North Coast Music Festival 2013 Preview

Published: August 27, 2013

By: Ellie Salrin

Even though I’m no longer a student, the end of August is always sort of a melancholy time as the summer begins its shift into fall and it’s back to business. Luckily, if you’re in the Midwest you can celebrate Summer’s Last Stand, also known as North Coast Music Festival, this weekend and rage your face one last time.

Taking place this Labor Day weekend (August 30-September 1) at Union Park in Chicago, IL, the festival is in its fourth year and has established itself as the top dog among the countless festivals that have sprouted up throughout the city.

Who wouldn't want to boogie some of the final warm summer evenings away with Big Gigantic, The Disco Biscuits, Lotus, Laidback Luke, Datsik, Gramatik, Skream, Paper Diamond, Zoogma, Cherub, Emancipator, Conspirator, Future Rock, The Werks, Russ Liquid, and Team Bayside High, along with some great indie bands like Passion Pit, hip hop artists like Nas and Wu-Tang, and reggae boys Rebelution?

Tickets
3-day General Admission passes are $150.00, or you can purchase individual day tickets, Friday and Sunday passes are $55.00 each, and Saturday passes are currently $60.00 but are set to reach $75.00. 3-day VIP passes are $225.00, and include air conditioned restrooms, lower priced food and drink, and free bottled water all within the VIP reserved viewing areas.

Stages and Vending
There is a nice variety of food choices and North Coast has always provided craft beer. There are vendors selling glass, apparel, art, and more throughout the park. Two stages sit side by side and face the large field between Ashland and Ogden Avenues. Another large stage sits on the other corner of the park facing a cozier, more shaded field, and two smaller stages can be found around the perimeter of the park.

Afterparties
Chicago outdoor music is required to shut down at 11:00 p.m. due to sound ordinances, but there are going to be a bunch of fun after parties going on with North Coast artists all weekend. Friday - Paper Diamond and Russ Liquid at the House of Blues, Laidback Luke and Clockwork at the Mid, Just Blaze and Young Chop at Bottom Lounge, Ghosthouse and Porn N Chicken at Cobra Lounge, AlunaGeorge and Capital Cities at Concord Music Hall, and On an On and Supreme Cuts at Lincoln Hall. Saturday - Afrojack and Dean Cohen at the Mid, Skream & Thibault at Bottom Lounge, Bondax and Equator Club at Cobra Lounge, Disco Biscuits at Concord Music Hall (sold out), Rebelution and Ojo de Buey at House of Blues, Cherub and Poolside DJs at City Winery, and Dvbbs and Milk N Cookies at Sound Bar. Sunday - Dirty Dozen and Van Ghost at Bottom Lounge, Lotus and Future Rock at Concord Music Hall, Datsik, Terravita, and Protohype at House of Blues, El Ten Eleven and Orchard Lounge at Lincoln Hall, Cajmere and DJ Funk at Transit, Wu Tang members U-God and RZA at Cobra Lounge, and Purity Ring (DJ set) at the Mid.

Heads Up

There are a lot of youngsters as this festival, but the vibe is still fun.
The beer and porta potty lines can be a bit long, so hit those up before you really need to and bring a friend to entertain you.
Download the official app and get announcements, the festival map, and build your own schedule.
If you don’t have your physical tickets, you will need to go to WIll Call on Ashland Ave. to pick them up before you can get into the festival. The wait times can vary depending on when you get to the festival. This year, you can go to Will Call on Thursday between 4-9 p.m. if you’re in the city and pick your tickets up ahead of time.
Meet up with your friends and decide which after parties you want to go to? They sell all after party tickets onsite so you can scoop them before they sell out.