HARD Summer Music Festival 2024 in the heat of Downtown Los Angeles
Charlotte Ege, FestForums | August 13, 2024
Under the sweltering July heat of downtown Los Angeles, the HARD Summer Music Festival took place at a new venue beside SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park this past weekend. As a cornerstone of Southern California's EDM scene, HARD Summer is perfectly situated in the heart of the entertainment capital. Since its inception in 2008, Insomniac Events has blended live hip-hop and pop performances with electronic music, creating a unique festival experience that attracts a diverse audience, from bass enthusiasts to rap fans. Historically held at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, a venue known for its ample space and multiple stages, this year’s move back to Los Angeles enhanced accessibility and appeal, reflecting the festival’s growing influence in popular culture.
HARD Summer Music Festival 2024 Lineup; Credit: HARD Events
This year’s lineup featured live performances by Nelly Furtado and Disclosure, complementing past HARD Summer acts such as 21 Savage, Kid Cudi, and The Weeknd. The focus this year shifted towards prominent figures in hard EDM genres, including Rezz, Subtronics, and Chase & Status. The festival boasted five stages, with the HARD Stage hosting the main acts providing a wide breadth with large, eye-catching screens, visible to the considerable crowd. Notable performances included Fisher + Chris Lake and Disclosure, who respectively closed the main stage each night, as well as Rezzmau5 at the Harder Stage, Zeds Dead at the Green Stage, Jamie xx at the Purple Stage, and Mochakk at the Pink Stage. The crowd's energy was great, with minimal moshing in most areas despite people standing shoulder to shoulder, reflecting the general rave community's respect for personal space. The visuals were spectacular, thanks to the extensive LED displays, including a dynamic screen that moved up and down above center stage.
Subtronics at HARDER Stage, HARD Summer Music Festival 2024; Source: Charlotte Ege
At the HARDER Stage, the addition of lasers shooting across the crowd created a mesmerizing, immersive experience and complemented the multiple screens across the stage, which created a window-like effect especially with visuals with the illusion of depth. Subtronics, arguably one of the most popular dubstep artists, recently made a remix of Hozier’s "Too Sweet," where this remix is available only in live recordings. Thus, seeing this remix live, along with this artist’s commitment to making every single one his sets different, made this performance highly sought after. This performance was a highlight of HARD Summer, alongside Fisher and Chris Lake’s rare collaboration, Under Construction - The last time their combined tour visited LA was when it shut down Hollywood Boulevard, making their return at HARD Summer particularly memorable.
HARD Summer continues to resonate with its LA fanbase and draws hundreds eager for the EDM festival experience in Southern California. With iconic performances, a continuously strong lineup, and a high standard of production, HARD summer remains a significant part of the festival circuit.