AUSTIN, Texas — The Seismic Dance Event was back for another year, bringing people from all over the world to The Concourse Project in Austin.
Some of this year's headliners included world-renowned DJ Chris Lake, Deadmau5, Kaskade and dozens of other artists and DJs.
One of the centerpieces of the festival is the local vendors, whether it be restaurants, clothing or other creative shops.
KVUE's Ford Sanders caught up with Lake, who headlined Friday night for the festival. Lake has a special tie to Austin, as the venue's co-owner Andrew Parsons has been booking him ever since he was a smaller DJ.
"I've got a lot of time and respect for Andrew," Lake said. "I remember the first shows we did out here, dance music was harder to sell to people in Austin. It's nice to see the evolution of the events, how it's being welcomed by people here. It is nice to be a part of it, it's nice to actually come here and headline the festival."
Lake says it has been an exciting ride watching Austin become an even bigger scene for house and techno music.
"We seem to bump into a lot of people we meet elsewhere around the world, here. There are a lot of people who seem to kind of gravitate toward the city here. I always end up meeting up with people along the way," said Lake.
The festival has grown large enough that the venue has even started throwing Seismic Lite Edition each year in May.
KVUE also caught up with one of the local vendors, Courtney Crash, to discuss the importance of local shops at the festival.
1. How important is it to see all of these local brands that make up Austin represented at a festival like this?
"Supporting local businesses in any event is always important. Austin is made up of an incredible creative community, all of whom work so hard to bring their companies out and represent their brand. When events, like festivals, book local business, they are making a positive impact by boosting the local economy and helping sustain jobs. This also gives opportunity to represent culture in the city and gives participants the chance to see how local business is Keeping Austin Weird!"
2. How were you presented with the opportunity to not only have your shop be featured, but to be the Vendor Market Lead?
"I own ATX Thrift, a festival thrift shop here in Austin. I curate what I call GLAM for themed events all over the city and pop up with wild and fun clothing for participants to purchase. Being a vendor myself, I stand out ... It's common for events to book me for both."
3. Was this your first Seismic? How has it been in years past?
"2023 was the second year that Seismic Dance Event hired me ... Seismic is a large-scale event, which presents an amazing opportunity for vendors to find big success. The crowd truly enjoys shopping for local goods, like festival wears, and interacting with attendees is always a blast! The production, art and music at Seismic is fantastic."
4. Some of your favorite moments from the festival? Favorite moments working with other vendors?
"What I love about Seismic is the vast amount of musical talent that is booked. Three days of continuous music makes for a fun work environment and I often discover new artists ... I also love the interactive art and murals scattered throughout the event. Live painters are booked to create giant murals and seeing their work unfold adds a special element of color and personal touch to the event. Their creations turn into beautiful backdrops and it can be quite entertaining seeing festival attendees taking photos in front of them. All of the art is interactive which creates an immersive experience for everyone.
The Vendor Village is really a community of small business owners and witnessing their booths come to life is always so exciting. I enjoy seeing how they decorate and I absolutely love visiting each shop and scouting what they have to offer."
5. A successful weekend, seems a lot of people wanted to support local so were buyers out and about?
"The Vendor Village at Seismic Dance Event is always an exciting place to visit! We have guests who specifically stop in with the intention to support the local businesses. You'll find one-of-a-kind items from all vendors, as well as service experiences like massage or hair braiding. Attendees who came through really enjoyed the uplifting atmosphere and enthusiasm from vendor teams. You could actually feel the excitement and I loved the reactions from attendees who stepped into our area with wide eyes and big smiles."
