Regina Spektor performing at Central Park SummerStage in New York City on August 24, 2023. All photos taken by Michaelah Reynolds.
5 Seconds of Summer | Philadelphia
5 Seconds of Summer (with support from Meet Me @ The Altar) performing at TD Pavilion at the Mann in Philadelphia, PA on August 19, 2023. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
Mt. Joy | Los Angeles
Mt. Joy performing at Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on August 25, 2023. All photos taken by Nicole Ditt.
Ocean Alley | New York City
Ocean Alley performing at Webster Hall in New York City on August 22, 2023. All photos taken by Janae Stewart.
In Between Days Festival | Quincy
DAY ONE
Fans eagerly made their way to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA last weekend for the second ever In Between Days music festival, a weekend which promised great music, games, food, shops, and more! This year saw two stages vs last year’s one, which allowed for many more artists, including a respectable number of bands part of the local Boston music scene.
Saturday started out strong with performances from local artists Gypsy Moths, Carissa Johnson, Paper Tigers, Dutch Tulips, and Shallow Pools along with some other smaller indie artists. The two stage setup allowed for nonstop music for both days with little distance for fans to travel between sets. I was able to catch at least part of every single artists’ performance, which is typically impossible at larger festivals! Later in the day we saw Weakened Friends, The Beths, Slothrust (my personal favorite set of the day), and Sunny Day Real Estate, who performed quite appropriately during the sunset of the beautiful first day of the festival. Once it was dark, Modest Mouse came out for a 1 hour and 45 minute set to close out the night, and by then fans had packed onto the field to catch their show!
Something unique about the In Between Days festival is what goes on besides just the music. This year, fans could enjoy three packed rows of shops at the back of the field, which ranged from selling vintage clothes to beauty products to beverages. I had the chance to stop by a few of these shops, including taking a trip to the 1 Million Strong sober supportive tent, which had samples of some delicious zero-proof beverages. There was also a retro arcade which featured games from the ‘80s like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and more!
DAY TWO
On Sunday, it was time to do it all again. Once again we had a day of non-stop music started off by some small and local bands, including the phenomenal Mint Green, Dwight & Nicole, Miko Marks, and Kat Wright (who gave a fantastic performance despite feeling under the weather). The crowd seemed to fill in much earlier on the second day, with a respectable amount of people there to see Allison Ponthier’s set around halfway through the day. She was followed by Yoke Lore, the multi-talented Cautious Clay, and the bluegrass-y Trampled By Turtles. The festival was closed out by one of my personal favorite bands, Lord Huron, who played a wonderfully catchy set (Ben Schneider’s creepy skull mask included).
Overall, the In Between Days festival was a great time for fans of all ages to come out and enjoy a laid-back weekend of music, food, and more, and I’m excited to see what they will have in store in 2024!
Words and photos by Julia Finocchiaro
Cigarettes After Sex | Los Angeles
Cigarettes After Sex performing at Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on August 17, 2023. All photos taken by Nicole Ditt.
Fall Out Boy | Camden
Fall Out Boy (with support from Bring Me The Horizon, Royal & the Serpent, and Games We Play) performing at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ on August 6, 2023. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
The War On Drugs | Asbury Park
The War On Drugs (with support from Shakey Graves, Lucius, and Steve Gunn) performing at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ on August 18, 2023. All photos taken by David Ross Lawn.
SYML | Los Angeles
SYML performing at The Regent Theater in Los Angeles, CA on August 18, 2023. All photos taken by Raven Kendall.
Cavetown | Philadelphia
Cavetown (with support from mxmtoon and grentperez) performing at Skyline Stage at the Mann Center in Philadelphia, PA on August 4, 2023. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
Jason Mraz | Queens
Jason Mraz performing at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY on August 17, 2023. All photos taken by Samantha Crowley.
Louis Tomlinson | Philadelphia
Louis Tomlinson (with support from Giant Rooks and Andrew Cushin) performing at TD Pavilion at the Mann in Philadelphia, PA on July 27, 2023. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
Ziggy Alberts | New York City
Ziggy Alberts (with support from Kim Churchill) performing at Irving Plaza in New York City on August 16, 2023. All photos taken by Samantha Crowley.
