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Photos, Video: Arcade Fire, FKA Twigs, Major Lazer & More Rock Panorama Day 1
By
Scott Heins
Published Jul 23, 2016
Modified Jul 23, 2016
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By
Scott Heins
Published Jul 23, 2016
Modified Jul 23, 2016
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Just before 11 p.m. last night, Arcade Fire disappeared. After delivering a thunderous headlining set to close out day 1 of Panorama on Randall's Island, Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, and co. exited the stage and made their way through the dark crowd to a massive illuminated cube 300 feet away. Then, with the help of Preservation Hall Jazz band and thousands of backup singers, the group paid homage to David Bowie with beautiful renditions of "Rebel Rebel," "Suffragette City," and "Heroes." The moment was at once strange and familiar, and altogether perfect.
But arriving at that musical peak took some time. Panorama began somewhat mutedly Friday, with noticeably thin crowds milling about the spartan, all-white grounds all afternoon. Early acts like hip-hop producer Madlib and violin/dance virtuoso Lindsey Stirling, and a newly-revitalized Broken Social Scene offered up strong sets, but much of the energy felt lost on the overheated listeners dancing apprehensively, wondering, perhaps, "Is this, like, a real festival?"
That question was answered by Major Lazer, who took over the main stage just after 6 p.m. and worked the crowd into a frenzy with brilliant spotlights, pyrotechnics, t-shirt cannons, a dance troupe, and a setlist that never let up. The Majors dished out an ideal party set that spliced their own dancehall-EDM material with plenty of hip-hop. "Panda" hit at the perfect moment—Panorama had found its stride.
As Major Lazer dropped one last banger, FKA Twigs opened her beautiful, whisper-soft set with ornate dance choreography. Later, as the sun set, Alabama Shakes rolled out a barrage of blues riffs and guitar solos, while Schoolboy Q put on a modern hip-hop tour de force. By the time Arcade Fire took the stage, the crowds were primed and the indie rock septet capitalized by launching into "Ready to Start."
Tagged
Alabama Shakes
arcade fire
FKA Twigs
major lazer
panorama
panorama festival
Schoolboy Q
Silversun Pickups
original
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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