When Above & Beyond announced that Group Therapy 700 (ABGT700) would bring its landmark radio show back to Washington State’s iconic The Gorge Amphitheatre, expectations were sky-high. Following an unforgettable kickoff with an unprecedented Friday Deep Set, Saturday night was primed to write another legendary chapter in trance history. However, Mother Nature had other plans.
As the energy built across the stunning venue, uncooperative weather rolled into the Pacific Northwest. High winds and incoming rain forced organizers to make the tough, safety-first call to temporarily pause the show. Thousands of fans packed onto the lawn and into the amphitheater were initially told to evacuate the lower bowl, while still allowed on the upper part of the venue. However, organizers were forced to make the decision for everyone to vacate the entire premises after pausing Oliver Smith’s set.
At the time of the pause, fans were not sure if they would be able to return. Once conditions shifted to a safe operating window, the interruption was lifted, and the gates welcomed fans back to the amphitheater. The atmosphere inside shifted instantly from anxious waiting to euphoric energy.
While dynamic weather scheduling inevitably caused some shifts in the initial set times, leaving Ilan Bluestone and J-Ribbon heartbroken, the collective resilience of the crowd and crew ensured that ABGT700 lived up to its name, braving the elements.
Above & Beyond ended up closing the event, delivering a set filled with emotional classics and new unreleased A&B singles. Group therapy, after all, is about getting through the storm together. Saturday night at The Gorge proved that no amount of rain or wind can extinguish the flame of the Anjunafamily when Above & Beyond are at the helm.
