Returning to the Queen Mary Waterfront, I made my way toward the main entrance for Day Trip Music Festival. As someone who now considers themselves a regular on the festival scene, I have started to notice the small details that set each crowd apart. One of the first things that stood out was how many attendees leaned into the theme with their outfits. The range of looks was hard to miss, from mermaid inspired ensembles to effortless linen fits that felt more like a seaside brunch in Malibu than a day at a music festival.
It felt noticeably warmer than Apocalypse, a quick reminder to pace myself. Knowing it was going to be a long day ahead, I made sure to stay hydrated.
Similar to Apocalypse, there was no need to get a lay of the land. I was able to jump right in and let the music take over immediately. There was no pressure to follow an itinerary, even though I had a few sets marked out. This time, I stayed fully locked in, moving with the moment and letting the day unfold on its own rhythm.
I made my way over to the BeatBox stage for my first set with Eejay. The sound hit with a fast blend of hip hop grit and pulsing house beats, flipping back and forth in a way that instantly pulled the crowd in. It had that early set energy that wakes you up fast, bodies already in motion, bass rolling through the waterfront air, and just like that the tone was set.
Making my way to the Amphitheatre stage, it was time to check out Jaguar and Champion. The sound started to shift as I got closer, pulling me into a different pocket of energy as I moved through the crowd and toward the stage. It was warming up and I had already been moving hard. Jaguar really got me going and Champion followed through feeding off the crowds energy. Thankfully my next set wasn’t until later in the evening. I took a break, rested my legs, and made sure I had water before the next set, RuPaul.
While I wouldn’t consider him a DJ, he didn’t even touch the board. It wasn’t even on. I still enjoyed jamming out with him, the crowd, and the banging tracks.
Back to the Amphitheatre stage, I went into the pit to head bang to the sounds of Rebecca Black. For those of you who don’t know, she’s the singer of the hit song “Friday.” I had no idea she was a DJ. She’s good too. That’s a set I’d love to see again.
Reaching the end of the day, I checked out the Deep End stage for GORDO. He’s a fave who I first saw at HARD Summer. Delivering hard beats made for dancing, I got my fix and left early as it ended because there was another set I wanted to catch before the end of the night. I closed the night out with Shaun Ross with good beats and nonstop dancing. I felt free and accepted. Feeding off the positive energy of ravers around me, I felt cemented in this community.
Day two started off at the BeatBox stage with Sim Ivy followed by Mr. Fowler, both keeping the same energy. The next set I had planned wasn’t until later in the night, so I was able to go on a side quest and check out other DJs in the meantime.
When night began to fall, I returned to the Deep End stage for Loco Dice. I missed him at HARD last year, so I was determined to catch him this time. By the end of his set, which closed out the night, I had completely sweated through my shirt.
My first Day Trip was truly unforgettable. Perfectly curated and well thought out, I will be making a return next year. Next time, dressed for the occasion and on theme. The creativity in the outfits was eye opening and inspiring. I’ll definitely be turning it up a notch for sure!
