Hydrotechnics 2018: Chicago returns to New York

a special place

This year, we went back home to the land of the wild, free, and family love. EVOL Chicago returned to Hydrotechnics Festival in Bainbridge, New York at Echo Lake for the fourth year in a row. Hydro holds a special place in our hearts, because it was where we planted our first roots back in 2015. This festival not only gave us an amazing opportunity to network and grow, but it also gave us a place where we know we will always receive the best underground music around and visit the most amazing people on the East Coast. The Hydrotechnics team also gave us the greatest honor to be their official merchandise vendor within the venue. For the past two years, EVOL and Hydro have teamed up to give the people beautiful pins, clothing, and accessories.

official pin collab

Our Chicago based artist, Erika Lizette, and the Hydrotechnics Team collaborated on the official pin for 2018, landing on a meditating frog. Our pins came in two limited edition variants; LE 120 copper finish with a green and yellow decorated enamel and a LE 30 full glow with green linework. The full glow was a huge hit, since we only produced thirty pins. The frog became a symbol for everyone to remember to take a moment and experience the sights and sounds around you. In addition to the official pins, we vended Hydro t-shirts, sweatshirts, patches, magnets, and a raffle to win a large 4 foot wide wooden laser-etched meditating frog. Hydro frogs now available for purchase!

the underground sound

The festival itself is unlike any event the team has done before. Hydrotechnics is on the smaller scale with a little under 1,000 attendees. All the attendees gather together to celebrate friendship, love and music on this 13-acre land in upstate New York. Music lovers camp in between the the long arms of the trees and line the shore of Echo Lake. Besides the beautiful view and amazing love between friends, the music was another highlight to this festival. Varying from happy hardcore, trance, drum and bass all the way to house and techno. The festival attracts electronic dance music pioneers like Diesel Boy, Doc Marten, Hixxy, Black Sun Empire and Joey Beltram.

all the frills

The Hydro team did an amazing job with keeping their guests entertained and smiling. Beginning with a 12’ x 12’ massive ball pit in the main stage pavilion that fit up to 30 people. The team found this to be a fun place to kick back and relax outside the chaos of normal life. Walking around, attendees could enjoy a renegade stage on the bed of a pick up truck and follow the music throughout the campground. Art installations that reacted to UV light were set up for onlookers to browse. A 30 foot zen den sound healing teepee hosted by Seer & Sage was the perfect place to lay down and relax all amidst the sounds of gongs, monk singing bowls, yamchas and mantras, and the smell of sage burning and cleansing the air. As if all of that weren’t enough, Hydro also hosted a series of competitive and friendly games, multiple yoga classes by the lake, and so much more.

no place like hydro

All in all, this festival left the team with a renewed outlook and full of creativity! We enjoyed every minute spent in Echo Lake and hope to see many more years with the Hydro team. We foresee a beautiful and inspiring outcome from this team and festival. We appreciate the time and effort put forward from every single person, and a huge thank you to our EVOL Fam who came and created new memories at our booth all while supporting our business. We are excited to return and spend yet another Hydro with everyone. Until then, find us at the EVOL Chicago booth at an event near you!

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Written by: Frida Gonzalez

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