A MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR THE MUSIC LOVERS OF D.C.
By James Stemple and Basma Humadi, Staff Writer and Assistant Lifestyle Editor
The fourth annual All Things Go Fall Classic premiered recently and featured acts from all kinds of genres across the music-packed weekend.
The festival was born from D.C. music blog “All Things Go.” The blog’s founders wanted to bring their passion for music to life, and so the Fall Classic was created to headline some of the biggest names in music.
This year, the event was hosted in Union Market in a loading dock area packed to the brim with food stalls, merch stalls, and a well-stocked bar.
The festival is split into three days with a focus on a general genre for each day: electronic the first day, hip-hop/rap the second, and alternative/indie the third. We attended all three days and can say that it was a blast to see all these people come together and jam out to some talented artists.
The very first day was electronic heavy. The bass felt like it was going to hit you in the chest if you got too close to the stage. Spectators who ventured to the front were well stocked with ear plugs. The venue wasn’t very populated until later into the night and most people were there to see the headliners: Galantis.
By the time The Knocks—the act right before Galantis—came on, it was impossible to be in the crowd and not smell the sweat and hair of the person standing in front of you. But it was well worth the sacrifice.
When Galantis came on, the crowd went wild. They played songs like “You”, “No Money” and “True Feeling.”
The sea of light and jumping people was enough to make even the most EDM-averse smile. The duo of Galantis beat on giant war drums and smiled in unison; you could see they weren’t just performing, they were enjoying themselves.
The second day was a beast of a similar nature. It felt like the bass was even louder than the previous day.
The sushi burritos from Buredo were still there and so were the ice cream sandwiches from Milk Cult. Many festival-goers continued to lineup at the free photo booth to snap pics and make the most of the night. The day started off slow with not many people and continued to build as the night went on.
Vince Staples and Young Thug were the acts of the night. Staples came onstage just as high-energy as the crowd. Headliner of the night, Young Thug, performed afterwards and played hits like “Relationship” and “Wyclef Jean”.
Bleachers, an American indie pop band, immediately drew the crowd’s attention. Bleachers’ frontman Jack Antonoff came onstage with high energy and a bass that could pierce a person’s soul.
As a surprise, they celebrated birthdays of two band members blowing out candles on two birthday cakes on stage and passing out cake to the audience. Bleachers ended with “I Wanna Get Better,” a song Antonoff wrote and describes as one of his mission statements in life.
The last performer of the night of this year’s festival, Foster the People, came on with an aesthetic blue backdrop and slick-backed hair. Although best known for their hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” the band proved the rest of their songs are just as catchy. The crowd welcomed the light rain that started during Foster the People’s set as a chance to cool off.
An entirely ground-up initiative bringing a light to Washington D.C., All Things Go provides much needed escapism, community, and vibes for all attendees.
Photos Courtesy of Michelle Gardner
