Just like that, one of the premier music festivals of the year has come and gone. HARD Summer 2019 came to the Inland Empire and did not disappoint. The Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California was the gathering grounds for this family affair. The days were super hot, up to 99 degrees both days, but that did stop anyone from pressing the gas pedal on vibe.
In my experience, entering this venue can be a bit complicated but this year HARD teamed up with Uber to make getting there really smooth. Considering the attendance this year, the potential festival pitfall was well avoided.
Getting exclusive interviews during the heat of the event was our boy, Jeff from Jack’d Up Radio.
Jeff was able to chat with headliners and rising talent alike. Hear from Black Cavier, Dom Dolla, GTA and Ravell themselves about their experience at Hard Summer 2019 and more.
Jack’d Up Radio is always hosting people you will love to hear from. There will be new episodes every Friday and catch up on past episodes on (Tunein, iHeart Radio, Spotify & iTunes).
Jack’d Up Radio HARD Summer 2019 Interview:
As for me, on day one after exploring the festival grounds for a while, I found myself wandering over towards to Hard stage which was one of the two main stages. At the time Ghastly was throwing down an electric set. After that, I went to the Green stage for a set I was not willing to miss.
DJ Diesel aka Shaquille O’Neal. That’s right, Shaq is a trap DJ and I can’t lie, he threw it down. If you had told me as a kid I would be seeing Shaq playing a music festival I would’ve called you a liar but there we were. After DJ Diesel I made my way to the misting tent to cool off and to grab a beer then saw Lil Mosey for a bit before heading to Dillon Francis who never disappoints. He has been a staple of Hard Summer for many years and each year he does better than the last.
By this point, the sun was fully down and it was a nice night. The desert night is really pleasant, especially after a hot day. To end night one I went to the Harder Stage to see an Alison Wonderland set that was the highlight of my weekend. The combination of music, lights and her larger than life stage presence made for a show I will never forget; one you will look back on when you are 62 and dig through you record collection to dance to this…
Organizers did well with providing ample water and cooling stations to beat the heat. There was a huge misting tent with ample room to cool off for a bit and a pool party with a main stage view to boot.
Day two, again wandering around the festival grounds was an absolute treat. No matter where I went there were good tunes to listen to and fun things to do. One of the highlights of the afternoon was Dom Dolla who puts on an energetic house set that got everyone dancing. Grab his Data Transmission mix for free download.
Later in the day, I went to the Hard Stage to catch Juice Wrld. This was a performance I really wanted to see. Sometimes a man just needs some sad music and a good cry. As a bit of a palate cleanser, from the sad songs, I went over to see Kenny Beats. I have been a big fan of his music on YouTube for a long time and when he brought out Zach Fox I couldn’t have been more excited. Wrapping up the weekend I treated myself to Major Lazer‘s set.
After another year I remember why Hard Summer is so special. It’s not just the stacked lineups, great venue, or great amenities. It’s the feeling of knowing that you were at an event where something special could happen at any moment. Whether it’s a surprise guest performance, a new friend you made by being at the same set at the same time, or a life-changing set that you just wandered into, Hard summer is has something for everyone. For me, it was the Allison Wonderland set that made Hard special for me.
There is a reason that so many artists and fans alike make the trip inland every single year. Hard summer is an amazing two days that any festival fan would be foolish to miss. Los Angeles is a cultural hub for music and it is clear that HARD Summer reflects that and gives people their happy place to be truly be themselves.
Enjoy our HARD Summer 2019 playlist as you continue the photo tour of Hard Summer 2019.
