All Things Go Fall Classic Brings Electro-Pop to DC
Everything you need to know about one of DC’s largest music festivals
Back for its third iteration, the All Things Go Fall Classic kicks off in DC this Saturday on its biggest stage yet, and with it, a chance to become one of the district’s premier music festivals.
Originally launched in 2006 as a music blog to share their favorite music amongst friends, Will Suter, Adrian Maseda, Stephen Vallimarescu and Zack Friendly became mainstays in the online music community for their diverse coverage and curated playlists. In 2014, the four decided to launch their own music festival, bringing together a mix of national acts (Tove Lo, Kygo, Future Island) and local talent (Young Summer, Walking Sticks) at Union Market’s Dock 5.
After a wildly successful first run, and thanks in part to the absence of other fall festivals like Virgin FreeFest and the postponed Landmark, All Things Go quickly became the off-season answer to SweetLife (though still not as memeable). In just over three years, they’ve already outgrown their first venue, making the move to Yards Park to accommodate an expected attendance of over 12,000.
As for this year’s lineup, the Fall Classic looks to bring back some familiar faces of the electro-pop genre — with Passion Pit, Empire of the Sun, and Sylvan Esso set to headline. And unlike the traditional festival format that packs multiple artists into the same time slot, All Things Go performances will take place on one stage — so you won’t be forced into choosing one act over another.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prioritize certain shows over others. Here’s a quick rundown of what to look (and listen) for during this weekend’s All Things Go Fall Classic:
Ace Cosgrove
One of the festival’s most interesting acts will actually come from its opener, Maryland’s own Ace Cosgrove. Along with GoldLink, Ace Cosgrove is part of an emerging group of DMV rappers who have eschewed making radio-made hits in exchange for carving out their own artistic niche. Expect a show that’s engineered for live performances.
The DC festival rain curse
We can think of more than a handful of festivals since 2013 that have been forced to reckon with torrential downpours. And with Hurricane Matthew expected to make landfall today, prepare ahead of time for some rain. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing.
Live the fast casual dining dream
All Things Go teamed up with food blog The Infatuation this year to bring festival goers a wide variety of district favorites from vendors such as Takorean, Beefsteak, Milk Cult, and Compass Coffee.
If you’re looking for a breakout star…
Héloïse Letissier, better known by her stage name Christine and the Queens, is having a stellar 2016 after her debut album was released in the US and UK late last year. The French singer’s solo project incorporates a range of synth-pop sounds that are both intimate and inviting.
SOFI TUKKER
It’s an outdoor music festival, go check out some EDM. The New York based duo combine Brazilian instrumentation and poetry with house music to create something that’s tailor-made for this kind of venue. How you feel about this Apple Watch commercial will say a lot about whether or not you’ll enjoy them.
Empire of the Sun
There’s a reason why Empire of the Sun received top billing over Passion Pit. The two Australians have a history of putting on elaborate, enthusiastic shows that always pull from their most memorable hits.
The All Things Go Fall Classic takes place October 8 at the Yards Park from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM. 730DC readers can use the code “SEVENTHIRTY” to save 20% here.
