The city of brotherly love felt all of the love this weekend. Kicking out 2018 with a massive bang, was the first installation of Philly’s own indoor music festival. HiJinx Music Festival took over center city bringing thousands of fans to see a top-notch line up this past weekend. The Philadelphia Convention Center spans four city blocks with gorgeous view of Philadelphia’s skyline and our favorite Philly man, Benjamin Franklin atop city hall. Fans from all over came together to see only the best acts from artists such as Bassnectar, Odesza, Griz, Illenium, RL Grime and several others.
Live Nation mastered the Northeast’s largest indoor music festival. Transforming the 1 million square foot L-shaped building into a mind blowing set up for Hijinx. From massive octopus tentacles crawling along the ceiling, multi-eyed creatures, and inverse dripping pyramids to aerial performer. Not to mention the massive center screen with intricate visuals and powerful lasers, as well as an additional four screens to optimize the experience all the way through the venue. These days it’s not only the booked talent that amazes us; as fans spinning anything they can get their hands on mesmerized their fellow festies.
Kicking off Friday night was Dorfex Bos, followed by Whipped Cream, Denzel Curry, Ganja White Night, RL Grime, Big Gigantic, and the man of the night, Bassnectar. Doors kicked open at 5pm and Philly went strong through each act. Bass turned up high and lasers in full force we were bumping all night. Big Gigantic had us grooving to classics for all to sing back to. Beats of The Little Things, Good Times Roll and Miss Primetime immediately got the crowd jamming with their crews. Bassnectar kicked off his set dark and dirty with Whiplash and Underground. With probably the most exotic light shows of the weekend, Bassnectar bumped Philly hard with bouncing lasers over the thousands of bass lovers in attendance. Getting down with some drum-n-bass the crowd just couldn’t stop. Friday had ended after 7 artists got everyone down and groovy and ready for night 2 soon to start.
Saturday, Day 2 of HiJinx Fest brought us killer performances from Kaivon, XIe, Vanic, Pnb Rock (subbed for Flatbush Zombies), Illenium, Griz, and Odesza. Illenium had us getting down to Without Me with Hasley, Gold with Excision, Shatterpoint by Trivecta. That was the day for Griz; whipping out his trusted sax, we could not contain our moves and excitement. A favorite set of the weekend, the super talented producer kills it with his sax skills and funk. Starting of his set with Can’t Hold Me Down, My Friends and I, and The Anthem, the crowd was instantly buzzing on his musical high. The Good Times Roll(ed) on as he played both his classic tracks as well as some new funk and bass. Also giving a shout out, had the crowd call back “HI LORIN,” to his killer set just the night before. Released almost 2 months ago, Griz ended his set with the jam, It Gets Better. As ODESZA took the stage for the final performance of the first [annual, per Bassnectar] HiJinx Music Festival; the crowd was ready to dance once more. Bringing the crowd together to sing out from their most recent album – A Moment Apart, sounds of Say My Name, Across The Room, and Common Ground resonated through massive convention center. Highlights of their performance also included the traveling ODESZA drumline which has become a show staple.
As the first installation of this several thousand-person event, HiJinx Music Festival in Philadelphia blew us out of the park and we sure as hell can expect another HiJinx to be returning to our favorite city again. The event was organized very well, with quick security lines and almost ideal crowd control, the indoor festival fell home to all in attendance. The last weekend of 2018 was spent well this year and we hope to be looking forward to returning to Philly for another HiJinx!
Featured Image via HiJinx Facebook
