REVIEW: FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2018 BLOWS AWAY ALL EXPECTATIONS

When my interest in the music festival circuit first peaked, a few immediately jumped to the top of my list to attend someday.

The east coast’s largest open-air camping festival, Firefly, always stood out.

With its scenic forested environment, famously diverse lineups, and unique location between some of the biggest cities in the country, there has always been something special about it.

Since its inception in 2012, Firefly Music Festival has changed tremendously.

Originating as a three-day event with less than 50 acts, it has undoubtedly grown in size for one thing.

This year’s four-day event, promoted and produced by Red Frog Events in partnership with Goldenvoice, included over 100 performances across eight stages! 

Featuring headliners Kendrick LamarThe KillersEminem, and Arctic Monkeys, not to mention popular acts down to the bottom of the lineup, this felt like the perfect opportunity to see one of the fastest-growing festivals in the country.

Day One

Fans willing to arrive early received a Wednesday Pre-Party of six opening shows. The official lineup kicked off Thursday afternoon with the state of Delaware’s lone representative for the weekend, Dover-native Amillion the Poet, opening the Backyard Stage.

Bryce Vine performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Thursday, June 14, 2018. 

Bryce Vine performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Thursday, June 14, 2018. 

Though the Firefly mainstage remained close through opening day, Thursday’s performers set the tone for a nonstop weekend.

Then came Knox Fortune – who previously produced for fellow Chicagoans and members of the SaveMoney rap collective, including Joey PurpVic Mensa, and Towkio, before breaking out on his own by lending his vocals for Chance the Rapper’s smash single All Night, and releasing his well-received 2017 debut album Paradise. Knox rocked the Lawn Stage before Bryce Vine delivered a high-energy burst of fun and color, and Shallou, with his soothing ambient dance sound, brought the hype with a passionate performance in the Pavilion Tent.

Duos Chromeo and Two Friends turned the dance dial up to conclude the first night.

David “Dave 1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel of Montreal, together forming Chromeo, have made their name with a unique and endlessly enjoyable take on ‘80s electro-funk in the 11 years since their 2007 debut Fancy Footwork. Just hours before the release of their fifth studio album Head Over Heels, the self-proclaimed “funk lords” were at full force and capped the night excellently to set up a packed Friday.

Day Two

The density of this year’s lineup started to show on Friday.

Early acts Welshy ArmsLukas Nelson & The Promise of The Real, the weekend’s first two main stage performances, and Lights ground through the sweltering early afternoon sets with ease, giving fans a steady warm-up leading to the night’s bigger names.

The energy built steadily through the late afternoon and evening sets with rapper Joey Purp, and electronic artists Kasbo and OOKAY throwing everything in their arsenal at fans.

Following a nostalgia-inducing performance from the ‘90s emocore group Jimmy Eat World, including stirring renditions of fan-favorites The Middle and Bleed American, it was time for Foster the People to take the main stage.

Logic comments on a fan's Plank, a popular character from the cartoon Ed Edd n Eddy, as he performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018. 

Logic comments on a fan's Plank, a popular character from the cartoon Ed Edd n Eddy, as he performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018. 

The Los Angeles indie-rock group weaved their way through tracks from all three of their beloved albums, captivating The Woodlands with every note and word.

Jimmy Eat World performs at the Firefly main stage at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018. 

Jimmy Eat World performs at the Firefly main stage at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018. 

They closed out the show with their two most famous songs, starting with the hit single that put them on the map back in 2010, Pumped Up Kicks, followed by Sit Next to Me. Frontman Mark Foster had a heartfelt message for the thousands in attendance regarding the divided state of modern American society.

“Music brings people together like nothing else can,” Foster said. “And if you don’t feel loved, know that we love you. We may not know you, but we love you.”

For those fans who may have needed a little more Foster, they also played a darker, house-focused DJ set at the Treehouse stage in the final slot of the night that contrasted excellently with the serene main stage show hours before.

Leading into the first headlining performance of the weekend was a difficult split, with Logic taking the Backyard Stage while Cheat Codes pounded the Pavilion Tent.

