The Dandelion Music Festival took over a packed Clinton Square on Saturday night, with thousands gathering in downtown Syracuse for a seven-hour concert featuring energetic sets from big-name electronic dance DJs like Nicky Romero and Deorro, as well as Kryoman, EC Twins, SVNF8, and Talia x Tadeo.
The carnival was open to everyone, with some visitors pre-registering for tickets and others just joining the line as they passed by. With no security or COVID regulations in effect, the square was filled with costumed dancers, stilts, and sparkling juggling pins and whips. It was truly breathtaking. The celebration was so popular that it drew people from all over the world. There was even a $1,500 cash prize for the best costume.
Ted Farnsworth, a.k.a. Zash Media’s co-founder and a Syracuse native, collaborated with Andrew Moore, a.k.a. Kryoman, the entertainment director for the event as well as a headlining act to organize it.
“It is a feel good, giving back concert, bringing electronic music from all over the world with international acts, Burning Man installations, and Cirque du Soleil performers,” Moore said. “It’s something cool that Syracuse has never seen before all in one place.”
The event was also about giving back to the city, according to Moore, and Zash Media gave $25,000 to Redhouse Arts Center in order to continue supporting the arts in the neighborhood.
At 4 p.m., Talia and Tadeo began the event, with only a handful of people in attendance at Clinton Square for the first performers. The city was filled with their electronic dance music, and it could be heard for several blocks. A dance party was held on the art installation by Jen Lewin called “The Pool” that included white pads on the ground that lit up when walked on, with colorful bubbles floating in them. At the Dandelion music festival, everyone was able to enjoy themselves.
Around 7 p.m., as the sunset on downtown, the party atmosphere continued to spread throughout the city. Kryoman’s set included a variety of light-up foam sticks and bass that reverberated through the crowd as thousands of bodies danced. Trampolinists in bright costumes performed on stage beside huge robots with arms that sprayed fog into the air, and ladies dressed as cyborgs.
Strangers danced together, complemented each other’s vivid costumes, and traded handmade bracelets and necklaces often referred to as Kandi. The energy in the room was electric, and the crowd danced to every beat drop. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.
Deorro’s performance included several fan favorites, such as “All I Do is Win,” “Teach Me How to Dougie,” and “All the Way Up,” which he closed with his hit with Chris Brown, “Five More Hours.” The lights, music, and visuals on stage included Tina Belcher’s famous twerking dance from Bob’s Burgers and the strobing colors in Jellyfish Jam from Spongebob Squarepants.
Nicky Romero, a Dutch DJ who had come from Amsterdam to Syracuse for the event, closed the evening with an hour-and-a-half high-energy performance that brought the party to a close. At its height, an estimated 5,000 dancing fans packed Clinton Square along with 1.8 million viewers watching the live stream on Lomotif’s app.
Despite the fact that the concert was produced in just two months, dance music enthusiasts are confident it will take off if given the appropriate exposure and additional top performers.
During the two weeks preceding the event, Syracuse promoter Andre Young distributed fliers and used social media to promote the festival.
“With more advertisement and time the event could move to the fairgrounds,” Young said. “But ultimately, this was a complete success. People are here, people are dancing, people are into it.
“Hands are up, I can’t believe it.”
The Event Concluded With A Spectacular Success, leavingZash’s followers thrilled for the future events!
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