HARD Events has just announced the full lineup for HARD Summer 2018! August 4th marks the start of this sensational two-day festival. The venue this season is the Speedway in Fontana, California. This year has an expected turnout of 150K fans and a lineup that could make even a seasoned raver do a double take. It is shaping up to break HARD Summer History. 2018 will continue the event’s commitment to forward-thinking lineups that connects today’s biggest stars with pioneers across urban and electronic music.
Lineup
This year HARD Summer welcomes more than 75 of electronic music’s most buzzed about DJs and producers. Headliners include mystery man Marshmello, the newly launched Virtual Self by Porter Robinson, trap icon Flosstradamus, multi-genre produce TOKiMONSTA and the explosive Mija. Some other super-stars from the lineup include Louis the Child, OWLSA mainstay Joyryde, Madam X’s techno, and DIRTYBIRD upstart FISHER. With a nod to the scene’s forebears, HARD Summer will also host house legends Kerri Chandler and Felix Da Housecat. In true multi-hyphenate fashion Louis Vuitton’s artistic director and DJ, Virgil Abloh will also perform.
This season will also feature a host of wild back to back sets. buckle up for a whole world of bass from Diplo B2B Dillon Francis, one wild ride from Zeds Dead B2B Jauz, a new hellbeast called Kill The Snails (Kill The Noise B2B Snails), an educational battle DJ set from 2¢ (A.K.A. Craze & Four Color Zack), a master-class in cool from A-Trak and Baauer, a bass rolling brashness from Borgore B2B Getter, and a soundboy killer from LOUDPVCK B2B Bighead.
Urban music again is at the center stage of HARD Summer with a headlining set by Travis Scott, hip hop king Rick Ross, plus some of rap’s most relevant names like Lil Xan, Lil Skies, Trippie Redd, Saweetie, $UICIDEBOY$, and YBN Nahmir.
A Hard Summer History
Gary Richards founded the music brand “HARD” in 2007. This company went on to hold its first ever HARD Summer in 2008 in Los Angeles. Some of the headliners from this inaugural event include Steve Aoki, N.E.R.D., A-Trak, The Bloody Beetroots, Kill the Noise, and Kid Sister.
In 2012 this up-and-coming festival, a pioneer in the industry, decided to expand into a two-day event which effectively doubled their lineup. Camping became available in 2016, which was also the first year of HARD Summer at the Speedway in Fontana. In 2017 HARD Summer celebrated its 10-year anniversary. This year also marked the last event that the founder Gary Richards was to host with LiveNation. After eleven years, and seven venue changes, HARD Summer is now prepping for their next chapter.
For the last eleven years, HARD Summer has been a launch pad to drive promising artists into the spotlight. This festival is known for predicting the musical collision between electronic music and hip-hop. Their past lineups have consistently proven to predict who and what will be next in explosive live music.
This Summer
In keeping with the festival’s transitional past, expect many changes at this year’s event. Camping is no longer an option, but the stages will move off of the hot pavement and onto the infield grass where the campgrounds once resided. In fact, the Speedway will be completely reimagined for the 2018 edition of HARD’s flagship event.
The brand has been hard at work dreaming up the perfect map for its most immersive and comfortable event yet. The redesigned stages will be moved to the spacious and cooler grass infield. Additional expansions include multiple shaded areas and water stations throughout the venue. Extra entry lanes into the festival mean less line time for attendees and more time listening to the star-studded lineup!
HARD Summer’s VIP experience will be enhanced as well. VIP dance areas will be added to the stages in addition to new summer fun themed amenities. Health and safety operations at HARD Summer will now be overseen by Insomniac Events’ experienced medical and Ground Control teams. Logistics like parking and traffic will be overseen by Insomniac production. The end goal is to ensure a safe environment and a smooth experience for all attendees.
It is with its biggest lineup to date and most extensive production reach in tow that HARD Summer Music Festival moves towards its 11th season to once again treat fans to the blow out party of the year.
HARD Summer Music Festival 2018 tickets go on sale Friday, April 27 at 9 AM PT
More Info on HARD Summer here.
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Stella Grenn, FestPop Staff Writer