The decision to open with the Bobby Tarantino II intro Grandpa’s Space Shipfeaturing animated characters Rick and Morty discussing the difference between “album Logic and mixtape Logic,” set the tone for a grimy set from the Grammy-nominated rapper born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II.

Known for representing the ideals of “Peace, Love, and Positivity,” Logic laid out his “No Fuck Boys” rules and welcomed Plank from the Cartoon Network series Ed, Edd n Eddy on stage when a fan passed it to him moments into the show.

Trevor Dahl, Kevin Ford, and Matthew Russell, better known as Cheat Codes, rocked the Pavilion tent so hard that I couldn’t help but think they would have been better suited for a larger stage.

Intermixing their singles featuring the likes of Demi LovatoFetty Wap, and Kiiara with tracks from their new EP Level One, the Los Angeles-based trio helped peak anticipation for the first of the four headliners of the festival, the return of Arctic Monkeys.

The rock band hailing from Sheffield, England, returned to the music scene in 2018 with their sixth album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, after a five-year hiatus following the success of 2013’s AM.

Despite mixed reviews from critics and fans alike initially, the group hasn’t missed a beat in producing phenomenal live experiences.

Big Gigantic closes the second night of Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018.  

Big Gigantic closes the second night of Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018.  

The show primarily featured tracks from Tranquility Base, all of which fit far better in the retro aesthetic of the performance than I expected based on my own listening experience. They also included most of the group’s previous hits the crowd longed for in R U Mine?One For The RoadWhy’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? and I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.

The instrumental dance duo of Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken, collectively known as Big Gigantic, finished Friday with a raucous as ever closing set dripping with their trademark funky sax-bass style.

Day Three

Nearly every act throughout the weekend noted the sheer scale of the crowds they were playing for, often admitting that they had never played such massive shows before.

Saturday’s stacked Day Three lineup somehow motivated even more fans to pack the Woodlands, and I would be shocked if any went home disappointed.

Canadian producer and DJ Chet Porter opened the day with a mellow Pavilion set that got the groove flowing early.

His laid-back demeanor helped him overcome a blatant error early in the show. He admitted to the mistake immediately and put the crowd at ease by explaining that he had flown overnight from Denver and hadn’t slept in well over a day. The crowd roared and pushed Porter through a fantastic hour.

Fresh off the release of their debut album When My Heart Felt Volcanic in April, the all-female rock group The Aces showed off their incredible stage presence first on the Lawn Stage before captivating the Tree House crowd a little over an hour later.

The Aces perform at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018. 

The Aces perform at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Friday, June 15, 2018. 

Something about this Utah-based indie group that feels special, and I became an instant fan.

Similarly, I came into the weekend expecting a solid showing from Los Angeles indie rockers Smallpools. What they delivered was so much more.

Their glittery guitar riffs paired with Sean Scanlon’s glossy vocals made an incredible experience made even more remarkable by the group’s decision to come out in some of the most fantastic shirts I have ever seen.

PNB RockPortugal. The ManSan Holo, and Vance Joy stood out as exceptional performances outside of the headliners in Saturday’s late afternoon and evening sets.

These fantastic shows led up to a genuinely unbelievable run of shows.

Lil Wayne performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Saturday, June 16, 2018. 

Lil Wayne performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Saturday, June 16, 2018. 

Lil Wayne took the main stage with a boyish grin of amazement, stopping to let the crowd know, “I have been doing this for 20 years now, and I can honestly say I have never seen this many people in my life.”

He was also shocked by the attendance of American Sign Language translators, something he said he’d also never had the chance to see at one of his shows before.

Following Weezy, The Killers and Eminem also expressed their shock at the main stage crowd size before rocking through their incredible headlining performances that more than lived up to the hype coming into the day.

Finally, it was time for the 22-year-old Dutchman and back-to-back winner of DJ Mag’s number one rankingMartin Garrix, to take the Backyard stage for his closing set.

