This weekend was full circle as we once again attended Beyond Wonderland, kicking off the 2024 festival season at one of the longest-running rave events in Southern California.
We had an absolute blast with incredible music, stunning production, and meaningful connections with other ravers, but we knew what we were against.
We at EDM Maniac wrote our Beyond Wonderland 2024 Festival Report Card to let you know exactly what we thought of this year’s event.
Vibes: B
Beyond Wonderland is notorious for being the kick-off to Southern California festival season, and Day 1 did not disappoint! With some seemingly rare SoCal sunshine, ravers came energized and dressed to impress, sporting all sorts of trippy rave looks to match the event’s beloved theme.
Day 2 was not met with as much sunshine, but that did not deter the crowd (or their crazy totems) from turning up, especially at the Looking Glass. The other stages had plenty of space to dance in the back, making it easy to vibe out or rage no matter your genre of choice.
As expected, there were some minor vibe-killers at Beyond as the scene continues to expand and welcome new ravers. Phone theft has become an epidemic at the NOS, and there were occasional instances of fighting and/or jumping fences.
While we’re all excited to see our favorite artists perform, a refresher in educating new ravers about our community’s PLUR values may be needed now more than ever.
Production: A-
Beyond Wonderland’s production is one of the best in the game, arguably right under EDC Las Vegas. The entire speedway is decorated with lights, mushrooms, art, and clouds, transporting you into a wonderland.
The visuals and stage design were also stepped up this year. The new open-air stage at Cheshire Woods and the Looking Glass, which appeared to be an actual warehouse venue, completely blew us away.
The sound was loud and booming, with fire, CO2 cannons, and plenty of lights and lasers. The smaller indoor Sea of Wonder stage also stood out with its laser display and real-life pirate ship for a DJ stage.
However, the two largest stages did have some minor issues. The bass stage, The Mad Hatter’s Castle, seemed to have less production than in previous years, with fewer LED screens and only fire effects to add to the performances.
But our biggest issue was with the main stage, The Queen’s Domain. The sound was lower during Subtronics, and the LED screens and lasers weren’t up to the abundance or quality of a main stage.
But other than Queen’s Domain, all sets were loud and balanced with an overall enhanced production value, which we appreciated, especially with the shared love of more than just the main stage.
Music: A
There’s a reason Beyond Wonderland 2024 wholly sold out; it was the lineup.
This festival pulled out all the stops for every genre, with artists like Angerfist, Paul Oakenfold, Marauda, Andy C, I Hate Models, and Sara Landry all at the top of their game.
Every single artist showed up, from HOL!’s unique take on dubstep to Oddmob’s groovy and high-energy performance. There wasn’t a single set that disappointed us.
The afterparty also hosted some wildly unique sets, including a techno Valentino Khan set and the rare Slander: Before Dawn.
It’s truly unique to have a festival that caters to all types of ravers and gives them the proper sound and production to ensure the experience is as tailored as possible, even for genres not often represented on American lineups.
Venue: C+
We’ve watched the NOS transform year after year; this year’s Beyond was its most significant footprint ever.
Expanding the show times from 2:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. with an afterparty ending at 6 a.m. has been a great strategy to spread out attendees. This has made for a smoother entry and exit into the festival, including shuttles to and from free parking.
Opening the indoor buildings for the Boombox art car and the Sea of Wonder stages alleviated traffic flow when walking around the venue. These rooms created a nice sensory break from the fest and a hideout from the rain. We hope all festivals here continue to use these buildings!
NOS fell victim to its usual pitfalls. Freeway traffic to San Bernadino on a Friday is atrocious, with multiple freeway accidents and exit closures reported. Purple lots filled up quickly, and we heard reports of difficulties finding secure parking.
The venue’s crowd flow also seems to be a persistent issue. We experienced several bottlenecks during peak set times.
One challenging moment we experienced was heading to see Sara Landry. We were stuck in an absolute standstill on the way to the stage, and many people could not see her. People were pushing behind us, and no one was moving, and it was terrifying.
While it was an incredible moment that a female techno DJ could pack a house from the front of the stage to almost the back of the venue, it was also one of the most dangerous moments we’ve ever experienced at a festival.
Yet, one option that seemed to alleviate some of the crowding issues was VIP. It was spacious, had fun goodies, extra food, and water stations, and got you close to the action.
The VIP section did reach capacity during Sara Landry, and the price isn’t feasible for many ravers, but it could be an excellent option to splurge if you have the means.
Overall: B+
We had a fantastic time at Beyond Wonderland 2024, but some factors detracted from our experience.
The insane sets we saw and the fact that it seemed like every artist was out to throw down overshadowed any minor sound issues.
However, the crowdedness and bottlenecks have become inconvenient and more dangerous. We love this festival, but it’s sad to know that there may be a time when the crowdedness of attendees will make it not worth the struggle anymore.
Overall, Beyond Wonderland will continue to be an event we attend. We may temper our expectations about which sets are safe to attend and whether it’s better to hang in the back of the crowd.
