Tomorrowland 2013: Day 2 Gallery & Recap

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24 hours into TomorrowLand and a quarter of a million people have showed they won’t be slowing down. 6pm and it’s baking in Belgium, elektro heads down to the main stage where the crowd bask in the heat radiating from Chuckie, laying down his signature combination of sugary classics supported by growling big room Dutch progressive house.

Across the site, the crowd have settled into a mellow groove, eyes closed, hands up. Relaxed, content, assimilated into the culture of the place. Groups sunbathe by the lake, friends high five, couples kiss, people are on shoulders, in superhero costumes, topless and barefoot. Over at the Cocoon Heroes arena backpackers pose with a speech bubble “Is there life after TomorrowLand?”. There may be, but no one here wants to think about that.

Kerri Chandler and Mark Farina play soulful house to bubble blowers, to a group of excited girls from Angola, whilst Germans kickstyle to Gabba, French and Brits delve into deep house at one of the floating stages and Americans fist pump amongst smoke and strobes at the second stage.

10pm and gamechanger Avicii takes command of the main stage. Smoke blasts from the top of the 60 ft high volcano as helicopters circle overhead. elektro stands up at the back of the bowl. What a site. Lasers and chart toppers pierce the night, flying through the fingers of 60,000 people. Then, in spectacular fashion, roaring thunderclaps cut over the music and the sky opens. Smoke and strobes pierce through driving rain. Walls of water slam into walls of people as the crowd refuse to let up. Steam flies off of hair as the main arena gets decidedly slippery. Here’s to a festival that never quits.

Words and photos by Ally Byers.