What to Expect from HARD Summer 2023: Lineup Breakdown, Stages, + More!

Paije Kantor | June 26, 2023

As summer kicks into high-gear, Insomniac Events is reaching its final stages of planning its long-standing festival, HARD Summer. Since its inception in 2008, HARD has blossomed into a notorious promoter within the dance music industry, hosting renowned events including Holy Ship!, HARD Day of the Dead, and its flagship festival HARD Summer.

Following Live Nation’s acquisition of the HARD brand in 2012, the company seamlessly integrated itself into Insomniac’s collection of labels. Although the lineups vary annually, HARD Summer has set itself apart by booking both electronic and rap artists to appeal to a wider audience.

Over the past several iterations of the event, Insomniac has chosen either the Fontana Raceway or the NOS Events Center to host the festival. However, HARD Summer has been subject to consistent refinement each year, and 2023 is no different.

HARD Summer 2023 will take place in Downtown Los Angeles on August 5 and 6, and combine the space of the LA Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park, and BMO Stadium. Although it may be unconventional to host different stages within one festival at separate venues, Insomniac is confident that the proposed layout will provide a better experience than previous years.

According to the HARD Summer website:

“mainstage acts can hold it down at the HARD Stage at the Green Lot on the south side of BMO Stadium, while followers of more esoteric strains of house and techno can see their favorite global icons on the Pink Stage at Christmas Tree Lane Park. Multi-genre curation will triumph on the HARDER Stage on the South Lawn…. Bass music devotées can ride the rail at the festival’s Green Stage inside the LA Memorial Coliseum, while a spotlight will continue to be shined on live acts and new subgenres du jour at the Purple Stage inside BMO stadium.”

In simple terms, the 5-stage breakdown is as follows:

HARD Stage (mainstage): Green Lot on South side of BMO Stadium
HARDER Stage (multi-genre): South Lawn
Pink Stage (house + techno): Christmas Tree Lane Park
Green Stage (bass music): LA Memorial Coliseum
Purple Stage (up-and-coming acts): BMO Stadium

Aside from massive special guests Kid Cudi and 21 Savage, HARD’s talent booking team has mostly focused on multi-genre dance music artists in 2023, contrary to its reputation of interspersing rap and hip-hop talent throughout its lineups. Although the decision may be controversial to some, electronic music fans have expressed an abundance of excitement for the 2023 lineup.

In another unique decision, both headlining acts are back-to-back sets, which is rare for a festival of this magnitude. Friday will feature Skrillex b2b Four Tet, and Saturday will host Kaskade b2b John Summit. These legendary duos are very likely to garner the largest crowds of the weekend, besides Kid Cudi and 21 Savage depending on scheduling.

Other massive back-to-back sets include Diplo b2b BLOND:ISH, Kayzo b2b Sullivan King, Yellow Claw b2b Flosstradamus, 4B b2b JSTJR, Fly With Us (AC Slater and Chris Lorenzo), and SAYMYNITTI.

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HARD Summer has also expanded its range of featured EDM genres, including much more drum & bass, trap, moombahton, and experimental genres than previous years. Consistent with the rise in popularity of drum & bass in the USA, the festival has included acts such as Netsky, LUUDE, Rohaan, Hamdi, BICEP, and Devault.

Several large acts less-frequently seen on Insomniac lineups include Two Feet, PAWSA, Gorgon City, Oliver Tree, and JUNGLE. House and dubstep comprise the majority of the lineup, with talent such as Knock2, Noizu, Black Coffee, Wuki, Disco Lines, Space Laces, Kai Wachi, Peekaboo, Diesel, Dirt Monkey, Blanke, and Kaivon.

Last but not least, there is a plethora of fantastic up-and-coming talent within the lineup with the likes of Frosttop, Ninajirachi, Tape B, Emo Nite, and more.