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[FESTIVAL REVIEW] Raving in the Windy City: North Coast Music Festival 2025 Raises the Bar Once Again
Over Labor Day Weekend (August 30–September 1), I made my way to North Coast Music Festival at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois—just outside Chicago. I’ve been to my fair share of EDM festivals, but North Coast has officially claimed the top spot for me.
With perfect mid-60s weather, a crowd full of PLUR, and a lineup stacked with heavy-hitters and fresh talent, the weekend was unforgettable. Here’s how it all went down:
Day 1
I dipped out of my 9–5 a bit early to catch the end of Ian Asher at the Shipyard 360 stage. This stage got a major upgrade from last year, transforming into a true 360 setup, and it completely changed the energy—crowd hype levels through the roof. Ian Asher was awesome (as expected).
From there, I hopped on the Ferris wheel before heading to the main stage for Tinlicker. While the duo often performs solo, the music never loses its impact—their sound is consistently captivating.
This set was no exception, and the highlight for me came when they dropped one of my all-time favorites, “Hide U,” towards the end.
Then came hometown heroes Louis the Child, who delivered a playful, high-energy set that had the whole crowd jumping. They mixed fan favorites like “It’s Strange” and “Weekend” with fresh twists that kept everyone dancing.
Chris Lake followed, and while I was having a ton of fun on the rail (shoutout to the stilt walkers in neon suits), I couldn't stop thinking about how I was missing Kaskade.
Seeing Kaskade in his hometown, Chicago, is always a special experience, and his Shipyard 360 set more than lived up to expectations. When “I Remember” hit, the entire crowd sang along in unison—goosebumps all around. Bonus points for the mustache, which made the set even more iconic.
I kicked off day 2 with a stop at the Kandi station (because no fest is complete without making a new bracelet or five). Met some awesome people there before catching Joshwa, who blew me away with sing-along remixes like “Since You’ve Been Gone.”
Then it was time for the legend: Deadmau5. His drum & bass set at Mega Vega, paired with a sunset backdrop was electric.
From there, I walked over to the Fire Pit—a dome pulsing with fire jets and trippy flame patterns overhead—for MUZZ’s set. It’s one of the most unique stage designs I’ve ever experienced, and the crowd energy matched the heat.
Later, I caught an etherial set from LP Giobbi from one of the two ships behind the Shipyard 360 stage—complete with its own bar (and one of the friendliest bartenders ever).Then, Sofi Tukker stole my heart. Sophie Hawley-Weld’s vocals were otherworldly, and their energy was contagious.
I closed the night with Excision—normally not my go-to—but wow. His visuals, especially the viral Shrek ones, had the entire crowd in a frenzy. Consider me converted.
Day 3 started slow in the Chill Dome (which lived up to its name), before I planted myself at Mega Vega for most of the day.
BONNIE x CLYDE, a new discovery for me, crushed it with high-energy crowd work and standout tracks like “Love Is Killing Me.” KREAM followed with gems like “Arrival” and “Wicked Game,” setting the perfect vibe.
Then came Timmy Trumpet—an absolute showman. He’s pure chaos in the best way: jumping, hyping, drinking, and somehow still nailing every drop. The crowd went wild for “Fiend,” “Freaks,” and “Party Till We Die.” He’s a festival legend, no question.
The finale was Zedd, the artist who first got me into EDM. Hearing “Beautiful Now” and “Clarity” live again felt like a full-circle moment. With streamers flying and visuals bursting into color, it was the perfect way to end the weekend. I skipped Zeds Dead to beat the traffic, but if the crowd’s reaction was any clue, they crushed it too.
Overall, North Coast 2025 was everything I love about festivals: incredible music, creative stage setups, good vibes, and a community that looks out for each other (I lost track of how many free waters I was handed).
This year solidified it for me—North Coast is officially my favorite festival! I can’t wait to do it all over again next year.
Photos and video courtesy of North Coast Music Festival
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