Acclaimed EDM producer, Hardwell brought his highly-anticipated ‘I Am Hardwell’ show to the Brisbane Riverstage on Sunday night (5th October), transforming the outdoor arena into a vibrant and sweaty dancefloor.
After playing for only an hour at Future Music, Hardwell treated fans to a solid, three-hour set that included cuts from both recent and earlier collections of his extensive work.
Image © Emelia EbejerThe tracks came thick and fast with no time in between as the Dutch producer mixed vocals from popular songs with his distinctive heart-thumping breakdowns incorporating elements of a wide range of genres such as dubstep, drum & bass, trance, jungle and R&B.
An exuberant crowd bathed in the warm electric glow of progressive deep house cuts, melodic vocals and bass-heavy beat breaks that have made Hardwell a force to be reckoned with. Visually speaking, the show was spectacular with a heavy production focus on lighting and kaleidoscopic videos that were quite mesmerising.
During fast-paced dance segments, smoke poured from jets lining the front of the stage and at the peak of dizzying electronic crescendos, confetti and streamers exploded in perfect synchronisation with the beat.
Image © Emelia EbejerUnfortunately, stray streamers got caught in the rigging and roof structure giving the Riverstage the farcical impression of having been strewn with toilet paper, like some elaborate Halloween prank.
The combination of Hardwell’s music and visual production makes for a surreal and memorable show; considering he’s one man behind a mixing desk, Hardwell is a lively and engaging entertainer. He takes command of his performance, creating a high-energy dance party atmosphere usually only seen at large-scale festivals, and the way he controls his audience is more reminiscent of an enigmatic, cult leader than a DJ. When Hardwell said “clap”, they clapped; when he said “jump", they cleared a metre; and when he said “make some noise” I swear to God they blew out my eardrum; let’s just say if he ever adds Kool-Aid to his shows, we should seriously worry.
‘I Am Hardwell’ was truly something else to behold, an entirely different world where topshelf EDM was beautifully complemented by stunning visuals and proof why Hardwell is one of the biggest producers in the world.
