Fire Lights to make North East debut with jam/bass heavy showing: Manic Focus, Mersiv, Tripp St., NotLö, & more

At any given festival, fire and EMS professionals easily make up one of the most vital pieces of the chain of survival at any given music festival. At any point when things go south for any attendee, these workers are often the first-response to critical, life-threatening emergencies. Still, harm reduction programs and its volunteers are just as vital in the festival fabric; specifically, in how they educate these first-responders towards more empathetic, lower-stakes methods of treatment for those dealing with already difficult drug-related experiences. But who has ever heard of a move as bold as a festival run by and for fire and EMS workers?

Enter: the first annual Firelights Music and Arts Festival, situated just twenty minutes south of Lake Eerie. This better mean jaw-dropping pyrotechnics.

The three-day fire-themed festival will take place inside Edinboro, Pennsylvania’s Wainer Park, this September 9 – 11. Not only will the inaugural event honor a date that’s been somberly burned into in the larger American imagination, along with the first responders who lost their lives on 9/11, Fire Lights marks the first festival in popular memory that will be headed by a fire department, with all proceeds going towards benefiting The Edinboro Volunteer Fire Department. Bold move, indeed.

The three-day event brings great news for fans of jamtronica and underground bass residing in the Midwest and Northeast. Featuring over thirty artists strewn across two separate stages, Manic Focus and Mersiv top the line-up after the pair’s joint Solar Eclipse road tour was cancelled early last spring due to the pandemic outbreak reaching American soil. It will mark the first time the two grace the same stage, so one can only wonder whether something extra special in the cards.

Reaching a max capacity of 2,500 people, more notable artists topping the lineup are Russ Liquid, Maddie O’Neal, Tripp St., Zebbler Encanti Experience, Psymbionic, and more. In addition, there will be three label stage takeovers over the weekend. Denver’s premiere dubstep banner, sub.Mission, is signed onto bring Honeycomb, Ovoid, Flintwick, Vide, and more to Fire Lights. SpicyBois will bring MOLOKAI, synthe, and Mlotik to the decks, while Electric Hawk makes their IRL festival debut with label mates Fryar, Josh Teed, Common Creation, and UNKNWN taking over the decks. Then there’s a rather nifty undercard that with CVPTVGON, Player Dave, NotLö, and more TBA artists to come.

The event, taking place over the 9-11 weekend will recognize all first responders in a midday ceremony. We will be recognizing all of the efforts of the first responders in our area and the vital role they play in keeping our community safe. Firelights Director Andrew Lehr said the following in a press statement,

“We couldn’t have put together such a great event without the support of the Washington Township Council and all of the members and volunteers of the volunteer fire department. It’s such a great way to honor and celebrate all those who risk their lives everyday.”

– Andrew Lehr

Attendees will be allowed to enter the festival site on Thursday September 9 for early access and musical programming on the side stages. They’ll camp, enjoy great food, local beverages, and participate in education and entertaining activities throughout the festival. Limited and discounted early bird tickets are on sale now.