TomorrowWorld’s Q-Dance stage really stood out from the rest with its skyrocketing BPM. Here’s all you need to know
Q-Dance has been pushing the limits of hardstyle and bringing a new sound to North America. While hardstyle has always enjoyed a fair amount of popularity in European countries like Belgium and the Netherlands, it is still a growing force in the US. Hardstyle may not appeal to the masses because of its relentless, aggressive sound that doesn’t shy away from crossing 150 BPM, Over the last couple of years, numerous hardstyle artistes like Headhunterz, Frontliner, Zatox and Brennan Heart and more have broken into the DJ Mag top 100.
Q Dance by night
TomorrowWorld was the first major festival to bring the Q-Dance experience to the united stage with an all-star hardstyle line-up. They occupied the Q-Dance stage for three whole days in 2013. It was paradise for Hardstyle fans but it also played a crucial role in exposing new people to the sound. This year, unfortunately, due to protests and noise complaints from people living around the in Chattahoochie Hills area the Q-Dance stage was limited to only one day. Hardstyle fans were very disappointed as many of them were making the trip to TomorrowWorld solely for the Q-Dance stage.
However, they wanted to make the most of that one day and they had a stacked lineup of artistes for 2014. Wildstylez who was recently involved in a twitter brawl with Deadmau5 also played one hell of a set. Dutch duo, PsykoPunkz showed why Headhunterz tipped them off as “the ones to watch”. America’s #1 female hard style DJ, Lady Faith demonstrated her diva-like mixing skills. Coone closed the Q-Dance stage accompanied with spectacular fireworks that lit up the beautiful Georgia sky.
The fans at the Q-Dance stage showed their loyalty with their Q-Dance t-shirts and flags. They made the most of that one day and even danced in the water that was meant to keep them away from the stage.
Here’s what a Matt Lynch, a dedicated Hardstyle fan had to say about the Q Dance experience,
“You have to experience it at least once, and make your own opinion. I’ve seen people who haven’t heard Hardstyle before but land up at the Q Dance stage and fall in love with the genre. It’s an amazing experience with all the lasers and fireworks. The genre itself is constantly evolving. Some Hardstyle and hard dance tracks are more melodic while others are very raw.”
Matt has been an avid Hardstyle fan since 2001 and has recently been throwing some of the best Hardstyle events on the East Coast.
Hardstyle is not pretentious by trying to be the next big thing but rather it is at a point where it’s welcoming people with open arms while its key players are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Hardstyle is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea but is definitely on the rise in the US with the rest of the world following suit. Big things are coming and the tempo is rising, keep up or get left behind.
(Cover picture courtesy : Q Dance Facebook)