sprung Drew DC Groovers to the Dancefloor for a Unique Spring Celebration

2 weeks ago 18

Hosted by Washington, DC music venue BERHTA, the debut edition of sprung was a massive success.

The weekend of April 18 was a busy one for Washington, DC‘s thriving electronic scene. Event curators like GLOW and Nu Androids threw ambitious outdoor takeovers across the city. But one at BERHTA stood out above the pack as a homegrown initiative that galvanized the community through a multi-stage takeover with local flair.

Taking place at their Northeast Washington campus, BERHTA’s sprung event featured a three-stage takeover at the indoor-outdoor art space. An ambitious project for the newer venue, the inaugural year featured performances from Aluna, it’s murph, Never Dull, NEIL FRANCES, SG Lewis, and a selection of local talent.

The venue was the perfect home for sprung, providing convenience and immersive art experiences.

It was my first visit to BERHTA, and I was impressed by the ease of getting to the venue. As it was quick walk from the Rhode Island Avenue Brentwood Metro stop, arriving via public transportation was a breeze. For those who chose to drive, like me, there were ample places to park, including the Metro parking garage, which is free on the weekends.

The stroll up to the venue, tucked away off busy Brentwood Road, put us in an industrial area overshadowed by mature trees, which offered a respite from the sun on the warm spring day. The outdoor BANANAS stage was filled with energy from the get-go. Brought to life with an art installation hanging above the dancefloor, the shiny sheets of fabric flowed in the light breeze, mimicking the crowd swaying beneath.

BERHTA had built outdoor structures to make the space feel more like a venue. A raised area made of wood provided a better view of the stage, along with a bar and a street corn stand. Additional bars found a home in shipping containers, adding to the industrial feel.

Stepping into the indoor venue felt like entering a new dimension. Between the BERHTA and BETTE stages was an area housing multiple immersive art experiences. Cherry blossoms hung around the space, paying homage to the telltale sign of spring in DC. A giant, light-up geometric statue allowed attendees to control its colors via a control panel.

Making a special appearance, Burning Man installation Fluffy Cloud put on a cinematic light show to the sounds of the BERHTA stage. Along with swing sets, a mysterious cart which provided a private escape, and an illuminating donkey sculpture, the art added another layer to sprung.

sprung’s three distinct stages featured top-notch performances from some of the hottest names in electronic music.

The bookings for the inaugural year of sprung evoked the vibrance and warmth of spring through their electrifying performances. Disco house DJ Never Dull started the party on the BANANAS stage. His mix of soulful and groovy tunes was the perfect kick-off to my day at sprung, easing me into the festivities.

As the sun began to set, lauded producer SG Lewis took to the stage. Playing out his Tove Lo collaborations “Let me go OH OH” and “HEAT,” he had the crowd cheering and singing along to every word. But many gravitated to a higher-energy vibe, with the crowd shifting over to Aluna’s high-spirited set at the BERHTA stage.

An absolute goddess behind the decks, Aluna casually ate blueberries on stage while throwing down a set of epic proportions. The blend of tracks spanned multiple genres, creating a journey through sound as lasers fired off into the sea of fans. As she played out “Beggin’,” I couldn’t help but wonder if somehow, just mere miles away, Chris Lake was playing the alluring tune at the same time. “Kiss It Better” and her new track, “Houseboy,” also made appearances in her hour-long performance.

Closing out the BERHTA stage, it’s murph took the reins for a rare, two-hour set that knocked my socks off. Quickly becoming one of my favorite artists in the newest class of DJs making waves, he took the crowd for a wild ride with UKG bangers, vibrant pop remixes, and his signature tracks. The energy was undeniable as he dropped his latest single, “Lift Me Up.” It was clear the crowd was more than familiar with his discography as the majority of attendees belted out the lyrics to his emotive tunes.

A highlight of the set was when someone tossed a giant pineapple stuffed animal awarded as a carnival game prize on stage for it’s murph to dance with as “Feel it in My” boomed from the speakers. As he closed his set with “Weightless,” the remaining crowd shifted to the BETTE stage where NEIL FRANCES closed out the evening with a DJ set, delivering darker, club-forward sounds.

While sprung’s first edition was a smash success in my eyes, there’s still room for improvement.

Arriving at the venue, I was surprised to only see one carnival game as marketing had made it seem like there would be multiple for added entertainment. With that said, having the opportunity to play one of the notoriously difficult carnival basketball games with the sounds of SG Lewis as the soundtrack was quite a riot.

As sprung served up nine hours of music programming, they made sure to keep everyone fueled by bringing in a curated lineup of local eats. The selection of vendors set up shop around the BANANAS stage. While one vendor happened to operate out of a food truck, some were overlooked due to a lack of signage or no official stand. Increasing signage and creating distinct booths for future editions could help vendors reach more customers.

More notably, the BANANAS speakers didn’t reach the sides of the crowds. Really, they sounded quiet unless you were standing toward the middle of the dancefloor. More speakers would improve the stage experience and help with the flow of traffic around the site as crowds dispersed due to the lack of booming bass. With the slightest of tweaks, sprung could be one of DC’s most hyped yearly events.

Overall, sprung was one of my favorite events I’ve been to in DC.

As a DMV native who has since moved away, I’ve been to my fair share of events in the city. sprung stood out immediately for its authenticity. Drawing a lively crowd of music lovers, it was refreshing to see the individualistic, immersed, and diverse crowd that turned up.

In a time where dancefloors are flooded with fans who have come from TikTok hoping to hear a 30-second snippet of one song, sprung felt like it drew in the real groovers. The people were there for the love of music and the community it creates. Throughout the evening, attendees let loose and allowed the music to take control without searching for that one Instagrammable moment.

It felt exhilarating. It felt purposeful. It felt real. When sprung returns in 2027, I’ll be first in line to grab a ticket.