This past Thursday, eager fans made their way to Northern Liberties in Philadelphia to await the arrival of Cosmic Gate. After learning about the incredible deal of free entry for 21+, we saw the buzz about this show spread like wildfire. For East Side Electro, MASS EDMC, and NV Concepts had an epic night planned for everyone and wanted us all to witness.

For those of you who don't already know, District N9NE has been fully revamped and remodeled, complete with new lighting, new sound, and a new VIP experience. Of course I believe that any venue should always put sound first, yet the lighting of this place is simply mind-boggling. An amazing modification, particularly with a show as intricate as Cosmic Gate. Like any trance enthusiast will tell you, there is a distinct combination of bass heavy progressions that are consistently battling beautiful melodies, and a well-orchestrated light show will always make that experience next-level.

With other acts performing in Philly that same night (Zed's Dead, The Flaming Lips) the show got off to a slow start. But that didn't stop the opening acts from tearing it up. Burnbomb and So Serious took to the decks with heavily percussive tech sets that helped ease everyone into the venue and kept everybody drinking, and my personal favorite of the opening DJs, MI5AN7HROPIA, constructed an amazing fluidity between the welcoming and the hype. By the time Stefan Bossi of Cosmic Gate took to the stage, the crowd was ready to pop off.

I must say that seeing this venue once again at a capacity that proves it's ability to handle events for the masses is reassuring. Taking on shows like Headhunterz and Cosmic Gate can prove finicky on a Thursday night, but with the promotional deals that they have offered and the incredible talent that they strive to bring in (keep an eye out for Halloween with Hardwell), it is incredibly exciting to see what becomes of this place in the near future. I know for certain that we'll be coming back for more!

Soundtrack to the Night:

To check out the full album of photos from the night, click here!