Hardwell is #1, numero uno, the king, the one, whichever you are feeling. His presence in our beloved EDM community has continued to grow year after year and has worked tirelessly to get to the point he is at today. The latest DJ Mag top 100 placed him at #1 on the list, cementing his position as a true staple of the scene and in perfect timing for his I Am Hardwell tour. Having already jumped from Ibiza, to Asia, and then to Australia, the legend was finally ready to bring his show to North America.
When I found out he would be stopping in Miami, I instantly jumped at the chance to cover the event. Forget about premiere night clubs like LIV and STORY, Hardwell made his first stop the Klipsch Ampetheatre at Bayfront park, also the location for Miami's Ultra Music Festival. Instead of cramming into a packed club with overpriced drinks and a strict dress code, we had the pleasure of dancing under the night sky with plenty of space and a nice Miami sea breeze.
Jason Koerner Photography
What Hardwell show would it be without an appearance from one of his protégés? Dannic provided an impeccable opening set to help get the crowds energy up before the main attraction. His meteoric rise over the last few years can be attributed to his talented production style and vast collection of tracks that have gained support from the best DJ's. Dannic dished out a fantastic opening set that ultimately paved the way for Hardwell to lay down the brick.
Jason Koerner Photography
Around 8:50, Dannic finished his set and the crowd was left with an ambient background sound. The anticipation was high and Hardwell's presence was indeed felt. Two large Revealed symbols decked out with video display began to show massive spinning globes sparking a response from the crowd. Scenes from Hardwell shows across the world were recapped on screen accompanied by a voice introducing the man of the hour. After a countdown from 10, Hardwell appeared behind the DJ booth. Let the party begin!!
Jason Koerner Photography
Hardwell took no hesitation in beginning his set with a bang. He dedicated a track to his unprecedented dominance in the scene by dropping Alesso and Calvin Harris' “Under Control”, getting the entire crowd to sing along in celebration. Song after song, Hardwell entranced us all with his masterful skills not only in the DJ booth, but in the studio as well. About midway through his set, the melody to his chart topper “Apollo” began to play. Taking in the moment in all its glory, Hardwell jumped to the top of his turn table with arms spread wide. He knew exactly where he was at that moment was where he was meant to be. Dropping Zedd‘s remix of “Alive” showed that he was indeed “loving every minute” while declaring “this is what it feels like” with W&W's remix of the famous Armin track.
Jason Koerner Photography
When all was said and done, Hardwell delivered a mind blowing performance. There was not one dull moment and the crowd was singing and dancing throughout the entirety of his set. For all of us waiting patiently for Ultra to come around, the I am Hardwell tour provided the exact experience needed to hold us over until March.
I want to congratulate Hardwell on an amazing tour and thank him for bringing the I am Hardwell experience to North America. He closed his tour in an amazing fashion at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a venue that all entertainers dream of one day being able to play. There is no doubt that this honor was well deserved of Hardwell, the worlds #1 DJ.
Jason Koerner Photography
