09 Sep NORTH COAST JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER [EVENT REVIEW]
Attending North Coast Music Festival 2024 with my mom was an absolute blast. What made it even more special was celebrating her birthday in the midst of all the festival fun. This was my fourth time at North Coast and every year; I’m amazed by how they raise the bar with new experiences and surprises.
DAY 1: ALWAYS GOING ABOVE & BEYOND
We kicked things off with a bang when we entered SeatGeek Stadium. My mom, initially just there to “spend time with me,” quickly transformed into a superfan. “OMG, THEY ARE SO GOOD!” was her catchphrase of the day. We fueled up with a fish bowl from the new Coastie Café and hit up The Shipyard for Anabel Englund’s set. It was a chill, fun vibe that prepared us for the madness.
Next up was ACRAZE, a must-see for my mom. I snapped some shots and rushed over to DJ Diesel (because who doesn’t love a Shaq set?).
Then, of course, it was back for Deorro. But the real magic of Day 1 came with Above & Beyond, my mom’s all-time favorite. Seeing her marvel at the lasers and lose herself in their set was priceless. It was a pure, shared joy—a memory we’ll both hold onto.
DAY 2: LETS TRY SOME HEADBANGING
We kicked off Day 2 with a trip to the Body Marbling and Kandy station, a must for adding that extra festival sparkle. Afterward, we hit The Stadium for JWILLI, a local DJ who always brings infectious energy. After grabbing some photos and glittering up, it was time for a little bass at The Vega, where Sippy laid down some dubstep.
Now, here’s the thing—my mom does not understand dubstep. She looked out over the sea of bass faces, puzzled, asking me, “Why do you like it? It sounds like noise!” I explained how dubstep’s intensity and energy can create this emotional, cathartic experience, but words can only do so much. I decided to show her the ultimate dubstep tradition—headbanging! It didn’t go as planned, with us looking more like we were chopping wood than raving, but we gave it a good try.
We moved over to The Shipyard for Moksi’s set to find out they weren’t able to make it. Their flight got delayed. Instead, we got to see DJ Susan! My mom was thrilled. She loved his set at Electric Forest earlier this year, and this one did not disappoint. After a brief stint at DEATHPACT for more bass, we circled back to The Shipyard, where my mom was still grooving.
DAY 3: THE FINAL DAY
Day 3 was the one I had been waiting for—Alan Walker. But before we got to that, we caught Jon Casey’s set (new favorite!), followed by Chicago local Levity. By then, my mom was done with bass, so we took a break, grabbed drinks, and explored until we found Club Coast, a secret speakeasy vibe tucked away in the festival.
After catching the end of HYO’s set and grooving to Disco Lines and his iconic dolphin visuals, it was finally time for Alan Walker. I took my spot in the pit, ready to capture every moment of his atmospheric set. His blend of emotive melodies and pulsating beats was everything I hoped for. I don’t think I stopped moving once and I was the happiest person ever!! By the end, my mom was a fan. She said she’d never miss one of his sets again!
We ended the night with Slander, where my mom gave headbanging another go—and nailed it! She might not be a bass-head yet, but she definitely gets it a little more now.
The Takeaway: More than Nostalgia
In the end, North Coast Music Festival 2024 wasn’t just an EDM haven with state-of-the-art visuals and killer sets—it became the ultimate bonding experience. We laughed, danced, and made memories I’ll never forget.
So, if you ever find yourself wondering if you should invite your mom to the North Coast or any other festival next year, let me save you some time: Do it!
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