Dreamfields México 2023 delivered the Evolution of Love with its diverse lineup and iconic stage takeovers.
Year after year, Dreamfields México has consistently outshined many other premiere dance festivals in the area. With stunning lineups, top-tier productions, and an atmosphere like no other, it’s earned its spot among flagship festivals around the world. Although the festival has experienced grand success, this is still only the beginning as attendance continues to skyrocket with each passing edition.
This year, Wolfpack Entertainment brought the Evolution of Love to life during one epic weekend on November 18 and 19. Complete with takeovers from prestigious labels and brands such as Redbull, Drumcode, Scantraxx, and many more, this was sure to be one of the best editions yet.
Admittedly, this event wasn’t on my radar until I took a last-minute trip down to Mexico, searching for good music and memorable times. I made my way down south and took care of some family errands, but I couldn’t get this incredible lineup out of my head. There was something for everyone: hard dance, techno, house, bass, psytrance, and everything else under the broad dance music spectrum. I waited with lots of anticipation, and before I knew it, I was standing outside of Estadio Akron, preparing to enter the unknown of a brand-new festival experience.
Dreamfields México excelled in service from entry to exit.
Attending a festival in another country always feels like a gamble. Luckily, I had nothing but positive experiences from the fast entry at security, the cashless system in play, and all of the great food available. Similar to Defqon.1 Festival, Dreamfields had its own (arguably superior) cashless system in which money was loaded onto a stylish festival bracelet and used via a tap-to-pay method. For further convenience, fans could get any funds left unspent on the bracelet as a refund! This was new to me, and I hope that other premiere festivals begin to implement this.
Aside from all of the banging music, the food at Dreamfields México was one of the brightest highlights of the entire experience. Extremely low prices and great food were a match made in heaven. Festival-goers were treated to the best food selection, from authentic dishes and snacks like tacos, esquites, and tostilocos to familiar treats like donuts, iced coffee, and sliders. In addition, vendors were walking through the crowd selling all sorts of Mexican candy and gum for quick recharges without leaving your favorite artist’s set.
Even with all of the exceptional experiences, the wide variety of music stole the show.
The hard dance music all over the lineup drew me into this festival, but opportunities to explore different genres and artists made me stay. After arriving late to the festival, I only planned on seeing a few of my favorite artists, such as Ben Nicky. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in and heard lots of music I enjoyed, however. To start the night, I walked into the main stage as hard techno sounds drew me in. Hard techno eventually turned into psytrance and hi-tech, eventually culminating in epic hardcore guided by Indira Paganotto.
As the night went on, I made my way to different stages where artists played music I didn’t know. I danced the night away with the groovy beats of FISHER, took a trip to the stars with Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, and fell into a deep trance with the hypnotizing sounds of Vintage Culture. Although I did feel out of my element at first, I learned to appreciate new genres and have fun outside of my comfort zone.
After a ton of amazing sets from all over the music spectrum, it was finally time for the Q-dance takeover main event.
As the clock struck 1am, massive crowds flocked to the main stage for the main event of the evening. Q-dance stopped by for the first time ever at Dreamfields México for a stage takeover led by two of the biggest acts in the scene, Sound Rush and Sefa. As usual, Q-dance stunned fans by taking them on a two-hour journey of pure hardstyle madness.
Throughout these two hours, I experienced what felt like the most energetic and dedicated crowd in the universe as fans all over the main stage grounds were hakking, muzzing, screaming, and everything else to show their passion for the harder styles. Although I’ve seen Sound Rush’s set multiple times over, the crowd made it feel brand new as their dedication radiated through the entire festival grounds.
After an hour of euphoric hardstyle, Sefa finally took the decks and raised the tempo for some banging Frenchcore music. He went through all of his hits such as “Nothing Like The Oldschool” with D-Sturb, “1527,” his remix of “Muzika,” and so much more! It’s important to note that Sefa showed up in a black tee and trucker hat, signifying the type of set he was going to play. Although that might seem like a small detail, this version of Sefa is completely different from the one that arrives in a suit and tie.
To close the weekend, Q-dance brought their signature Endshow, highlighting their expertise in spectacle. Q-dance once again showcased their unmatched production ability where hard dance music meets incredible visuals in a firework show unlike any other. No matter how many times I see it online or watch videos of previous Endshows, nothing prepares me for the intense emotions I experience in person. The beauty of hard dance music is unique, and Q-dance excels at showcasing it.
Once the night was over and I had some time to reflect, I felt a reconnection to dance music.
Dreamfields México ended up being one of my favorite festival experiences of the entire year. The good food, friendly atmosphere, and dedicated crowd contributed to a profound feeling of contentment once it was all over. More importantly, I was able to venture outside of my comfort zone and discover artists to catch at the next festival that doesn’t have hard dance on the lineup. I truly can’t wait to be back, and hope Dreamfields continues to be a sleeper pick when it comes to underrated events in the dance music space.
