Festival Radar: Melodic Music and Movement at All Day I Dream

The sweltering heat didn’t stop Denverites from flocking to Sculpture Park on Saturday, August 3 for the All Day I Dream 2024 World Tour. This renowned record label founded by Lee Burridge set out to visit 11 cities across the globe, including The Mile High City, resulting in a total of 26 shows. The single-day festival in Denver inspired dancing to House and Techno music under the summer sun with a setting that brought the Denver EDM scene together to an event beyond the ordinary. 

The visionary behind the All Day I Dream movement shared his vision for the tour, noting that “summertime is already headed towards us fast and this year we have the pleasure of hosting 26 All Day I Dream parties around the globe. I’m looking forward to dropping the first track of what promises to be a very special summer indeed,” said Burridge. 

A dancefloor positioned under colorful hanging lanterns and adorned with floral arrangements served as the hub of the festival. The beating heart of the afternoon was truly the DJ booth, with sounds coming from Lee Burridge, Christain Löffler, Pippi Ciez and Tommy Raffa.

The heat and the mystical music allowed guests to go at their own pace. A city park turned into an immersive oasis set the tone for music lovers to embrace the outdoor nature of the city. With only one designated dance area, this wasn’t your average festival, but it served as a nod to Denver with the dancing sculptures almost moving in rhythm alongside us. Festival-goers laid out underneath the sun or tucked away in the shade on bright-colored blankets to enjoy the melodic and vibrant beats.

The festival truly came to life once the sun set and the colorful lanterns began to glow. This blend of international House music with an emphasis on the ambient side of the genre is a perfect lineup for our bass capital tucked into the Rocky Mountains.

World traveler and avid DJ from London England, Burridge rose to fame in the early 2000s. His deep House music pocket is home to many a classic club beat but airing on the side of simplicity. Each song takes its time to build itself around you and hypnotize you with its rhythm. His generally calming and nature-heavy aesthetic has encouraged fans to return to his shows for decades now, to experience his passion for live music themselves.

Bringing a notorious blend of House, Techno and ambient sound, Löffler is a fresher addition to the electronic scene who kicked off his career in Germany. This intriguing mix of ambient in the form of gentle synths, vocal loops and wide atmospheric sound moves listeners and builds a wonderful community when experienced live. Peaceful sounds move and build into the more rhythmic tracks with remarkable skill from Löffler.

Ciez creates truly global House music by experimenting with sounds from all over the world. With a deep love for rhythm and unique frequencies, Ciez takes his percussion to a whole new level perfect for the electronic genre. Like so many London musicians, Ciez started very young and has spent his life diving head-first into the electronic music industry.

The greenest DJ on the lineup was Brooklyn’s own Raffa who is signed to the All Day I Dream Label for his up-and-coming organic House sound. This blending of natural sounds with classic House rhythms and crescendos makes for a perfect addition to the show’s line-up. Stay tuned to see what he has in store for the electronic music scene.

In classic Denver fashion, the energy and zeitgeist of the mood were approachable – all were welcome here. Festival-goers understood the assignment, dressing in expressive and lively outfits. There aren’t many things in this world that invite others in and encourage them to show up as their best and truest selves. However, in every setting or scenario, music has the power to do that, and it’s relentless. Music has the power to emote, inspire and reign in communities. It is the opposite of matter yet still has an infinite amount of power that forces people to move. This was the enchanting and carefree feeling the Denver community experienced at All Day I Dream.