Breakaway music festival will be here before we know it! There are four locations with equally incredible lineups to make each city stand out. Both on August 23-24 is the Columbus, Ohio location as well as the Grand Rapids, Michigan location. Breakaway stays quiet until coming back hot in October with two back to back weekends of fun. October 4-5 is in Charlotte, North Carolina followed by October 11-12 in Nashville, Tennessee!
Each and every line up was enticing to me, especially Charlotte, North Carolina since it’s the only one with my favorite DJ ever, Illenium on the line up! But, since they’re all so amazing, I wasn’t picky. I chose which one to go to mostly because of location, and by which one I’d have other friends attending, too. You’ll find me at the Columbus, Ohio location this year for my first ever Breakaway music festival!
If you’re not sure who to see at this year's Breakaway in Columbus, I’m here to help guide your decision of who to spend your time (and soul) with while you’re dancing the weekend away! See my top 5 must-see sets below.
Number 5: PLS&TY
Pronounced “please and thank you,” PLS&TY is absolutely crushing 2019 with incredible tunes including tracks like “Run Wild,” “Feeling Forever,” and my personal favorite, “Motives.” I’m actually a pretty new PLS&TY fan and I’m so glad to know him before I get to Breakaway. I caught a short, intimate set he played at Firefly this year (where he dropped Sound of Walking Away by Illenium, so yeah! INSTANT fan!) and was hooked. If you need a great song to get you in the zone of what PLS&TY has to offer, check out his fan favorite track, “Good Vibes.”
Number 4: Matoma
I’m a sucker for music that puts me in my feels and Matoma’s music does just that, but in a super good vibes upbeat way! I wasn’t familiar with too many of his songs, but one of my best friends who is also going to Breakaway who knows my music taste was spitting out song suggestions to me and you guessed it, I’m hooked. This will be my first time seeing a Matoma set, but I think his tracks are so amazing, I’m confident enough to say this is a can’t miss set! Personally, I can’t get enough of his song, "Slow" with vocals by Noah Cyrus.
Number 3: Felix Jaehn
For some seriously fun, danceable, tropical house vibes, you won’t want to miss Felix Jaehn. I really discovered him during Miami Music Week this year and haven’t stopped obsessing since! I only caught a little bit of a set he played during a MMW pool party, but it was enough to know I. Need. More. I got to meet him at a MMW afterparty and he was the kindest, sweetest guy! All the more reason to show love and support. I’m excited that Breakaway will be my first full Felix Jaehn set, and there’s no chance I’m missing it, and you shouldn’t either. I mean, come on, you have heard the song “So Close,” right?!
Number 2: Kaivon
My first Kaivon set was at Spring Awakening this year and it was nothing short of a complete roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible! If you want someone that can definitely go hard, this guy can do it all. He dropped Herobust’s “WTF” in his set, that’s how you know you’ll be breaking your neck at Breakaway. For some downtempo feels, too, check out one of his latest singles, “May We Meet Again.” He also recently remixed Alison Wonderland’s hit song, “Peace” and it’s absolutely fire.
Check out his live HARD Summer set here:
Number 1: Louis The Child
Finally, my number one, top, MUST SEE pick for Breakaway is Louis The Child. This dynamic duo is truly unstoppable in my mind. They get down and jam, they add layers of multiple genres in their sets and they are genuinely entertaining! Especially for how young they are, their talent and maturity is mind-blowing. I saw their full set at Firefly this year and it has made its way into one of my all-time top favorite sets ever. I also caught some of their practically-secret set at Electric Forest this year. Their energy is simply unmatched!
If you need a fire song by them to check out, listen to their fan-favorite track “Better Not” on their Kids At Play EP:
I hope this list of must see artists at Breakaway is helpful! It’s full of genre variety, totally different energy, but equally good vibes. These sets are where you’ll find me dancing at Breakaway. I hope to see you there, too!
