When we dreamed up Electric Café, we wanted a space in Orlando where people could take a moment to gather and connect before heading into the festival. À La Carte SoDo was the perfect spot. The venue itself added so much to the experience. People could sit under the shade umbrellas, dance to the music on the lawn, or explore the food trucks while enjoying the Florida sun. It felt like a local hub where festival-attendees and Orlando residents could mix and enjoy music and one another’s company. Partnering with Lobos Coffee Roasters brought it all together, giving everyone the option to start the day with some extra energy.
We opened the day with MOTION, TFB’s own Senior Project Manager Melanie Moore, on the decks. Her set was welcoming and fun, giving people a soundtrack to sip their coffee to, chat, and ease into the day. Her beautiful deep house set created a calm, but energized mood that set the tone for the morning and made everyone feel at home in the space.
Next up was TriCade, Orlando’s #1 party starter who completely owns the room when he plays. He knows how to read a crowd and craft his tech house sets to match their energy perfectly. Local residents and festival attendees alike found themselves on the dance floor, moving together and feeling the shared energy. Everyone around the courtyard felt the energy and moved with it naturally, and his set really highlighted the connection between music and community that we were aiming for.
The morning wrapped up with Sara Benyo, who usually plays dubstep but delivered an amazing, rare bass house set. She brought big energy while keeping the flow of the morning intact. People danced, moved, and felt the music as they wandered between food trucks and coffee cups. By the time the set ended, the space felt alive but still grounded, exactly the way we hoped it would. Electric Café wasn’t just coffee and music. It was a moment of connection and good vibes that set the weekend off on the perfect note.
This was just the first of many pop-up events we plan to host. Electric Café showed us what’s possible when community, music, and thoughtful partnerships come together. We can’t wait to continue creating spaces like this for festival attendees and our broader community to connect, enjoy, and celebrate together.