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Kicking off Summerfest's second weekend, Illenium brought down the house at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Thursday night. As one of the festival's biggest headliners, Illenium brought his signature blend of melodic bass and electronic beats to the Big Gig’s biggest stage, captivating the dancing crowd with a powerful set.
For those unfamiliar, the Illinois-born DJ has rapidly become a prominent figure in the electronic dance music scene. With a career spanning over a decade, Illenium has amassed over eight billion global streams and is known for his emotionally charged take on EDM, combining heartfelt ballads with energetic drops. His latest self-titled album – released April last year – showcases his evolution as an artist, featuring collaborations with notable artists like Travis Barker and Avril Lavigne.
The Amp crowd showed up ready to rage – and Illenium did not disappoint, delivering a dream set for any EDM fan. So of course we had to be there to capture some standout moments from Summerfest’s biggest electronic act of the year.
Check out our favorite photos from Illenium’s headlining set:
1. Explosive energy
Illenium performs amidst a spectacular display of pyro, with fire shooting up around him, enhancing the energy of his set.
2. Illuminating the Amp
Lasers cut through the night as Illenium drops the beat, creating a mesmerizing visual effect that dazzled the Amp crowd.
3. Elevating the energy
Illenium raises his hands in the air in between beats – that quintessential DJ stage move that fans love – and animates the Amp audience on Thursday night.
4. Sparks fly
Literal sparks fly in front of Illenium, putting on a bombastic and eye-catching stage show to match his dynamic EDM beats.
5. Bird's eye view
Another fiery moment from Illenium's Thursday night dance party with pyro erupting all around – but this time a tiny drone hovers nearby, capturing the on-stage action from every angle.
6. Illenium's command
Illenium looks out into the sea of Summerfest fans, hyping the crowd up and bringing an on-stage dynamism in between all the dropped beats.