From Warehouses to Festivals

When dance music was first coming onto the scene, there were not any venues that would cater to this type of music. Majority of the first events would take place illegally inside warehouse that had been rigged to supply electricity for the sound systems. This was where the dance music culture began. It wasn't always flashy festivals with intricate stages. It began in the most basic areas and was truly only about the music. The whole flash and mainstream appeal came way later in the future of this musical genre.

The warehouse vibe of dance music events is something that still exist today. Nowadays, they are not illegal parties, but just private events that friends throw in warehouses that they own. They do this for the nostalgic feel of the early days of dance music. Many people who enjoy this genre of music still enjoy going to parties that take place in a warehouse. These parties still have very minimal lighting and the whole vibe is set by the music that the DJs are playing. These events are the true reason why most people in the early days of dance music are so passionate about the music.

As the genre has become more popular, the stages where the DJs play on have also. They are no longer confined to the space of a small warehouse, but instead on massive stages with lighting that anyone would find spectacular. There is nothing like being in the crowd at a massive show and watching a DJ play your favorite song while an intricate firework display takes place all around you. Some people call this flash and trash, which means they feel it takes away from the the music that is being played. This is highly debated among many DJs and honestly there is no right or wrong opinion.

In my opinion, both settings are awesome. I love the underground feel of a warehouse party. People just relax and dance to the music that is being provided to them. Festivals are also quite amazing, they stimulate all your senses at once. Both settings have their place in the culture though. I love that new people are discovering how amazing dance music can be through the mainstream. If the music still took place in underground warehouse, many would not discover it. Once these people discover and take interest in the music though, I highly recommend that they at some point try and go to an underground party.