Art In Motion: The Magic That Was ILLFest 2025
- Aeisha Izaguirre
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
ILLFest more than a festival—it’s an uplifting sensory shockwave. Set against Austin’s vibrant backdrop, the three-day experience fuses massive bass, live art, and a deeply connected crowd into a living, breathing world. Every detail was an invitation for discovery, from muralists conjuring magic on blank walls to stages that pulsed with light. The ILLFest 2025 edition delivered a potent lineup, featuring bass titans like Tape B & Peekaboo, Wooli, and Liquid Stranger alongside special hip-hop guests, BigXthaPlug & That Mexican OT, creating a weekend where the community came ready to move, make, and connect.
ILLFest started with an electric Day 1, the grounds packed with familiar faces. The brand-new ILLUSIONS stage immediately became a fan favorite, maintaining a constant, flowing crowd. Wonky Willa’s set stood out, inspiring a sea of attendees dressed to get wonderfully weird on the dance floor. It was a high-energy pulse and the perfect ignition that carried us throughout the night with mind-blowing sets from Deathpact and Tape B x Peekaboo. Overall, it set the stage for the massive weekend ahead.
By Day 2, the ILLFest atmosphere was visibly evolving as graffiti installations neared completion. Their vibrant colors deepened the venue’s psychedelic feel. The ILLPickle stage hosted an epic Drum and Bass takeover, with legends like Delta Heavy and Netsky unleashing breakbeats. As BigXthaPlug drew a colossal audience, the staff’s smart implementation of guided flow paths kept the energy moving - a much-appreciated touch. Later, Wooli closed the night with a relentlessly heavy set that left us breathless.
Our energy was waning by Day 3, but Know Good’s soulful, feel-good set was the perfect remedy, reminding us why we fell in love with this scene. The final day felt like a reunion, filled with wholesome rave-fam moments as we continuously ran into friends. We had an opportunity to try one of the food vendors, Eiffel Waffle. Eiffel Waffle Creamery was a dessert lover’s dream come true. Their signature bubble waffles are warm, fluffy, and perfectly crisp on the outside—ideal for holding generous scoops of rich, creamy ice cream. Toppings like cookie dough, fudge, Fruity Pebbles, and fresh strawberries turn each creation into a colorful, over-the-top masterpiece.
The art installations now stood complete, transforming the ILLFest grounds into a stunning open-air gallery. That Mexican OT commanded a massive crowd, while ALLEYCVT’s performance at Your Mom’s House stage was a sound and light spectacle, with rainbow lasers slicing through the darkness. Liquid Stranger delivered the final sermon, closing the night with some much-needed “spaghetti time” that perfectly capped the wild weekend. A final heartfelt thank you must go to the festival staff and parking team, whose efficiency made exiting the venue a seamless 10-minute process.
ILLFest 2025 carved out a special place in our hearts. It gave us a profound appreciation for the immense effort required to bring such an experience to life—from the creative vision and production to the tireless work of staff, security, and vendors. It was an honor to witness the magic from both sides of the rail, and we are deeply grateful to have been part of something so genuinely connected. Major love to every artist, worker, and attendee who made ILLFest feel like home!
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