That being said, the stages themselves were fantastic in terms of production and design. The main stage was straight from Belgium and though not original or brand new (as we just saw it this past summer), it’s still an impressive structure. Sporting waterfalls, a volcano erupting with fire and all other sorts of interesting features, it acted as the perfect home for some of the festival’s best acts.
The smaller stages were no slouch, either, as I particularly dug the huge mirror props at the Dim Mak vs. Smash The House stage and was really feeling the smaller, more intimate vibe that the BB Records stage, which was situated in a forest of sorts, gave off.
Of course, no festival is complete without a solid VIP area and I must say, ID&T definitely scored big on this one. Offering a great view of the main stage, and more than enough space to move around and dance, I found myself hanging out here quite a bit. Drink lines were considerably shorter, massages were being offered and food was being brought around by waiters on a consistent basis. Furthermore, there was an elevated tower that you could go up to as well, which provided a heightened view of the festival along with more seating areas and even a small pool, which people were constantly in.
While we’re on the topic of the different areas at the festival, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Artist Mansion. Though not open to festivalgoers, media and artists were able to hang out at what is quite literally a mansion situated on top of a hill that overlooks the entire festival. Offering an open bar and free food, the peaceful location was an excellent place to go for those hoping to escape the festival madness for a bit. The mansion itself and the massive piece of land it’s situated on were absolutely beautiful and I definitely enjoyed hanging out there when I needed a break from the heavy crowds and loud music. And from what I could tell, the artists did, too.