Joakim Lundell Renews the DJ Experience at Bonfire Festival in Linköping

I have never really understood the appeal of DJ performances.

It simply has never been my thing. I’ve had trouble seeing the fascination with a person behind a mixing desk, music pumping from the speakers, and hands waving in the air.

Then came Joakim Lundell.

And something happened that I honestly didn’t think would happen.

I got it.

Lundell did exactly what I’d been missing – he made it into a show.

And what a show it was, too.

Right from when “Snapchat” kicks off the performance, it’s clear that they’re not holding anything back. Jocke promises Linköping one hell of a show and delivers in spades. Behind him, the stage is covered by a massive LED screen with stylish animations, as lights, lasers, fire, smoke, and confetti go off in succession.

The laser show is actually so extensive that the amusement rides have to stand still during the performance. The Ferris wheel continues to spin, but without any passengers. A pretty telling example of the production Lundell has brought to Linköping.

And the audience is along for the ride from the very start.

“Now let’s go crazy, Linköping!”

He barely needs to say it twice.

Songs like “Dreams (Are Made of This)”, “Everytime We Touch”, “I Wanna Start a Fight”, and “Don’t You Worry Child” keep the crowd constantly moving. These are big, instantly recognizable songs and now I start to understand part of the appeal as well. There’s hardly any downtime – the next burst of energy is always just around the corner.

And when “Sandstorm” booms out of the speakers, things are, of course, kicked up another notch.

A large circle opens up right in the middle of the crowd.

But Lundell isn’t satisfied.

“Bigger circle!”

Linköping obeys, and seconds later, chaos erupts.

This is about when I begin to understand why there are so many security guards in front of the stage during this particular set. While Lundell is doing his best to get the crowd to completely lose it, the guards are doing their best to make sure everyone gets back up again.

Two pretty different job descriptions – and both are needed.

Lundell also takes the opportunity to challenge the audience to prove that Linköping is better than Västerås. Perhaps not the hardest thing to sell to this audience.

He also earns a major bonus point from me when AC/DC’s “T.N.T.” blasts out across the area. A bit of good old rock'n'roll is apparently a perfect fit even right in the middle of a massive DJ show.

And it’s the mix that works so well. His own songs are blended with well-known hits and unexpected forays, while Lundell and the production team make sure that something is always happening on stage.

That’s where I start to understand why a DJ performance can work on a big festival stage. Here, it’s not just a DJ behind a mixer letting the music do the work. Lundell uses the whole stage and everything available to create a real concert experience.

And the biggest number is saved for the end.

During the last song, the platform Lundell has been standing on all evening begins to rise. Higher and higher, until he’s far above the stage, surrounded by the LED screen animations, lights, lasers, and effects.

Then fireworks shoot out from the stage roof.

Curtain.

Before Bonfire, I never would have guessed that Joakim Lundell would be the one to change my perspective on DJ performances.

But he did.

The fact is, when the fireworks fade from the sky, only one question remains: why didn’t he close out the whole festival?

Soppgirobygget are insanely good and know exactly how to throw a party, but compared to the previous year, there wasn’t quite as much new to discover this time. Lundell’s set, on the other hand, felt like the obvious final blowout for Bonfire – big, lavish, and completely uncompromising.

I still won’t call myself a DJ fan.

But when an artist from a genre I don’t normally appreciate manages to make me stand there thinking “okay, now I get it”, then he’s really done something right.