B. Cool-Aid | Brooklyn
B. Cool Aid performing at Market Hotel in Brooklyn, NY on August 11, 2023. All photos taken by Janae Stewart.
Arrows in Action | New York City
Arrows in Action (with support from Honey Revenge and Finish Ticket) performing at Gramercy Theatre in New York City on July 30, 2023. All photos taken by Samantha Crowley.
Underoath | Asbury Park
Underoath performing at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ on July 27, 2023. All photos taken by David Ross Lawn.
Franklin Jonas | Philadelphia
Franklin Jonas performing at The Foundry in Philadelphia, PA on July 23, 2023. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
YUNGBLUD | Atlanta
YUNGBLUD (with support from The Regrettes and Games We Play) performing at Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, GA on July 27, 2023. All photos taken by Alyssa Hudson.
Greta Van Fleet | Nashville
Greta Van Fleet performing at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN on July 24, 2023. All photos taken by Elizabeth Marsh.
ILLENIUM | Indianapolis
“Nothing can hold us down.” Being amidst electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture at ILLENIUM’s tour stop in Indianapolis was memorable to say the least. There was a sense of community with the pure love for music uniting individuals from all backgrounds. Everyone was highly encouraged to be unique and different than all the rest. Many chose to express their creativity and individuality through their eccentric outfits. A sea of jerseys flooded the venue with ILLENIUM and the number three stitched onto the back of each one, the same number he used to wear during lacrosse in high school. The energy exuding from the crowd was that of good vibes and acceptance, which aligns with the main rave philosophy: Peace, Love, Unity, Respect (PLUR). The camaraderie of the crowd was a safe space for all to escape from the real world for just a few hours. On all three screens, ILLENIUM’s logo was spinning around as the crowd was getting amped up for the show ahead.
ILLENIUM’s logo is a Phoenix which represents an immortal bird in Greek mythology that is reborn. The Phoenix symbolizes his past struggles with addiction, and his ability to rise from the ashes and transform into the person he is today. Music was his savior, and pulled him out of the dark depths of addiction. Creating music brings him peace, and allows him to process his emotions in a healthy way. ILLENIUM’s music in turn uplifts those who listen, and positively impacts the lives of countless individuals in unimaginable ways. Even in the live music environment, it was clear the vulnerability of ILLENIUM’s songwriting hit deep within and affected how his supporters viewed the world. ILLENIUM had cooked up an unforgettable setlist that had everyone on their feet and burning up the dance floor.
“Indianapolis are you f— ready?” shouted ILLENIUM into the microphone during “Gold (Stupid Love).” He went back to playing guitar, and as the beat dropped the entire pit threw their hands into the air. Fireworks were set off creating an array of colors, and flames shot up into the air from the stage releasing such a high level of heat it could be felt throughout the venue. The most chilling moment of the night was during “Good Things Fall Apart” as the crowd sang the chorus, and their voices echoed throughout the amphitheater. The details of the visuals projected on the screen behind ILLENIUM’s platform truly brought the entire performance to life even further. As the guitarist made his way to center stage for “Shivering,” visuals of the Arctic appeared to emphasize the lyrics of the track. The lightning strikes on the screen matched the lasers vigorously moving about the stage as the violinist delivered an exquisite performance during “Fragments.” Fan favorites of the night included “Lifeline” with live instrumentation out of this world, and the opportunity to sing “Anti-Hero” with a venue full of people compared to singing it alone in the car on the daily.
ILLENIUM has had quite the journey to get where he is today, but it can go without saying he is meant to be a songwriter, producer, and performer. His perseverance and dedication to his music and to Illenials, his fans, sets him apart from many artists. ILLENIUM’s talent shines through even further with his storytelling, and his ability to create and put on a live show in such a large capacity. The “ILLENIUM LIVE” tour launched a new chapter, and it was one for the books. Milestones were reached and an everlasting imprint was made on every tour stop, especially Indianapolis. ILLENIUM will continue to rise like a Phoenix with Illenials by his side for the foreseeable future.
Words by Brittany Ormiston
Photos by Everly Ormiston