EDM’s biggest names invade Lights All Night for the event’s record-setting year: Photo Gallery & Review

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As 2013 drew to a close, the fans of Lights All Night found themselves gathering early for a pre-New Year’s celebration. With New Year’s Eve falling on Tuesday, the crew at LAN moved the fest back to the Dallas Convention Center. This allowed nearly forty-thousand music lovers to pack the two massive stages that awaited them inside. The Mothership, claiming it’s thrown with lasers, pyro, co2 and a lineup that would make all jealous. While the BoomBox stage, a 60ft projection wall that housed a DJ booth nearly 20ft above the crowd. This 2-day festival would show why it’s leading the competition for one of the nation’s best EDM shows.

Those who arrived to the BoomBox stage early were treated to a heavy set from Getter. He and fellow “Digital Assassins” team mate Herobust, showed the crowd why they worthy to join Datsik on his upcoming tour. If you found yourself at The Mothership, you caught yourself dancing to a different tune. B-Roc and Jpatt joined forces for a special DJ set that showed why The Knocks will be a must see for the 2014 season. As the lasers covered the horizon, remixes of the year’s top pop songs spilled through the speakers. This hour set ended far too soon, but was quickly brought back to its pop dance rhythm when Icona Pop hit the stage. This deadly duo of Caroline & Aino, strut their stuff in matching black & white outfits while wailing on keyboards and singing their hearts out to the now nearly full arena.

As the box office filled, the tickets quickly sold. Rumor had it, twenty thousand in 4 hours; A new record for Lights All Night. This meant Zomboy’s set on the BoomBox stage would be full of thousands of bass hungry fans. Even a direct flight from the UK couldn’t stop this Brit from owning the decks for a full set of back-to-back jams. Grizmatik was next, after a quick helicopter ride, where the boys expressed that they were more than pumped to show the Dallas crowd what they had been working on this tour.

Fedde Le Grand kept the crowds’ spirits alive with an unpredictable set of multiple genres and odd new age tracks. As day one neared an end the crowd anxiously waited for the nights headliners. Krewella, brought a spaceship full of lasers to the boombox stage. One laser cannon helped create a force field, surrounding the booth and enclosing the artists! Jahan, Yasmine, and Rain Man had the crowds tossing shirts, glow sticks and condom balloons to their rowdy finale set. Before heading over to the Mothership fans made sure to grab more free samples from the Trojan booth. This led to a mass of weirdly shaped balloons floating throughout the Conventions Center. When the fans got to the Mothership they were greeted by a wall of Mau5heads. To say that the dancefloor was completely full would be a understatement; women on top of shoulders, all crammed in to get a view of the Unhooked set that Joel was about to unleash.

“Are the rumors true? Is there a 2014 tour for Mau5? What would it be like?”

These questions were no longer a concern after watching the spectacle that took place on the Mothership from 12:30-2am. Oldies, collabs, tracks you’ve only heard from a friends iPod… all of them. Joel showed why he continues to make Deadmau5 the biggest name in electronic music and why women climb on top of shoulders, to get a pics of him with that famous helmet. After a shower of confetti, night one was over leaving the fans anxious for sleep and eager for round two.

Cash Cash, Mattisse & Sadko, and Kill Paris were first up on the Mothership. While Nom De Strip, Dirtyphonics, and Paper Diamond blasted the BoomBox. All 6 of these artists have had a phenomenal 2013, and have shown no signs in slowing down. Even a boot on Paper Diamond’s left foot couldn’t stop him from showing some CO love to the kind city of Dallas.

A-Trak, another Lights All Night veteran, was next on the BoomBox stage. Before most could get there cameras out he was already on top the decks showing off some of his best tricks. His manager to his side, tossing out T-shirts and foam faces. Next door, Nicky Romero brought the electro-house vibe, and showed the love for the fans who danced the night away in preparation for Kaskade and Major Lazer. As the last couple hours drew to an end the confetti, co2 and balloon showers only increased. Diplo and crew wore matching suites to go with their confetti guns and Major Lazer flags. Over at the Mothership, Kaskade brought fire and a confetti shower that left you picking off paper for days. As the night came to a close the fans stood still on the floor.

“One more song…One more song”

But there were no more… only the memory of a successful Lights All Night. To those who truly needed more there was an after party with Dirtyphonics and Le Castle Vania. But for those who didn’t, a bed or evening with good friends was all that was needed.

Words and photos by Brandon Taylor.