Launched in 2023 within the iconic The Great Hall at Avant Gardner in Brooklyn, NY, the Spring Festival is gearing up for its eagerly awaited third year. Originally a two-day celebration of the Lunar New Year, the festival has expanded to five show dates from January 30th to February 1st, with two additional dates on February 7th and 8th. This year’s lineup features renowned artists such as ILLENIUM, DJ DIESEL, DJ Snake, JVNA, Space Laces, and Audien during the opening weekend. The following week, Dutch DJ legend Tiësto will take the stage for two consecutive nights, wrapping up Spring Festival 2025.

Since its founding, Pulse Events, led by CEO Luffy Huang, has established itself as a leading Asian-American events company. The Spring Festival is designed to enhance attendees’ experiences with authentic Chinese New Year celebrations, including traditional lion dancing, all while showcasing a stellar lineup of electronic music talent. Drawing on over 15 years of experience in the global music scene, Huang’s vision of “bridging the East and the West through a shared love of dance music” will resonate as fans from across the globe come together to celebrate the Lunar New Year starting January 30th.

As we look forward to Spring Festival 2025, Luffy Huang spoke with Dancing Astronaut to share insights about the festival’s beginnings, the impact of Asian culture on electronic dance music, and more. Explore ticket options for Spring Festival 2025 here—and check out the exclusive Q&A below.

What ultimately inspired you to get into hosting/promoting dance music events?

Luffy: “I’ve always had a passion for music and was a singer and TV host more than 15 years ago in China where I grew up. Music events are a bit different in Asia and it was always my dream to bring that to the US and produce a fusion experience. I’ve seen people of different cultures embrace the grand style of shows in Asia and realized this experience was missing in the US. It became my mission to put on events that exposed fans to the traditions and dance community culture in the East. I am proud that my shows include elements like Asian night markets and traditional decorations that can educate audiences while bringing top-tier artists for them to enjoy.”

Who was your first major booking?

Luffy: “My first major booking in the US was the inaugural Spring Festival in 2023, when I did a two-day event at the Great Hall with Gryffin and KSHMR headlining. Both of these artists were fitting because Gryffin is half Asian and KSHMR is Indian-American, so we were able to represent the Asian community with these two mainstream talents!”

How has Pulse Events evolved over the years?

Luffy: “Pulse Events began with the Spring Festival, but we saw that fans of all backgrounds appreciated our events mixing culture with our favorite DJs. So, we started producing other shows, including the Winter Festival and S2O in New York, which is based on the Thai New Year tradition of spraying water for good luck. We’re now on our third annual Spring Festival, have done two Winter Festivals, and we’re preparing for the second S2O. We started with a mission to bridge the East and the West by bringing Asian-inspired shows to America, but now we are actually doing the opposite as well. We are bringing EDC Korea back to South Korea in April for the first time since 2019, and it is one of our biggest projects right now. We have offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Korea, so we have grown to more than 20 employees at these corners of the world.”

How do you see Asian culture(s) influencing the future of dance music?

Luffy: “Dance music is a universal language, and our Spring Festival headliners are popular not only among Asian fans but among fans globally. Our Spring Festival attendees come from diverse backgrounds, and when they step foot into the event, they are immediately immersed in cultural elements like the night market and lion dance performances. In Asian culture, family is very important, and our Spring Festival feels like one big family celebrating music and the Lunar New Year. Asia is known for some massive events, like S2O, and by continuing to bring events like these to the US, we can promote diversity in the international dance music community.”

Featured image: Chris Lavado

Tags: Audien, Avant Gardner, DJ Diesel, DJ Snake, ILLENIUM, Luffy Huang, Pulse Events, Spring Festival, Tiësto, Zack Martino

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