Day for Night, a new Houston music and art festival put on by Houston Free Press, debuted this past Saturday and Sunday, December 19th and 20th. It showcased many different light/art installations across the grounds of Silver Street Studios, while also appealing to many different tastes in music. I was excited to attend this festival, because if it was anything like its sister summer festival, Free Press Summer Fest, then I knew I was in for a treat. There were three different stages- Blue, Green, and Red- each containing a unique lineup that appealed to many different styles of music. As I walked towards the Red stage, I looked down to see a sea of multi-colored carpet which was an added touch for people wanting to chill and relax while listening to music. I was very pleased with all the Houston-inspired messages displayed at this main stage, as well as the plethora of food trucks to choose from. While surrounded by good vibes and music, it was fun walking around the festival to find different interactive digital art pieces. Some notable ones include the Infinity Project by Turkish artist Refik Anadol, “Volume” by Parisian outfit Nonotak (my personal favorite), and “Photoperiod” by Alex Czetwertynski.
NONOTAK studio’s display of strobe LED lights coupled with the feel and sound of a dark warehouse and spacey sounds
I did not really know many of the artists on the lineup except the headliners (New Order, Kendrick Lamar, Dillon Francis, Madeon, and Flying Lotus). It was for the best because this festival gave me a chance to broaden my musical tastes and discover some amazing artists such as Nicolas Jaar, CocoRosie, Com Truise, and Death Grips. My favorite set of the whole festival would have to be Flying Lotus; it was my first time seeing him perform live. Flying Lotus captured the whole feel of Day For Night with the trippy LED images that shined in front of the stage and ambient, multi-dimensional beats. On the other hand, my least favorite thing about the festival was the setup of the Green stage. Unlike the other two stages, this stage was inside its own building. This space was cramped and at times I felt a little claustrophobic.
With that being said, my overall experience at Day for Night was unlike any festival I have experienced and I look forward to seeing how it will continue to evolve.
