Breakaway Dallas 2025: A Texas Debut That Shook The Ground

Photo Credit: Aylin Susvilla

On April 5-6th, Fair Park erupted into a high-voltage playground as Breakaway Music Festival made its long-awaited Dallas debut. Backed by CELSIUS and kicking off the festival’s 2025 season, Breakaway Dallas drew over 12,000 fans through its gates, electrified by a lineup stacked with EDM’s most magnetic names. From start to finish, the two-day festival was a masterclass in production, energy, and community. Under the wide-open Texas sky, Breakaway Dallas didn’t just check boxes - it rewrote the playbook. 

Some sets burn bright. Others etch themselves into memory. Breakaway Dallas delivered both. TroyBoi proved the trap genre is alive and lethal. His set became a sonic dojo, slicing through the night with precision and swagger. Classics like “Afterhours” and “Do You?” landed like lightning bolts. Basslines spiraled through the air, a hypnotic blend of nostalgia and resurrection that had the crowds snapping their necks in rhythm. Gryffin delivered emotional altitude. His set felt like a full-body exhale - fluid, immersive, and achingly human. When he broke into a guitar solo during “All You Need To Know”, his riffs soared above the crowd as fireworks bloomed across the sky. It was cinematic, euphoric, and unforgettable.

Then came ZEDD. His set unfolded like a cinematic crescendo, perfectly timed with a fireworks show lighting up the festival skyline. From the opening chords of “I Want You To Know” to the synth-drenched release of “Stay”, he transported the crowd across eras. But the true eruption came with his haunting “Squid Game” remix - menacing strings, collective gasps, and all dancing as one.

Photo Credit: Aylin Susvilla

On Day 2, Zomboy stripped things bare—and that was his power. No visuals. Just decks and a relentless torrent of dubstep. And that’s all he needed. Each drop landed like a sledgehammer. When he summoned the “Wall of Death”, the crowd split like the Red Sea. Fans collided with a roar so primal it shook the bones. SLANDER closed the festival with a different kind of weight - emotional, not just sonic. “Love Is Gone” turned the field into a cathartic ritual. People danced. People cried. “Wish I Could Forget” and “First Time” followed, each drop soaked in emotion and wrapped in velvet. It was a memorable shared release. 

Beyond the headliners, Breakaway’s supporting acts filled the gaps with genre-blending brilliance and fearless energy.

Ship Wrek burst in with turbo-charged momentum, delivering back-to-back drops hit like a sugar rush straight down the veins. KREAM, by contrast, cooled the temperature without dimming the vibe. The set rolled in like a slow-motion tide as dusk fell - lush chords, smooth basslines, and blissful surrender. BUNT was pure joy in motion. One moment, he was slinging thumping techno; the next, lobbing filthy dubstep bombs. Through it all, the crowd had their hands high, hearts light, entirely in it.

On Day 2, NIIKO x SWAE wasted zero time. Their set was a playlist made for beautiful chaos: sharp snares, booming 808s, and basslines that hit you in the face. Eliminate & LAYZ turned their crowds into battlegrounds of bass. Eliminates set oozed swagger - clean transitions, wild flips, and filth. LAYZ’s riddim-heavy felt like thunder traveling up your spine. ACRAZE kept fans on their toes, weaving hits and unexpected twists. Yes, “Do It To It” dropped, but it came with fresh, genre-blending bends that kept the crowd moving.

Breakaway Dallas didn’t just sound good - it felt good. Fair Park’s expansive layout offered breathing room for shuffling, spinning, and vibing without the need for constant shoulder-checking. Even near the main stage, crowd surges felt manageable. Around every corner, the festival offered more than music. Brand activations blurred the line between experience and art. End Overdose handed out Narcan with zero judgment. And yes, the Jimmy John’s sandwich cannon did steal the show. VIP was a dream: shaded lounges, spotless bathrooms, and space to regroup without ever leaving the vibe. The layout was intentional - allowing fans to dance, wander, or rest while fully immersed. 

Photo Credit: Aylin Susvilla

Tucked away from the main stage thunder, the Silent Disco buzzed like a secret garden of sound. Here, headphones replaced speaker stacks. Ravers flipped between three channels - red, blue, green - each helmed by a different Texas DJ. Over 100 local artists rotated through the weekend, transforming the Silent Disco into a vibrant showcase of homegrown talent. The vibe was intimate, communal, and electric. 

“My favorite part was playing to an audience of new faces,” said Mala Fama, “The Silent Disco gave me a chance to hear local talent between the bigger stage sets. I wish every festival did this!” SOMBER described it as a Dallas reunion wrapped in rhythm. “The vibes and energy were amazing,” he said. “It was awesome to see the local Dallas scene unite and support each other. Ten outta ten - would rave again!”

From our Gone Rude friends, stepping into that circle of glowing headphones felt like a milestone. “After such a crazy fun week at Breakaway, this event is something I will remember forever,” NOODZ said. “The sheer amount of community representation on that stage - familiar faces, best friends, all growing together - reminded me exactly why I do this. Every late-night set, every early morning beat session led to this.” Miss T, meanwhile, brought a reunion. “I had friends from high school show up,” she said. “Some I hadn’t seen in years. I freestyled a set full of trap, bass, and dance music, and seeing them out there, cheering me on. That’s the part I’ll never forget.”

Breakaway Dallas brought a movement to Fair Park. Every beat felt intentional, from the colossal mainstage moments to the quiet unity of the Silent Disco. Every light, every drop, and every space was built not just for the spectacle but for connection. And if this debut was any indication, the Lone Star state gained a new EDM tradition - louder, more profound, and more unforgettable than we imagined.