Start with a nice base of awesome artists, add a dash of technology, a tablespoon of beautiful weather, and finish it off with a sprinkle of “no lines for anything, anywhere” and you have the inaugural year of a beautifully baked music festival known as Panorama.
With a headliners like LCD Soundsystem, Alabama Shakes, Kendrick Lamar and Arcade Fire, you knew you were in for a treat months before the show ever hit the island. But it wasn’t just the lineup that made this festival so special. It was everything from customized visual and audio experiences (one of which created by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem), to well laid out concessions and bathrooms, to a crowd that was ready to tie one on!
The first day of festivities kicked off with a literal sonic boom, as Major Lazer graced the main stage with a fist pumping, trap rocking, twerk popping set list for the record books. Flags of all nations were flying high on Friday afternoon, girls were stacked on shoulders, and tons of pyrotechnics were set off to keep the party going for the entire hour they were on stage.
But miss Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes was not going to be overshadowed that day – no, she was not. As always, she delivered an electrifying performance that left the crowd shaking in their proverbial boots.
Day 2 followed suit with more excitement and more great weather. The two stand out performances of the day were rising young star Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals, and of course headliner Kendrick Lamar. The crowd was hoping they would see the two artists come together on stage after their surprising collaboration at Coachella this year – but unfortunately this did not take place. Never the less, both artists lay claim to their respective stages and sent everyone home chanting “one more song”.
Day 3 was a grand finale to end all grand finales. The highly anticipated Sia performance came on right at dusk, and made for an amazing visual spectacle. The stage was set up with the award-winning vocalist off to the side, so that the focus could be on the live performance art that was taking place at center stage. It was a sight to be seen, and something very different from rest of the artists this weekend. There were appearances from Paul Dano and Kristen Whig fully in character, and Maddie Ziegler closed the night with an amazingly choreographed dance sequence to Chandelier.
Last, but very not least, LCD Soundsystem closed out the weekend like only they could. For a band that “doesn’t have any hits”, it seemed like all they did was play the hits. It was a funky, four on the floor, electronic dance party from the moment they went on stage, all the way until the lights came up at the end of their set. Front man James Murphy made his way around the entire stage, playing a wide array of instruments, and showing off his vocal range.
All in all, the weekend was a major success. The sounds that resonated were not of drug overdoses or people getting injured, but amazing music and fun had by all.
