Despite facing the formidable challenge of Hurricane Debby, which forced the cancellation of its first full day of programming, Elements Music & Arts Festival delivered with resilience and spirit in 2024.
The festival, which spanned four days and four nights, turned what could have been a major setback into a testament to the power of the dance music community.
Elements kicked off with a pre-party on Thursday featuring two of its four stages. The Air Stage was the stage where the beloved Desert Hearts took over with performances from co-founders Porky, Marbs, Lee Reynolds and Mikey Lion. Similarly, the Water Stage was the stage where a Memory Palace takeover took place with performances from Player Dave, FLY, LYNY and founder Of The Trees, the latter of whom was inducted into EDM.com’s Class of 2024.
Festival-goers got a sneak peek of what was to come, but the weather had other plans. With Hurricane Debby passing through, conditions on Friday worsened to the point where the festival was cancelled altogether. No one was allowed onto the festival grounds, and those who tried to get there were turned away for their own safety — a difficult decision, but a necessary one considering the grounds were in no condition to accommodate attendees camping.
Friday night’s headliners took matters into their own hands, bringing the party to Elements Sound Camps. This is a separate group camping area that uniquely encourages attendees to create their own stages for the after-party performances. Those who braved the rain were lucky enough to catch performances from Tape B, INZO, Boogie T, and others on Friday’s lineup.
And when Saturday came, the energy was naturally as electric as the storm itself.
The festival site, which had been battered by the storm, had been restored by the hard-working staff at Elements. We were finally able to immerse ourselves in everything the festival had to offer.
That included four main stages with elemental themes, the Disco Den, Fun Box, roaming acts, and even a speakeasy hidden behind a portable toilet that festival-goers could stumble upon.
Bigger b2b sets added to the festival’s appeal in 2024. On Saturday, AC Slater and Chris Lorenzo’s Fly With Us added to the energy of Dr. Fresch’s set and led to SLANDER’s Fire Stage closer, which was a resounding success. Sunday saw more standout b2b sets, including Girl Math from VNSSA and Nala and an energetic closing set from Chris Lake and Cloonee.
Before the final evening, we were all invited to join LSDREAM for a well-deserved respite with LIGHTCODE, the producer’s sound-bath meditation experience. It allowed attendees to recharge and reflect while an unfamiliar but comfortable silence filled the venue.
Ready to take on the day, the music and energy soon came back to life. Those who made it to the Water Stage were lucky enough to catch a secret “Elements Legends DnB Set” featuring none other than Barclay Crenshaw. Anyone who has seen a set by Claude VonStroke’s bass music alias could have guessed that he would be the one to step on the gas (no brakes) to kick off the final night.
As Elements Festival neared its climax, festival-goers had the luxury of choosing their final set from a stellar line-up of closing acts – Sara Landry, Subtronics, Chris Lake b2b Cloonee or an ethereal Bob Moses set in the club. Each offered a unique atmosphere, ensuring everyone could find their perfect ending to this weekend full of surprises.
In the end, Elements 2024 proved that even in the face of nature’s fury, the show can and will go on. They left us with stories of resilience, community, and incredible music that we won’t soon forget.
You can stay tuned to Elements and sign up to receive updates on its 2025 edition here.
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