The World’s FIrst LGBTQ+ EDM Festival, GAYDM, Hits Atlanta

World’s First LGBTQ+ EDM Festival, GayDM “One Love,” Premieres in Atlanta Proceeds to Benefit Georgia-Based LGBTQ+ Organizations

Atlanta is set to welcome thousands of gay men, lesbians and their allies on September 11 for the debut of GAYDM “One Love,” the world’s first LGBTQ+ EDM festival.

All Photos by ©Russ Youngblood

GAYDM “One Love” will take place at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta, and feature 25 of the world’s top LGBTQ+ DJs including Danny Tenaglia, Pagano, Ralphi Rosario, Boris, Citizen Jane, Samantha Ronson, Dave Aude, Alex Lo, Marti Frieson, Alex Ramos, Oscar Velazquez, Hector Fonseca, Tommy Love, DJ Tatiana, Binomio, Enrico Meloni, and Marco da Silva.

The Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood will feature three stages for the festivities: a main “headliner” stage along with two satellite stages on either side. All guests will be free to venture in and out of all three staging areas. It’s all part of the plan for a non-stop festival that uses music to enrich and unite different communities.

“It will be an 11-hour festival with live performances, celebrities and non-stop music,” explains local nightlife producer Chris Coleman.  He and co-producer Michael Morrison are partnering with GAGA (Gay Georgia) and Lost-n-Found Youth on GAYDM “One Love” and its “party with a purpose” initiative.

“Pride parties have always been a catalyst to bring the LGBTQ+ community together and GAYDM ‘One Love’ will merge our tribes into one unified voice for one night to affect change,” Coleman says.

“EDM speaks to every race, nationality, gender, and sexuality around the globe,” Coleman continues. “It heightens our senses, quickens our pulse, and drives us to the pinnacle of excitement with a myriad of sub-genres like techno, electro, dubstep, synthwave, lo-fi, and more.”

Coleman argues it is the LGBTQ+ community and its DJs who should be credited with pioneering the genre when, at the height of disco craze, groundbreaking, gay artists like Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles introduced heavy bass, breaks, and beats into the techno and house we know today.

“Much of the music that we enjoy today at dance clubs is the legacy of LGBTQ+ artists,” Coleman observes, tipping his hat to the visionaries of the past.

“One of the goals of GAYDM “One Love” is to let the truth of the music pour out from the closet door and into the heart of the public,” Coleman says. “It’s a chance for everyone that loves dance music to celebrate its origins.”

The Marriott Marquis Hotel at 265 Peachtree Center Avenue in downtown Atlanta is the host hotel for GAYDM “One Love” this year.

Located five miles from the Cellairis Amphitheatre, the 52-story hotel boasts amazing views of downtown Atlanta. Marriott Marquis Hotel is also offering GAYDM “One Love” event goers a special discounted rate of $159 a night for all rooms booked before Friday, August 13, 2021 at https://book.passkey.com/go/egade.

GAYDM “One Love” will take place Saturday, September 11 at The Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood, located at 2002 Lakewood Avenue at the Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta. General admission lawn, regular admission seats, and pit standing room only are on sale now and can be purchased online here through Live Nation. Prices begin at $95.00 + taxes and are currently being offered with early bird pricing of 20% off through July 1.

For additional information visit Facebook, Instagram, Twitter + www.gdmfest.com.

All Photos by ©Russ Youngblood