If there was ever a year to splurge on a New Year’s Eve rave it’s 2021. It was our first year back from the COVID-19 lockdown and an epic comeback season for EDM fans. Festival planners had an extra year to prepare, artists and fans were kept apart for months, and enough tension mounted in the world you could almost reach out and touch it.
Everything brewed the perfect storm to starve us of our favorite things, but after all that 2020 had to hand us we were able to reconnect in 2021. We finally got to jump and scream and cry and mosh together. We finally got to melt back into the music and fall in love with everything all over again. Now, as we find our new center in a new world with new normals, it’s nice to know that good old-fashioned bass-in-the-face is just as magical as ever.
This year we hit the ground running and our favorite artists show no signs of slowing down. If you want to do it right this New Year's Eve at a New Year's Eve rave, here’s everything you need to know.
Massive lineups are popping up all over the place. From large production festivals to artist-curated special events, you’re never too far away from a New Year’s Eve worth remembering. Down in Louisville, Kentucky the young legend Griz will be teaming up with the OG powerhouse-duo Zeds Dead to bring us Zero Gravity. Both heavyweights will be performing their own individual sets along with a b2b set to top it all off. With special guests Jansten and CloZee for support, you know it’s going to be lifted, gifted and futuristic. You won’t want to miss this one night only event tearing down the Broadbent Arena on December 31st.
Ganja White Knight will also be making noise with their first curated New Year’s event called Wobble NYE. It’s a two night party at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan on December 30th - 31st with two unique sets from the wonky wizards themselves. The Iconic two-man group from Belgium always knows how to make us feel right, so you know this one is going to be special. The first night kicks off with Subdocta and Apashe setting the vibe. The second night follows up with Kll Bill and Ivy Lab.
Just a little further east in Philadelphia we got the Hijinx Festival with a killer lineup for bassheads all over. Set times are yet to be confirmed but headliners like Alison Wonderland, Excision, Griz, LSDREAM, Wooli, and a b2b with Jauz and Kayzo are already announced. This well-rounded lineup will be shaking up the Pennsylvania Convention Center on the 30th and 31st. Also gracing the east coast this New Year’s will be Slander performing in D.C. for a solo night in our nation’s capital.
On the west coast there’s even more large events with groundbreaking lineups. Make contact with other lifeforms at Countdown in San Bernardino. Insomniac’s premiere NYE event will have you raving with aliens. This two-day, space-themed rave has four world-class stages and a galactic-sized lineup. The first day lands on December 31st with acts like Subtronics, Troyboi, Dion Timmer, and a twonky b2b with Boogie T and Dirt Monkey. Day two lifts off on January 1st with Deadmau5, 3lau, Blunts and Blondes, Liquid Stranger, and more. Countdown will also feature beautiful art installations, interactive space technology and real-life aliens walking around the Nos Events Center! General admission, single day, and VIP tickets are available. Insomniac will also be hosting one in Orlando, Florida on the same days so we can all take a trip to other planets.
If you don’t feel like making the trip all the way out to outer space you can stay classy here on earth at the Decadence Music Festivals in either Colorado or Arizona. The city of Decadence will be returning in all of its elegance to both The Colorado Convention Center, and The Rawhide Events Center to indulge its citizens in a night they’ll never forget. In Colorado, catch sets from The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Herobust, Rezz and DJ Snake. In Arizona you got Alesso, Kaskade, Dillon Francis, and Marshmellow. Both locations are holding their events on December 30th-31st, but if you want to go to Decadence in Colorado you must be fully vaccinated.
It’s a good idea to double check the current COVID-19 regulations from whichever state you plan to be in this New Year’s Eve before you travel. They are subject to change. Most events will have their COVID-19 guidelines accessible on their website, but you can also find them on the venue website as well.
Now the year is almost over, and 2021 will soon be behind us. It was a year of healing, and a rebirth of rave culture. We got to reinvent and rediscover who we want to be. Let’s keep it going and make sure to and welcome this new year with our highest selves. Let’s make it to all the shows we can and forget to post the videos. Let’s trade all our kandi and headbang with strangers. Let’s drink lots of water, dress in layers, and if you see someone fall down let’s pick them back up. 2022 will be full of new challenges and new wonders. Put your best foot forward and kick the New Year off with a bang.
