North Coast Music Festival 2012: Summer's Last Stand
The fading final days of summer were celebrated in style with a visit to Chicago's North Coast Festival.
Barely recovered from great mudfest of 2012, aka Lollapalooza, we headed back to the Midwest to celebrate Labor Day weekend at the third annual North Coast music festival. And what a way to end the summer! We spent three days roaming the grounds at Union Park, home to this DJ and electronic music fest, where people watching was first on our agenda. Festival fashion was in full swing as attendees jumped at the last chance to don their best tutus, hula-hoops, furry leg-warmers, body paint, and bikinis. Bright neon colors attire ruled the daytime, while bright neon lights—multi-colored glowsticks, LED necklaces, and glow-in-the-dark face paint—owned the night.
Headliners included EDM favorite STS9, who also played a sold-out after party at Chicago's House of Blues, Chicago's own Umphree's McGee, who have been jamming in the Midwest for more than a decade, fan favorite Girl Talk (who danced so hard he broke his own stage last time I saw him perform) and dozens of other well-known and up and coming artists, like indie rockers YACHT and The Rapture, electronic trio Beats Antique (including their captivating, belly-dancing hype girl), rapper Big Boi, who broke out all the old school Outkast tracks, and household name dance DJs Steve Aoki, Steve Angello, and Paul Oakenfold. Headliner Pretty Lights closed the festival to a monstrous head-nodding, banner-waving, and totally exhausted (thought you'd never know it) crowd on Sunday night.
See you next year, Northcoast! We had a blast.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Dedicated to women of power, purpose, and style, Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. Reaching millions of women every month, Marie Claire is an internationally recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages.
-
Our Complete Quiet Luxury Shopping Guide
30 quality closet classics that always have—and always will—endure.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford Medal in Mother-Daughter Olympic Matching
The pair touched down in Paris wearing coordinating navy looks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals Royal Family Rift Was Worsened by Tabloids
"Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Tanner Adell Says Lainey Wilson Gave Her the Best Advice About Being a Woman in Country Music
“The girls gotta have each others’ backs.”
By Sadie Bell Published
-
How the 'Twisters' Soundtrack Rides Country Music's Mainstream Storm
The summer blockbuster is blowing into theaters with storm-wrangling sequences and killer needle drops.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
No One Is Doing Bratty, Bad Girl Pop Stardom Like Charli XCX
With her new album, the British artist is filling the void.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
How Victoria Justice Learned to Use Her Voice on the Set of 'Victorious'
The former Nickelodeon star recalls what it was like to speak up to adults on set as a child.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Moonheads, Assemble: Here's Everything to Know About August Moon from 'The Idea of You'
The fictional boy band from the new rom-com was inspired by BTS, *NSYNC, and One Direction.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
The 65 Best Musical Movies of All Time
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell Last updated
-
The 21 Best Album Releases of 2022 (So Far)
Get your headphones out.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
The 50 Best Love Songs of All Time
The best, most romantic love songs ever written, spanning every genre.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published