Above & Beyond have solidified themselves as one of the powerhouses of dance music and are well-known for their annual Group Therapy show. The lineup for the next event dropped today and frankly, it’s spectacular. On September 16 & 17, Group Therapy takes center stage with a their very own mini festival at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State for milestone 250.
The first day of the event will showcase the classic Anjunabeats melodic trance whereas day two will be a bit more down tempo with the Anjunadeep staples taking center stage. Day One will showcase Seven Lions b2b Jason Ross, Oliver Smith, Genix b2b Sunny Lax, Luttrell, and Yotto. Day Two will feature an Above & Beyond yoga set as well as performances from 16 Bit, Lolitas, Eli & Fur, Jody Wisternoff & James Grant, Moon Boots, and Yotto b2b Luttrell.
This will be the first time a Group Therapy show will be two days as opposed to the past five milestone events that have only been one day. Clearly the A&B boys wanted to show case the up and coming artists on their label.
ABGT 250 is not playing games this year. Above & Beyond has chosen powerhouse supporting acts to bring the emotional trance we all know and love. Jason Ross has been blowing the roof off of festivals and clubs over the past few years and now is teaming up with Seven Lions for this event, which will surely be one of the sets not to miss. Alongside them is Anjuna staple Oliver Smith, who has continued to evolve his sound throughout the years and seems to not have skipped a beat in doing so. Genix b2b Sunny Lax may be the set not to miss. After going on their “Black Water” tour in 2015, they have proven to be dance floor favorites, which should bode well when the Gorge hosts them. Luttrell and Yotto will be playing together on day two but on day one, they get the chance to show off their sound on their own as the show begins.
Remember back in 2014 when Above & Beyond did a special yoga set at Burning Man? Well then it’s your lucky day. A&B are set to bring the Zen early in the morning on the second day with an unforgettable yoga set. Helping them bring some deeper vibes on day 2 are Eli & Fur, Jody Wisternoff & James Grant, Moon Boots, and Yotto b2b Luttrell. If this will be anything like the Anjunadeep showcase in Miami, this will surely be one groovy vibing show with one incredible view.
The past ABGT shows were carefully chosen not only in amazing cities, but also in venues that have a certain magical vibe to them. It’s no surprise the Gorge Amphitheater was chosen for the special two-day Group Therapy 250 show. Not only does it have the capacity for thousands of people to partake in the event – the scenery surrounding the venue is nothing short of incredible. That view should be an excellent compliment to the beautiful melodic trance that is sure to fill the air come September.
One of the bigger surprises with this event is the absence of two of Anjunabeats’ pillar producers, Andrew Bayer and Ilan Bluestone. Last year they performed an amazing back-to-back set at the Allphones Arena in Amsterdam. They have both been part of the show for the past four years but will not be there this year – on the stage, that is. This may show that Above & Beyond is ready to showcase their new up-and-coming artists to help get them more exposure. Bayer and Bluestone are both staples in the trance scene already, so it shouldn’t be too big of a surprise that they won’t be partaking in this year’s festivities.
Needless to say this year’s Group Therapy milestone will be one for the ages. With supporting acts for rising trance, progressive and deep powerhouses, ABGT 250 is not one to be missed. If anyone had any questions about trance coming back to the frontline of dance music, ABGT 250 should be the answer to that question. You can hear the entire show live on any satellite streaming apps around world starting on September 16 through September 17.
