Jeffrey Taviano

The News Journal

Firefly Music Festival fans have grown accustomed to seeing DJ duo The White Panda in the late night hours in The Woodlands, where they bring surprises, music and masks to the stage.

Yes. Masks.

“It just goes with the music. It helps the visual appeal, and enhances the experience for the audience,” Tom Evans, half the duo, said.

Unlike most performers at Firefly, the festival wasn’t the group’s first experience in Delaware. White Panda performed at the University of Delaware in 2011, sharing the stage with Flo Rida, Wale and Sam Adams.

“Our LLC is also incorporated in the First State,” Evans said, joking.

Their Delaware fandom goes both ways.

When Firefly returns this June, The White Panda will return to The Woodlands for the fourth time – more than any other group. They’re looking forward to it as much as the festival’s fans. Because they’re fans, too.

“It’s my favorite festival,” Evans said. “Firefly is a comfortable, easygoing experience, and they prioritize in artist treatment.”

GALLERY: Our favorite Firefly photos, 2015

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Performing at the festival every year since 2013, The White Panda are unofficially the Firefly resident DJs. When asked how they felt about the possibility of making it official, Evans said they’d “be honored.”

“It’s [festival organizer] Red Frog’s decision, but we will come back every year if we can help it.”

They could get their wish as it looks like organizers have really embraced dance-friendly DJs perfect for late-night light shows in the middle of the woods. 2016 will mark the first time Firefly will break away from its traditional indie-rock headliners for one of electronic dance music’s best producers – Deadmau5 – who has also headlined Bonnaroo and Governor’s Ball music festivals.

In Firefly’s first year, 2012, only two acts in the EDM (electronic dance music) and mashup scene made the lineup: Bassnectar and Girl Talk.

Last year marked a shift, with the addition of the Pavilion Stage. It welcomed a wide range of DJs, and gave a new dance floor to Firefly fans looking to express themselves. The White Panda has been a highlight of the Firefly dance scene since 2013, generating new fans each time they play, which included last year’s festival-closing set that drew a sea of people to the Backyard Stage, the fest’s second largest venue.

The White Panda’s specialty is mashup, which pulls songs from every genre, including rock, hip-hop, electronic dance music and everything in between. The brand calls for an open mind because each track can consist of multiple songs, which creates a huge demand for new music and a lengthy library.

To stay ahead of the curve and create new mashups, Evans has developed an ear for good music.

“Plenty of music doesn’t become popular for a year or two after it comes out, and hearing it before others helps stay ahead in the music industry. Songs like ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille and ‘Take me to Church’ by Hozier came out 1 to 2 years before they blew up, and hearing those first definitely helps stay ahead of the curve.”

GALLERY: On the scene at Firefly Music Festival, 2015

And the crowds appreciate that, apparently.

“In 2013 we were expecting maybe a crowd of 1,000 since it was late night after Tom Petty. We figured a lot of festival goers would be turning it in for the night, but when we walked out on that stage we were looking back at 15,000 plus, and we were immediately hype to play. It was great, because our set was at midnight and I was celebrating a birthday,” Evans said. “I remember popping bottles backstage. It was my favorite Firefly.”

The massive crowds at Firefly fuel the artists. Last year Evans was recovering from knee surgery, but couldn’t help jumping up and down on stage during their set.

“We feed off the fans 100 percent. It’s much easier to get the energy when we are looking out over that Firefly crowd, as opposed to performing at smaller events,” Evans said.

“Red Frog picked a really good location in The Woodlands. The fan energy is high and positive, and the trees, whether during the day or lit up at night, are unique to the festival experience.”

Compared to other festivals, Firefly stands out.

The Northeast corridor has become a playground for the DJs who’ve been friends since they were 6-year-olds growing up in Chicago. They’ve developed a liking for the Mid-Atlantic Region, playing shows in Philadelphia, New York, Villanova, Towson, and the D.C. area.

But Firefly is different. It isn’t just for the fans, as artists enjoy it like a vacation. Ever wonder if it’s possible the artists could be in the crowd with you, watching other bands perform?

“We’re always in the crowd. We invite some of our friends and make a whole weekend out of it.”

Firefly artists make the awards rounds

With the fifth annual Firefly Music Festival a little more than two months away, bands from around the world are preparing for the big summer festival season kick-off.

For five Firefly acts, last weekend’s iHeartRadio Music Awards and 51st Academy of Country Music Awards meant being nominated for a trophy or performing on a huge stage.

Four Firefly acts were up for seven iHeartRadio awards and only one walked home with some hardware: New Jersey rapper Fetty Wap was crowned Best New Artist during the TBS telecast, beating out everyone from Hozier and Sam Hunt to Shawn Mendes and Tove Lo.

Fetty Wap, who performed “Again” on the broadcast, lost two other awards, including Hip Hop Artist of the Year (that went to Drake) and Hip Hop Song of the Year. (Drake’s “Hotline Bling” beat out Fetty’s “Trap Queen.”)

Electronic music act Major Lazer also lost out on a pair of awards, losing Dance Artist of the Year to Mr. Taylor Swift (Calvin Harris) and Dance Song of the Year to Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber’s “Where Are Ü Now.”

Among the other Firefly losers: Elle King’s "Ex's & Oh's" lost Alternative Rock Song of the Year to Firefly alum Twenty One Pilots and Ellie Goulding’s "Love Me Like You Do" from “Fifty Shades of Grey” was (rightfully) bested by Lada Gaga’s “Til It Happens to You” from “The Hunting Ground” documentary for Best Song from a Movie.

When it came to the Academy of Country Music Awards, New Orleans’ Trombone Shorty was the lone Firefly representative, performing on Little Big Town’s “Stay All Night.”

Has Trombone Shorty gone country? Not quite. He’s still busy producing his trademark hybrid of up-tempo funk/jazz/rock, but keep your eyes open for another country collaboration coming from Troy Andrews. He can be heard on the upcoming song “Mardi Gras” by Dierks Bentley, due May 27 on Bentley’s new album “Black.”

While the complete daily schedule for Firefly 2016 has not yet been released by organizers, we do know that Ellie Goulding and White Panda are playing on Friday, Fetty Wap is on Saturday and Major Lazer, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Elle King are all slated for Sunday’s closing day.

-Ryan Cormier