Spring Awakening is on the Move from Soldier Field
03 Feb, 2016
After four years at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Spring Awakening, the annual electronic dance music festival founded in 2008, will be moving to Jackson Park on the city’s South Side.
Jessica Faulkner, a Chicago Park District spokesman, confirmed the move to Billboard on Wednesday in a statement that read: “Spring Awakening has been granted a ‘conditional permit’ at Jackson Park.”
A spokesperson for the festival, which is owned by SFX Entertinment subsidiary React Presents, could neither confirm nor deny these reports when asked by Billboard — however they did say they expect to release an official announcement regarding the matter tomorrow.
The reason for the fest’s relocation appears to be the South American soccer tournament, Copa América, taking place at Solider Field during the fest’s usual June dates. While the 2016 Spring Awakening dates are not yet known, Soldier Field will host the Copa games on June 5, June 7, June 10, and June 22
Not all in the Chicago area are pleased with the relocation. “It makes no sense at this point,” Louise McCurry, president of the Jackson Park advisory council, told DNAInfo Chicago, citing an as-yet-completed habitat restoration project to the park. “I don’t know enough about it, but while we’re still planting it’s a problem. Until all the work is done, it’s not a good idea.”
Spring Awakening has been a top-tier dance music festival in recent years; last year’s headliners including Diplo, Zedd, Tiesto and Afrojack. More than 40,000 people attended the three-day festival in 2015.
