Spring Awakening Music Festival has always had obstacles to overcome – this year was no different. From the City of Chicago permitting issues, parking/logistics in a new location, to last minute lineup scratches; the React team did a great job bouncing back as always. Was it perfect? No, but it rarely is and all things considered this might have been the best Spring Awakening yet.

Here’s a quick breakdown of our thoughts:

For a more detailed breakdown continue below

Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates was not the original location for this year’s festival. Several proposed locations inside city limits were met with political opposition needing React to act quickly to make things happen. Located 45 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago , the festival location raised some eyebrows as many fans enjoyed the convenience of past Chicago locations.

With the new location came new challenges as well as new benefits. The biggest challenge was the logistics of travel. To alleviate the hassle of travel, shuttle busses were offered from surrounding Metra and CTA train stations to get attendees to the fest. Paid parking was offered for the first time ever, with a preferred and GA option. Yes, the walk from GA parking took about 30 minutes each way and leaving the fest was a mess Friday evening. But few wouldn’t agree that React acted quickly to improve the organization of the parking and exit on both Saturday and Sunday with more signage and parking staff.

With 4 major stages, 2 branded ones and a silent disco, this year’s fest was a large one. The Solstice stage had a new design this year: bigger and better than ever before. However, there were a few areas of improvement I think need addressing for future years. One of them being the layout due to sound bleed from the Equinox stage to the Hangar. Friday’s Anjuna Deep stage (at the Hangar)was unbearable. The second area of improvement was location of a few stages that led to traffic jams, specifically in the area of the Solstice stage near Corona Beach. 2 of the stages (STFU Silent Disco & The Good Bus) were almost exclusively reserved for local DJs. Regardless of what you might have thought of them, having locals exposed to the Midwest largest edm festival crowd can only be good

For the scene as a whole in the long run. React deserves credit for the opportunities they have provided.

I’ve said in the past that Spring Awakening is Chicago’s premiere edm festival. After this year’s fest that has not changed. Apart from some minor hiccups the fest delivered. My hope is that the powers that be at Hoffman Estates liked it enough to let it return. Some security in the location would allow for better accommodations for festival goers next year.