By Victoria Alcantar and Dalia Hajir
To dance under the desert sky as you listen to electrifying music is an experience that seems right out of a movie.But to those who found themselves in El Paso during the Labor Day weekend several years ago, it was very real. And how exciting it was! For two consecutive days, a tribe of thousands of locals, Southwest festival-goers and the best DJs from all around the world created the cinematic fantasy that dazzled the city of the Sun.
Image caption: Sun City Music Festival (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
It was called the Sun City Music Festival (SCMF). At its baseline, SCMF was a large crowd grooving to electronic dance music (EDM). But Gxldbloom, a well-respected local artist who has been in the music industry for over six years, described it as a “sweet release of stress, worries, and expression... a wild, beautiful place.” Aficionados will eagerly agree with his poetic statement. In its 2011 inauguration, SCMF gathered an estimated 20,000 attendees, doubling the capacity of the now-demolished Cohen Stadium, where many experienced some of the best nights of their lives over two days. The enthusiastic crowd prompted the producers to upgrade SCMF with a move to Ascarate Park whose vast and lively landscape fit the big party perfectly. It remained there until its final (so far) event in 2017.
It was SMG Events and James “Disco” Donnie, the creative minds behind the stage, who brought us world-renowned artists such as Afrojack, Armin Van Buuren, Zedd, and David Guetta back in the festival’s early days. Then in September 2017, SCMF’s logo shone in big, golden letters as the crowd roared excitedly to the headlining performances of Marshmello and Above & Beyond.
“It was a place to let go and not be judged,” said Gxldbloom, “to move how you want, feel how you want, dress how you want, dance how you want and all in peace.” He described the experience as a disconnection -- a good, necessary disconnection. Having attended SCMF four times, through his eyes we can appreciate how the festival positively influenced participants. SCMF helped him realize what his end goal as a creator is, not just how far his music goes, but on a more personal level, as an artist, producer and DJ. It was the “rave experience” that pushed him to “spin the decks with that kind of energy.” Now Gxldbloom himself performs sets that “take people through a little journey or adventure,” welcoming them into a safe, high-spirited space like the one that first fascinated him.
This progression in art and culture extended to other creators like Julian Bajsel, one of the festival’s photographers and one of Houston’s best. And though he admits he’s not a musician, Bajsel has always been “passionate with music,” he said to the Houston Press in 2014, which must be undoubtedly true for a man whose mantra is “Music should be seen and heard.” SCMF changed Bajsel's life. The festival paid and published his work, covered his traveling expenses, and created long-lasting, professional connections with other artists, which "turned into future work" for him. The festival helped Bajsel "learn how to shoot stage production since electronic music has lots of lights and special effects," a thrilling journey for which he is still grateful. With his pictures, people can relive SCMF's best moments, and those who didn't get the chance to experience it can view flashes of action that entice their spirit into the festival.
While there were photographers and dancers, arts like culinary and sculpting also had their place in the show; costumed performers and live painters weren’t dismissed either. Nearly every type of talent was celebrated. Gxldbloom agrees. When asked what kinds of art other than music he witnessed at SCMF, he replied, "Visual arts! Everything from actual graphic visuals that go along with what the DJ is performing to light shows to pyrotechnics to some very creative and interactive sets.” Treated with the utmost intricacy, these sets of lasers, lights, fog machines and cannons enlivened the three stages of SCMF with storms of color that got “tattooed” in Gxldbloom’s heart. The tiniest details forged together well can create a stunningly beautiful program.
The desert environment and the festival’s location in a border city allowed many international attendees from Mexico to join the rave, says Bajsel, which formed part of SCMF’s uniqueness. For Gxldbloom, other reasons to love the festival went from the appealing offerings of festival caterers to how SCMF raised the bar for EDM lovers every year, which Gxldbloom attributes to the outstanding stage productions. “Big DJs know it’s a great stage for a great performance and would deliver just like they would at their big performances at other festivals. Memories were made that will last my lifetime. They [the festival and artists] knew how to make an experience, and it’s just something that brings smiles to my face when I think of it.” The location, the festival goers, and the production all made for an immersive, eccentric, yet touching celebration across all borders.
SCMF is loved… and missed, for it has been canceled since 2017. The reasons are unknown. But on the SCMF’s official Twitter account, several months before 2018’s Labor Day weekend, the organizers apologized: “Each year, the Disco and SMG teams work diligently to ensure every single time you enter the gates of Sun City Music Festival, the best possible experience awaits you…. Unfortunately, we don’t believe that goal can be accomplished in 2018. As a result, we’re sad to say Sun City Music Festival will not be held this Labor Day Weekend. On behalf of the entire SCMF family, we hope to return in 2019 and greatly appreciate all of your support over the past years. Thanks for the memories that will last a lifetime!”
The unexpected news left many fans disappointed that their Labor Day weekend would feel empty without SCMF. When Covid-19 shut down big gatherings the following year, having a group of over twenty thousand people dancing tightly together became even more of a distant dream. However, in 2020, an awaited tweet by Disco Donnie sprung a rumored comeback as soon as 2021. “Starting a new festival during a pandemic… [is] complicated,” he replied to a fan’s inquiry on the matter. “Ascarate was nice enough to move my deposit and dates to 2021, [but it’s] still complicated.” Hopefully this will reassure dance and music lovers to wait patiently. The world’s current circumstances have put a rest to SCMF, but it might not be forever. The festival is hopefully coming back, it seems, and when it does, El Paso will party as hard as ever!
