Laneway Festival Detroit 2013

The Laneway Festival was born on a summer day in Melbourne, and is a stage for leading, unique and fresh music. It began as a Summer Series every Sunday, featuring new bands (The Presets and the Avalanches at the time), on a stage in Melbourne’s Caledonian lane. Founders Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers closed the lane, removed the bins, and threw an actual laneway party with The Avalanches.

Fourteen hundred people attended the first laneway festival, in that back alley.

Today, St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival is a touring,  national, summer event, and for the first time ever, was staged in Detroit in September.

I can’t even begin to tell you what an incredible experience this festival was. There were painters everywhere, an organization called “Community Rebirth” showcasing their artwork, showing support and love of the city of Detroit. There was a deep sense of community, and simple admiration of beautiful music. I felt at home, with complete strangers.

I got a chance to see Adult, Run the Jewels (El-P and Killer Mike), Flume, Sigur Ros, and Solange live. Each performance was spectacular in its own right. Adult showcased live editing, production abilities, Run the Jewels announced a J Dilla tribute performance, Flume ABSOLUTELY BLEW MY MIND AWAY, Solange encouraged her audience to swing their hips and dance with her, and Sigur Ros left me stunned, to say the very least. I left that festival, that night, truly inspired.

I can’t wait for next year.

For the full album, check out the Lucid facebook page, or the Lucid Resident Advisor page.