The Sherp sheds light on the techno-focused #BUDXAWAKENINGS stage, a special installation at the main stage, and the Budweiser Brew District at Vh1 Supersonic.
After a stellar experience at Vh1 Supersonic last year, the Sherp was compelled to return to the festival in 2019. With a new location and a well-curated lineup, we were beyond excited to spend a weekend at one of India’s premier festivals. Here’s the Sherp’s breakdown of all the elements that formed the #BUDXSUPERSONIC experience:
Music
Techno aficionados had their eyes set on the #BUDXAWAKENINGS stage. The stage was executed in collaboration with Dutch techno powerhouse, Awakenings. The first day was hosted by Sweden’s iconic techno label, Drumcode. Browncoat teamed up with SEQU3L for a memorable inaugural performance at #BUDXAWAKENINGS. Moving forward, Layton Giordani had the crowd grooving to his music. After Giordani was Bart Skils, who is famous for creating some of Drumcode’s most popular productions. The veteran DJ’s set was captivating from the beginning to the end. The last act of the day was Paul Ritch, the harmonic techno master, who closed out the stage with a bang.
Paul Ritch dishing out some peak time tracks at the #BUDXAWAKENINGS stage.
Photo credit: Anand Mohapatra
On Day 2, Colin Benders stole the show with his phenomenal live modular synth performance. Benders looked like a young, deeply focused version of Isaac Newton in the midst of performing an intense experiment. Following Colin was Gaiser, who finally made his highly anticipated debut in India. The Minus label signee enchanted the crowd with his slick productions. The final act was Filth On Acid’s, Reinier Zonneveld who destroyed the stage with his raw, pulsating music.
Installations
The Budweiser Brew District was the Sherp’s favorite place at the festival to kick back, relax, and grab a cold one. The district featured a number of interesting installations and the largest of those was the beer garden. The grassy beer garden’s rustic wooden benches and hanging string lights made it a beautiful place to hang out. The well-stocked bars were created from up-cycled shipping containers.
The Sherp also took some memorable shots at the immersive photo booth. There was also a store where fashionistas could grab Budweiser’s stylish streetwear. We even saw a barber shop and pop-up tattoo studio at the Brew District! The lighting installations like the LED beer bottle and the neon lit “Be A King” were attractive photo hotspots.
Photo Collage Credits (Clockwise): 1. Immersive photo booth: Anand Mohapatra | 2. Beer garden by night: Rudgrcom | 3. Brew District: Amol Raval | 4. Beer Garden By Day: Amol Raval | 5. Barbershop: Anand Mohapatra
The Sherp also spent a solid chunk of time at the festival’s gargantuan main stage, Sonic Realm. The best place to soak in all the action at the stage was Budweiser’s elevated viewing deck. It offered sweeping panoramic views of the stellarly designed, UFO-themed stage that spanned over 200 feet. The stage showcased the likes of EDM sensation Marshmello, Jaden Smith, Rudimental and Troyboi. There were plenty of heartwarming moments to be experienced there. A memorable one was when Marshmello dedicated two minutes of silence to India’s martyrs who were killed in the recent Pulwama terror strike.
Jaden Smith performing to an eager crowd at Vh1 Supersonic’s Mainstage.
Photo credit: RUDGR
Overall Experience
The #BUDXAWAKENINGS stage combined with the fun installations at the brew district greatly enhanced the festival experience. #BUDXSUPERSONIC’s focus on combining elements of culture and music was a winning formula. Their approach resulted in an all-encompassing, unique festival experience that enthralled music loving fans.
The Sherp is already missing the festival’s cheerful vibe. We are excited to see what Vh1 Supersonic and Budweiser Experiences have in store in the future.
Check out Vh1 Supersonic on Facebook, and Budweiser India on Facebook, for more information.