Festival Report Card: Seven Stars 2025
When Grant Kwiecinski announced his indefinite hiatus from the GRiZ project in June 2023, the news shocked the U.S. festival community. After over a decade of nonstop touring, the beloved producer, DJ, and saxophonist explained it was time for a much-needed break. Following a final run of shows four months later, the scene bid a […]
Festival Report Card: RISE Festival 2025
RISE Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary from October 3-5. Returning to Nevada’s Jean Dry Lake Bed, located about 30 miles south of Las Vegas, the nonprofit event is billed as the “world’s largest sky lantern festival.” In a special ceremony, RISE attendees simultaneously release 30,000 floating paper lanterns into the desert sky. This year’s edition […]
Festival Report Card: Same Same But Different 2025
Since 2018, Same Same But Different (SSBD) has made a splash in the Southern California dance music scene, and we can see why. As word spread about the festival’s quirky but wholesome vibes, crazy sidequests, and feel-good lineup, more newcomers than ever gathered at this year’s festival in Lake Perris from September 26-28. After our […]
Festival Report Card: Lost Lands 2025
The earth-rattling bass of Lost Lands shook Central Ohio again this year, returning to Thornville’s Legend Valley Campground from September 19-21. Situated about a 45-minute drive from Columbus, Excision’s world-famous flagship festival is known as one of bass music’s largest and most lauded genre celebrations, and has rightfully earned nicknames like “Dubstep Disneyland” and the […]
Festival Report Card: Ultra Japan 2025
Ultra Japan returned to Tokyo’s sleek, convenient, and uniquely urban Odaiba Waterfront from September 13-14, marking the festival’s 10th anniversary. Unlike most festivals stranded in the wilderness, this one sits between the ocean and a shopping mall, where you can grab sushi, shop for souvenirs, and still hear Martin Garrix drop “Animals” in the distance. […]
Festival Report Card: Electric Forest 2025
Tucked away on a 2,000-acre ranch in the small Village of Rothbury, Michigan, lies one of the modern American festival scene’s most profound music experiences, Electric Forest. Whether for its woodland maze of light and color, lengthy soundtrack of world-beating party music, or renowned experiential art, the four-day camping festival has built a decade-old reputation […]