The Midwest’s biggest EDM festival is just a few weeks away, and Substream will be there for every bass drop. Check out our must-see acts, the best after parties, and the little treasures you can’t miss!

It’s almost time for the most exciting and fun weekend of the summer, Spring Awakening! With over 40 of the biggest electronic and dance artists covering all of Addams-Medill Park in Chicago, it can be overwhelming to know which sets to see and what to do with your downtime. Luckily, we’ve made a quick rundown of the weekend to help you navigate the mountain of EDM.

Friday, June 8th: All about Aoki

Electronic legend Steve Aoki will be he

adlining Friday evening and is one of the biggest draws of the weekend. His signature sound of old-school house and new EDM sounds even better live, and his stage presence is, for lack of a better term, electric.

Before Aoki’s set, you’ll want to check out Alison Wonderland, one of the only female DJs at the festival (and one of the best in the world), as well as future house heroes Tchami and Oliver Heldens.

Saturday, June 9th: Time to wander

While there are some incredible acts on Saturday, the variety of sounds leaves a lot that needs to be explored. During the day, check out BTSM (Black Tiger Sex Machine) and their theatrical costumes and head-banging tunes (the crowd usually dons their own BTSM helmets, which makes everything trippier). For more classic dubstep with some serious bass drops, definitely check out Ganja White Night. And, for a more ‘relaxing’ dance sound, Sam Feldt will be playing some chill house music for his set.

At night, Afrojack will be spinning some of his biggest hits, no doubt including his new single “One More Day” with Jewelz & Sparks, which has garnered over 1 million views on YouTube in just 2 weeks. Afrojack’s sounds are positive and dance-oriented, and his hits can definitely get a crowd going. Imagine thousands of dancers jumping up and down to a stage filled with fire and confetti, and you’ve got an Afrojack show.

Sunday, June 10th: Get there early

Some of the best acts on Sunday are going to go on early, including Bleep Bloop, Weiss, and Bear Grillz. While these artists don’t have a headline slot, they will no doubt have some of the most exciting sets of the day. Later in the evening, the biggest names of the weekend will close out Spring Awakening. Do not miss Deadmau5, Kaskade, or Dash Berlin. It literally isn’t a complete weekend of EDM without these guys.

After the party, it’s the after party

If you can’t catch every act you want to at SAMF, you can go to a plethora of after shows, including sets from Zeds Dead, NGHTMRE, and Seven Lions. These sets will be at the best EDM venues across the city, so be sure to check out the full lineup and buy tickets HERE.

Tickets for Spring Awakening are going fast, so be sure to get yours before they sell out. Buy 1-day or 3-day passes HERE.