Breakaway AZ: A Weekend To Remember
Breakaway made its way to the Sloan Park Festival Grounds for their Phoenix, Arizona debut, and for those who couldn’t make it, let me just say: you missed out on an absolute vibe. This two-day festival ran from 3 PM to 10 PM, letting you soak up the atmosphere as the sun dipped below the horizon and the night came alive. One of my favorite parts was getting to dance to amazing music while watching the sunset paint the sky- and with perfect weather to match, it couldn’t have been better. Each artist brought their own magic and flavor to the weekend, but for me, the standout sets came from Levity and Gryffin.
Levity’s set was pure electricity. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the crowd, and their energy was absolutely infectious. Ever since their breakout performance at the Honeycomb stage at Electric Forest in 2023, Levity’s been skyrocketing, and it’s easy to see why. This was my third time seeing them live, but my first time catching a full set, and I loved every second of it. Their remixes of “Come A Little Closer,” “Postman,” and “Electric Feel” had the whole crowd in motion. Watching them go wild on stage, and pouring out positive energy, made it impossible not to match that vibe. It felt like pure bliss.
Gryffin was another highlight of the weekend. I was obsessed with his music back in high school, so finally seeing him live felt nostalgic and surreal. Hearing tracks like “Tie Me Down,” “Woke Up in Love,” and “Desire” with hundreds of voices singing in unison gave me chills. His live setup was insane-seamlessly blending guitar, synths, and vocals with stunning visuals and lighting. He took us on an emotional ride, mixing feel-good anthems with surprise drum & bass and bass house drops. And the pyro and lasers? Unreal. It was the perfect set to close out the weekend.
From the food trucks to the art installations and the chill zones to catch your breath between sets, it was all around a great vibe. The crowd was a mix of ravers, casual fans, and die-hard music lovers- each adding their own flavor to the collective energy. The staff and security were friendly, the stage setups exceeded expectations, and the outdoor venue made the whole experience feel even more magical. There’s something special about raving outside under beautiful skies and perfect weather that is just… Chef’s kiss.
I’m already looking forward to the next Breakaway, so here’s to dancing into the sunset again soon!