regional favorites Lowke, Dylan Delato and Simio. Indeed, many fans extended the celebration by attending an after-party at The Intersection’s Elevation with the aforementioned ARMNHMR and Lowke, plus D-Wrex,

Meanwhile, in Kalamazoo, Michigan artists were entertaining fans at two different venues on Saturday: Northern Michigan’s Charlie Millard and one-time Kalamazoo musician and songwriter Elisabeth Pixley-Fink, currently based in Ann Arbor, adeptly filled up an evening of music (after Basic Comfort canceled due to illness) at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe, while duo Payton & Annabelle played The Clover Room in their final show of summer before heading off to college.

On Friday, Cage the Elephant revved up Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Check out the full Local Spins review with photos here as well as a separate recap of Blues Traveler’s tour stop at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday.

PHOTO GALLERY: Breakaway Music Festival Day 2 at Belknap Park
Photos by Anthony Norkus