Shaq Shines In The Absence of Diplo at IMAGINE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019

Imagine Music Festival has upped its game.

There is a lot of talk around about who has the best festival in the country, and it would be fair to throw Imagine Music Festival’s name in that hat. The folks at Iris Presents have delivered above and beyond when it comes to Imagine 2019. There are six completely redesigned stages, gaming lounges, carnival attractions, breathtaking art installments, and campground parties that run until sunrise. Names from across the board in the electronic music scape took the stage for Friday’s festivities – DJ Diesel (SHAQ), Rezz, Matoma, Boogie T, Subtronics, Leah Culver, SQUNTO, and the list goes on.

Matoma at Imagine Music Festival 2019

Entering the Oceania Stage

Bundled up energy is the most accurate way to describe the feeling around Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. As the crowds shuffle their way through the main gates and make the climb up to the Grandstands, screams of excitement fill the air as the grandiose reveal of Imagine Music Festival – spanning the entire length of the speedway – enters view. Young and old dance their way down the stands and are met face to face with the Disco Inferno Stage where the talents of HE$H, SQUNTO, Boogie T, and Subtronics flex their riddim-esque style. All with sets of their own, these four punched out banger after banger that transformed itself into a massive B4B Grave Gang takeover. Warming it up (literally) for some high energy Rusko to end out the night.

Leaving the warmth of the Disco Inferno takes you to the main attraction, Oceania. As if you were entering an underwater utopia your attention is seized by the artists on deck and pristine production. Atlanta locals, DRINKURWATER and Mantis get the crowd kickstarted into the evening before Friday’s mixed variety of headliners – Matoma, Rezz, and DJ Diesel. Rezz, in true fashion, came with her hypnotic style and delivery to the Atlanta crowd. Playing through old and new, the Canadian producer moved through 60 minutes of unique material that flawlessly showcased her approach to electronic music and proved that she is deserving of any headlining spot she lands on.

If you would have told me the first time I would see Shaquille O’Neal in my life would be behind a pair of CDJ’s headlining a music festival, I would have looked at you like Chris Dudley did all those years ago after getting dunked on by the big man. After news broke via Twitter of the cancellation of Diplo earlier this week, Diplo’s “favorite DJ” filled the spot. Diesel brought big hits and a good time, with great crowd reception. While there was a slight hilarity to just how bizarre it is to see all 7’1 of Shaq moving tens of thousands of people – it was a great way to end out Friday in lieu of losing a headliner.