Boasting a variety of world class DJs and indie-rock bands alike Mamby on the Beach, taking place this past weekend on the Oakwood Beach waterfront in Chicago, IL, proved to live up to the hype. The organization of the festival was apparent in the layout of the grounds, having easy-to-store lockers for all festival goers available and a variety of stages to cater to the wide range of musical acts featured on the lineup. Only choosing to have three stages- “The Beach House” for the smallest acts, “The Tent” for the middle tier artists, and the straight-to-the-point “Main Stage” for the headliners- turned out to be the perfect fit for the festival grounds as there was negligible noise pollution between the three venues and attendees only had a short walk between them.
Concert goers were greeted upon entering the grounds with a variety of decorative art installations constructed for the event, featuring everything from dozens of large Japanese lanterns to the inclusion of live graffiti artists spraying various objects with Mamby-inspired themes. Additionally, the inclusion of a large beachfront swimming access area by the main stage served as a great way to slip off your shoes and relax while still enjoying the music!
Musical highlights of the festival included a neon face painted Robert Delong breaking down the main stage Saturday with his own brand of funky electronica and drum-circle inspired songs while Cashmere Cat took another step in solidifying his name as one of the must-see performers at the moment while playing to one of the largest crowds of the weekend. The bedazzled Australian electronic rockers Empire of the Sun closed out the day while the now infamous ZHU put down one of the most memorable sets of the weekend with his unique brand of widely acclaimed house music.
A sole disappointment came Sunday when, due to visa issues, the Frenchman Klingande was unfortunately unable to perform but the festival was able to take it in stride. The mobile application provided by Mamby Beach proved to be extremely useful as it was updated to reflect the change in time schedules to ensure no one missed any moment of their favorite sets. Phantogram and Passion Pit gave everyone a nice dosage of the anthemic indie rock they’re known for while “The Tent” was a fully packed techno haven for the German Claptone‘s mysterious electronic set followed by the two Canadian’s Art Department house beats to finish out the night.
In review, I would say this festival was another memorable win for React Presents. The diverse lineup, coupled with the perfect location and enthusiast crowds, served to solidify Mamby On The Beach’s place in a competitive Chicago music scene.
[All photos featured taken by Da Black Swan]