HARD Summer headed to its newest venue, Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, this year, which presented many favorable aspects for attendees.
If there’s one Southern California summer festival that keeps attendees returning year after year, it’s HARD Summer. Through its diverse lineups and many venue changes, HARD has kept its devoted fanbase who cherish this beloved event. This year proved to be no different, as scene veterans and newcomers alike flocked to HARD Summer at Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, August 3-4, for a time unlike any other.
Armed with a larger footprint and an arsenal of heavy hitters, HARD Summer 2024 was one of the best ones yet. Top acts like Dillon Francis, Disclosure, Zeds Dead, Sub Focus, Chase & Status, SIDEPIECE, and more took the stage, bringing the heat back to Los Angeles. From bass to house and everything in between, the variety of stages across the spacious location offered many opportunities to dance along to your favorite genres.
Wherever you decided to spend your time the most, there was something for everyone at HARD Summer. Read on to see five things we absolutely loved about the festival this year!
Five Things We Loved About HARD Summer 2024
The Stunning Venue and Atmosphere
While HARD Summer has seen more venues than you can count, this year’s experience blew any expectations out of the water. Fans initially judged the location and festival map, considering it underwhelming. In-person, though, HARD Events completely outdid themselves, providing an awesome experience for attendees. After seeing many iterations of HARD Summer since I first attended in 2016, this edition was set apart from the rest in the best way.
The venue was modern and spacious, with plenty of room to maneuver between stages. Hollywood Park boasts a beautiful man-made lake right in the middle, a prime photo opportunity throughout the weekend. There was no sound bleed between stages due to the distance between each one. The stages themselves were also cutting-edge, with lights and lasers and large in stature, creating an immersive experience. To top everything off, cell service was typically optimal, and I was able to reach my friends or post to social media with little issues.
The location in Los Angeles was seamless to travel to, right near LAX airport in Inglewood. The only major downsides to this location were the distance between stages, which made you consider who you wanted to catch, and the long wait times when leaving the parking lots or structures. This did prove to make attending the HARD Weekender afters a bit difficult, but that could be mitigated by leaving the festival a little early.
The Insane VIP Perks, Freebies, and More
This year’s edition of HARD Summer had more VIP perks than previous ones. Fans could grab many freebies, which rotated throughout the day and included an exclusive laminate, hair clips, candy, sunscreen, chapstick, deodorant, trinkets, earplugs, and more. At the HARD Stage, attendees could cool off in the VIP-only pool or chill under misters to beat the heat while enjoying optimal stage views away from the GA craziness.
Activities ran rampant in VIP, including Dance Dance Revolution, a barber, glamour shots, Kandi-making stations, a claw machine, and more. VOLTA Beauty was also onsite, providing complimentary hair and makeup services. The true icing on the cake was the VIP walkway between the Green and HARDER stages, which came in clutch during peak sets.
The Variety of Sounds on the Lineup
It’s no secret that HARD Summer brings a diverse roster of artists, with each performance sure to be top-notch. Fan-favorite HARD legend Dillon Francis returned for a unique Moombahton set, and TroyBoi took us all to trap heaven. Pop icon Nelly Furtado even made her HARD Summer debut, opening up with favored tracks “Maneater” and “I’m Like A Bird.”
Another standout set included Zeds Dead, who provided a bass-heavy spin on tracks from Arctic Monkeys and Fleetwood Mac. REZZMAU5 made its HARD Summer debut, seeing deadmau5 and REZZ bringing their mind-bending collaborative project to the HARDER stage. Drum and bass also ran supreme all weekend, with heavy hitters like Hedex, Chase & Status, Dimension, and Sub Focus obliterating the Green stage.
The beats were flowing all weekend on the techno and house music side. Chris Stussy brought all the vibes to the Pink stage, attracting a sea of fans who dared get lost in the semi-enclosed stage. Eli Brown dominated the decks here on Sunday, closing out the festival with releases like “Be The One” and “Believe.” Massive back-to-back sets also occurred from Tchami and Malaa for their return of No Redemption, as well as FISHER and Chris Lake’s Under Construction. Whichever sounds you wanted to hear, you were sure to find something that piqued your interest at HARD this year.
The Wide Array of Food and Drink Options
Festivalgoers never had to venture too far to grab something to eat or drink, and lines were relatively short. Various food trucks offered chicken sandwiches, burritos, pizza, Cinnabon, açaí, churros, BBQ, hibachi, and much more. Vegan options were also available at certain vendors. One option that stood out to me was oysters at the HARDER stage, which were surprisingly delicious and fresh.
Regarding drink options, a crowd favorite was the HARD Summer cooler, available at every drink vendor. You could choose between two pre-made drink options, and it arrived in a large Capri Sun pouch and lanyard branded by HARD. Nostalgia aside, the hands-free aspect was prime for those long walks throughout the festival.
The People and PLUR Vibes
The energy at HARD Summer this year is the same energy that made me fall in love with the scene when I attended my first HARD Summer in 2016. Both artists and festivalgoers came out in full force, celebrating the dwindling summer moments among beautiful scenery. I exchanged trinkets with ravers from all walks of life, and everyone was willing to help each other out.
While there were few reports of fights breaking out in crowds, this HARD audience seemed to generally be the most pleasant yet. There will always be those people who shove their way into the crowd without saying, “Excuse me.” I’m glad I found it to be minimal this time, from my experience in VIP.
Only time will tell if HARD Summer will return to this venue. If everything comes together perfectly again next year, I’m sure longtime HARD fans, and I will be in attendance.
