Illfest 2022

Illfest 2022 wasn’t a festival I was wildly hyped for on lineup alone. I went mostly because I wanted my friend Gauthier to experience his first festival and see what the whole thing feels like in person.

The surprise: the second stage

The second stage ended up being the best part of the day for me: wonky, bassy, and consistently fun. Ray Volpe was the standout. I left his set genuinely confused how I’d never caught him live before.

The downside: no lasers

Because the festival is close to the airport, lasers weren’t part of the production. If you’re used to big bass festivals, that absence is noticeable.

The moment: Slander at night

Slander’s set hit me harder than I expected. It was one of those “music is doing too much to your emotions” moments. The thing that pulled me back was running into friends I’d met earlier; suddenly it turned into a shared experience instead of me spiraling in my own head.

And Gauthier?

He didn’t get fully converted. Sometimes your first festival isn’t love at first drop.

Still, I left appreciating what Illfest did deliver: a few great sets, a few real moments, and the reminder that festivals are as much about connection as they are about production.