Including a special tribute to the late AviciiWaiting for Love; the brand new single featuring KhalidOcean; a guest appearance from San Holo; and David Guetta collaborations Like I Do and So Far Away; Garrix had the crowd bouncing like an Ibiza club.

With his incredible light show and pyrotechnics, fans helped make this show stand out by throwing glow sticks across the crowd with each drop. Some took it too far, throwing things like capped water bottles and toilet paper rolls, but the glow sticks were excellent. I sincerely hope this becomes a tradition in the dance music scene.

 

 

Day Four

The fourth and final day kicked off with legendary rapper Warren G taking the main stage for a 1 p.m. set that featured his hit tracks alongside a heavy dose of songs with fellow ‘90s hip-hop legends Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and of course, the late Nate Dogg.

Whethan performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Sunday,  June 17, 2018. 

Whethan performs at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Sunday,  June 17, 2018. 

Hearing Regulators live was a dream come true, and there were plenty more bucket list artists ahead on a very special Father’s Day.

Sunday’s lineup offered something for everyone, just as the previous days had.

In the Pavilion Tent, MelvvYoung GravyParty Favor, and Whethan kept the party vibes and big bass dance music alive all day.

Alt-rock fans had arguably their deepest selection of the weekend, with BannersAlice MertonLord HuronAlt-J, and MGMT rocking out across the three main stages.

Despite rumors of a potential last-minute cancellation, TDE-queen SZA closed the opening song of her set with a stunning, prolonged high note. She tweeted earlier in the day to inform fans she would “give it a go” after revealing that her vocal damage was not permanent.

Every song was flawless, flush with the vocal range and swagger her fans have come to expect during her rise from 2014’s Z to the five Grammy nominations she received for her 2017 studio debut Ctrl.

Finally, the stage was set for King Kendrick Lamar.

The Firefly main stage may not have held quite as many fans when the platinum-selling, Grammy award-winning rapper and first nonclassical or jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for music since the expansion into the category in 1943, made his Delaware debut. Still, every fan in attendance came ready to be awed. They were awed, indeed.

Ripping through hit features with Travis ScottRich the Kid, and others, plus tracks from nearly all of his major works to date, Kendrick’s energy never wavered as he pounded across the stage, hurling verses at the crowd with fervor.

Kendrick exclaimed upon exiting the stage under the falling smoke from a spectacular firework display: “I will be back!”

The announcement led to a moment of confusion when the floodlights turned off and on again, prompting some fans to rush back to the stage only to be disappointed when workers began disassembling the stage.

Kendrick Lamar closes the main stage at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Sunday,  June 17, 2018. 

Kendrick Lamar closes the main stage at Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Sunday,  June 17, 2018. 

Outside of the lack of an encore, Kendrick filled the closing headliner spot flawlessly.

All that remained was the conclusive set from another 2018 Grammy nominee, the Seattle duo Odesza.

Coming off the stunning success of their third studio album, A Moment Apart, the duo of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight had already completed a wild festival season. The two closed Coachella earlier in the spring and finished a two-day showing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre just days before making their way to the nation’s first state.

The two are known for delivering an exhilarating live performance that goes far beyond a standard electronic music show.

In this particular closing set, Odesza brought out all the stops with guest appearances from Naomi Wild and Wynne for Higher Ground and Line of Sight, respectively, along with their now signature drumline, pyrotechnics, and a color explosion of lights.

 

Odesza closes Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Sunday,  June 17, 2018. 

Odesza closes Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del. , on Sunday,  June 17, 2018. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefly is unique because it’s inviting in every way.

This year’s lineup had artists for just about any fan to enjoy.

People cared about each other’s well-being and genuinely seemed to want everyone around them to have the best experience.

Outside of the music, fans could also enjoy art and light installations along The Pathway connecting different areas of the festival grounds, The Thicket silent disco, and the relaxing Nook for those looking for a quick break from the action.

Everything about this experience was above and beyond the expectations that we held coming in.

Endless thanks to Red Frog Events for allowing us to cover this fantastic event. We can’t wait for the next chapter of this first-rate tradition.