Freaky Deaky 2015 Photos & Review

Costumes? Check. Music? Check. One of the best new music festivals in Chicago? Definitely check. This Sunday marked the end of the newly expanded Freaky Deaky Festival. In previous years, Freaky Deaky took place at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, but React Presents, a major music festival company in Chicago, decided to expand Freaky Deaky to take place outside over 3 days.

The bold move by React seemed to pay off. With headliners such as Bassnectar, 2 Chainz, Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, and over 60 other artists, the lineup for this year’s festival was spectacular.

Although the cold and rain may have deterred many, the crowds were still at a comfortable size. Everywhere you turned there seemed to be someone dressed up in some whacky costume. The festival was certainly not oversold and made navigating from one stage to another a breeze.

Friday was full of high spirits and ecstatic attendees. The Bassheads poured in and many dropped their jaw when they saw the stage production. Huddled up under their hoodies and costumes, people flocked onto the dancefloor which was more than warm enough. A Ferris wheel and carnival ride made the festival feel like a fair. Food trucks and liquor sales were plentiful as the closing act Bassnectar rocked the audience into another dimension.

Saturday was a different story, however. Rain continue to soak the festival until 5pm, leaving huge puddles everywhere you went, even on the covered dancefloor. The only entrance to the festival was flooded with a huge puddle, making people climb on top of a fence in order to reach the gates. This could have easily been avoided if the gate was moved over and let people go around the puddle instead of through. Luckily the festival was on all gravel and cement, allowing for no giant mud puddles.

With the rain over, the headliner, Big Gigantic, put on what may have been their best show ever. Dominic Lalli, the saxophonist for Big Gigantic, was dressed up as the Pope (the Pope of Funk?).  Spirits rose as the funk dropped, ending the night on a high note.

The last day came to the end with a bang with Pretty Light’s spectacular laser light show.

Although no festival is perfect. After each day, there were long lines of cars that caused over an hour of waiting just to get out of the parking lot. Lines were so long that people were getting out of their cars and dancing. This aspect is what lacked and put a damper on the whole festival.

Overall, Freaky Deaky 2015 was one for the record books that people will remember for years to come. What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!