Photo: Yoder Productions
Rare Orlando Music Festival brought electronic music fans, and hip hop music fans together on a beautifully warm, but stormy Florida day last Saturday October 7th. The event was presented by Carnage and took place at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, home to the state of the art Orlando Amphitheater. The Orlando Amphitheater has hosted some killer events this year such as Life in Color Music Festival with Zeds Dead, and Self Help Fest with A Day to Remember. With plenty of room for dancing, beer vendors, and of course the fans, it’s easy to see why this venue was the perfect spot for a festival of Rare’s caliber.
The Rare lineup consisted of electronic music powerhouses like Zhu, Carnage, Graves, and a B2B set by 12th Planet, Cookie Monsta and Funtcase. If those names didn’t already sound like an entire festival in itself, hip hop heavy hitters Travis Scott, Lil Dicky, and Bezz Believe put on unforgettable performances that had the audience vibing. The weather did not scare festival goers away, and most headbangers embraced the rain. Gorgeous girls in wet t-shirts continued to dance and festival goers got acquainted with each other while huddling together and providing temporary shelter from the downpour. Not long after the storm cleared, a bright rainbow appeared over Rare, which brought an element of magic to the festival.
The good vibes carried on through the evening as Lil Dicky playfully taunted the crowd with a sneek peak of his own “Lil Dicky” and asked the fans if he should “whip it out”. The energy of the day got better and better as Zhu delivered one of the most magnetic performances the Orlando music scene has witnessed. If there is ever an opportunity to catch Zhu live, you should not pass it up.
Should Rare return for it’s third year next year, it is definitely a festival to keep on your radar. The diversity of its lineup and the energy of its fans is unmatched. Rare was just a taste of what the city has to offer EDM fans as we prepare ourselves for Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando next month. Get your tickets before they’re gone, here.
