29 Photos That Capture Firefly Music Festival's Magic

Article by: Marcus Dowling|@marcuskdowling

Tue June 23, 2015 | 00:00 AM


Though one could say Firefly Music Festival 2015 was "a stormy and mud-drenched good time," there was something deeper happening in the woods of Dover, Delaware. It's an unquestionable fact that when 90,000 people convene in one space – mixing youth, music, and irrepressible glee – a magical energy is born. However, when Mother Nature got involved this past weekend, we caught a glimpse of something awesome that could be the start of what's going to be a long and entertaining ride.

As far as the music was concerned, two sets really stood out from many excellent performances. Festival headliner Paul McCartney played hits almost indefatigably for two-and-a-half hours on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, Matt & Kim blew us away with enough off-kilter, hip-hop swagger and endearing potty-mouth banter to almost cause the skies to burst with rain.

It takes a special kind of person to stand in a woodland field covered in muddy mix of mulch, sand, grass, and straw on a steamy, 91-degree Sunday. People who have done it for three or four days solid, who are still pumping their fists to the likes of New York City's The Chainsmokers of "#SELFIE" fame or getting awestruck by The Killers, is something even more inspiring, especially considering the rain. But that's exactly the magic of festivals – it's the combo of a communal, Woodstock-type vibe, amplified by excellent music and people treating each other with love that defines festivals. If anything were to be the ultimate takeaway from Firefly, it's that our true colors shine best when gathered in a field, on the same wavelength together.

Do we want every Firefly Festival to become a muddy, sweaty and disgusting mess? Certainly not. But there something about watching festival-goers losing themselves to the elements and literally becoming one with the music and Mother Nature around them that will be hard to forget.

Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Crowd

Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Stage
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Jenga
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Sign
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Hammock
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Chain
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Field
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Water Station
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Beer
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Act2
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Beer Hat
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Confetti
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Dj
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Pirate Mask
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Stage2
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Balloons
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Matt Kim
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Morganfreeman
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Cage The Elephant
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Crowdstage
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joepapeo Guitars
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Cake Sign
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Steve Aoki
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Joe Papeo Morrissey
Photo by: Joe Papeo
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Cell Phone
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Act
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Night Crowd
Photo by: Danilo Lewis
Firefly 2015 Danilo Lewis Pyro Stage
Photo by: Danilo Lewis