Festival Report Card: Escape Halloween 2025
Every Halloween weekend, the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California, transforms into Insomniac Events’ dark playground, Escape Halloween. The two-day festival, billed as the largest Halloween-themed rave in the world, brings together high-energy electronic performances, delightfully haunting stage designs, and a costumed crowd that comes alive with spooky spirit. With its “Psycho Circus” theme […]
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. […]