Countdown: New Year’s Invasion | San Bernardino, California | 12/31/2024

Bringing back their alien-themed New Year’s event to Southern California, Countdown features incredible artists across a plethora of sub-genres. Insomniac Events’ themed events always hit the nail on the head, so dust off those space suits and get ready for an out-of-this-world event. 

Decadence NYE | Denver, Colorado | 12/30-12/31

With some of the biggest artists gracing the lineup each year, Decadence is always one of the best spots to be in when the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. There is no better place to bring in the new year than at this festival if you're in the Denver area, so put together your most sparkly fit and grab your tickets! 

Decadence Arizona | Chandler, Arizona | 12/30-12/31

Another diverse lineup coming at you courtesy of Decadence Arizona features the artists you cannot miss on New Year's Eve Travel packages are available for those coming out of state. So, pack your fuzzy jackets and get ready to count down at this two-day fest.

Hijinx | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 12/27-12-28

Hijinx brings it back this year. Offering travel packages and afterparties, Hijinx is the perfect event for those of you who like to party well into 2025.

Lights All Night | Dallas, Texas | 12/28-12/29

Robots, aliens, and disco! Oh my! Lights All Night promotes getting lost in their world and exploring their ‘planet of color, light and sound.’ 

Whether you are staying home or going out, putting on a sparkly rave outfit will help lift your spirits and help ring in 2023 in style.

Starlight Lover Mesh Bra Top, Starlight Lover Mesh Marabou Mini Skirt, and Acting Shady Fuzz Boots

Reflective & Holo

Shine bright as your 2023 future in a multitude of reflective styles from pastel ice bb to dark and badass. Holographic is also always in style, so grab something from our New Year's Eve 2022 collection and head out in something cozy but cute! 

Babycakes Puffer Pants, Dream Come True Rhinestone Studded Captain Hat, Roma X iHR Shine Like Gloss Halter Top

Cyber Warehouse

Although warehouse parties are on hold for the time being, you can still evoke the feeling of the underground at your house. Wear mostly black with a pop of reflective or fishnet to complete the look. Turn off all your lights except one ref one in the corner, clear room for a dance floor and blast your darkest bass or techno beats. Shop Chaps & Bodysuits

Bedazzled

Wanna be fabulous with ur festie bestie? Matching always creates a moment. Our Glamour Girl Maribou Skirt Set is perfect for achieving ultimate #sliving status. 

Cha Ching Fringe Top, Chaps, and Arm Warmers

For more New Year's Eve outfit inspiration, check out our Best Sellers.

The Venue

The NOS Event Center will always hold a special place in my heart. Not only is it a beautiful venue, but it has so much space to hold all the stages and attractions that Insomniac puts together.

For Countdown, Insomniac had multiple stages that all coincided with the alien invasion theme. The stages included Mothership, Nebula, Area 51, and the Twilight Zone. My favorite was the Mothership because it was ginormous and the lasers were bouncing off the sides of the tent, truly bringing us into another planet. Insomniac did an outstanding job with the stages and the event itself. There were carnival rides, a food court, merch tents, and the alien red-light district, to name a few. It was so much fun bouncing from stage to stage and exploring the venue to see all that Insomniac had to offer. 

The Music

Both of the days were stacked with great music. The first day I saw William Black, Dion Timmer, Kai Wachi, Saymyname, Troyboi, and RL Grime. My favorite sets of the night were probably Kai Wachi and Saymyname. Everyone that I saw threw down, but those two stood out to me. Kai Wachi just plays such a unique sound that gets the whole crowd going hard and I love it. That was my first time seeing a full Kai Wachi set and it will not be my last. Saymyname just had the crowd jumping and dancing for the entire hour. The countdown to the new year was in between sets so Insomniac did their countdown to 2022 with some visuals and confetti. It was truly magic.

On day two I saw Nurko, Kaivon, Of the Trees, Jason Ross, Flux Pavillion, Kayzo, and Rezz. My favorite sets of day two were probably Kayzo and Rezz. They both made the crowd come completely alive. I was so sad that day two had come to an end.

The weather was brutal. It was freezing. I bundled up with my artist merch and long sleeves and it was not enough. I hope those of you that attended the event dressed warm and didn’t make my mistake of not bringing a jacket. This was my second New Years' celebration with Insomniac and I am thinking of making it a new tradition.

I always feel alive being with the ones I love listening to some killer music. It makes the whole experience more euphoric. For those of you who went this year, you can attest to that. If you are thinking about ringing in the new year with Insomniac, I can tell you from experience that it will be one you won’t forget. I hope all of you had a safe and exciting New Years' celebration. May 2022 bring us all-new adventures, festivals, and some great new music. Happy New Year! 

Things have changed since my move; the corner of Illinois and Marin used to be the home of Breakfast of Champions before The Midway decided to host their own NYE celebration. Though there were still sprinkles of flamboyant colored wigs and leopard fur coats, FS replaced the Burning Man vibes with a more tech-housey-festival kinda feel. But the music was still lit, of course.

Across three days and four stages, I feasted on a smorgasbord of house and progressive. There was Duke Dumont at Main Squeez (main stage), Boys Noize shaking the metal beams at the RiOT stage, DJ Dan reminding us why he’s still a beast at Gods & Monsters, and Justin Martin closing out the weekend at Heavy Petting Zoo. 

By Sunday, everyone was pretty hungover, which was great because Anjunadeep was there to ease our pain with their mainstage takeover. Not going to lie, it got cold as heck when the sun went down, but everyone who stuck it through huddled up and danced to stay warm because Eli & Fur, Lane 8, and Yotto were worth all the chills.

Especially Yotto. This was my first time seeing the Finnish DJ, but holy heck! He blew me away. His set was the perfect blend of grooving percussion and layers upon layers of melodies for a hangover Sunday.

One thing I loved about FS was seeing all my favorite SF DJs. SOKYO opened up the second-day HPZ car the second day, B33SON played at set on the HPZ car, Sokyo opened up the second day at HPZ. Blurr played at the Gods stage. A surprise of the weekend was seeing Niko Zografos debut his prog alias NZ with a B2B set with Pathfynder.

“It was fun playing a B2B set with my friend Pathfynder who played before me in my first NZ set at Audio SF a few months ago,” Zografos said. “This style has been fun to explore and showcase a deeper style of music that I love. Fresh start was such an amazing event.”

Aside from the music, the festival had a lot of amenities for those who lived life pinkies up. VIP attendees had private bars and free food from Chef Luis Lagos, who served smoked brisket and oysters, or fresh rolls from Angel Sushi. My pick for food, though, would be Los Kuyas, and I had no shame stuffing my face with their sisig burrito.

The only thing I found troublesome was the layout of the event. On Saturday, the main stage got too packed, so the path to the HPZ stage or the game room to play air hockey was a fight upstream. Also, having the bottle service cabanas along the side of the T intersection where the paths to the two stages did not make things easier.

All in all, I had a good time. Fresh Start was a cool party to kick off the new year; I got to see DJs I probably would never have thought to check out at other massives, and I got to see DJs I left behind when I moved. Besides hearing like five Pryda tracks on Sunday, the best part was probably seeing old faces from my kandi-kid-warehouse-party-Kellys-Mission-Rock days. You know, seeing everyone again at a new festival on the first weekend of the new year did make it feel like a fresh start to a . . . I’m sorry, I had to do it one more time before finishing this review.

Countdown Southern California

The lineup for So Cal includes Kai Wachi, Mitis, RL Grime, Saymyname, Subtronics, Kayzo, Jason Ross, and a host of other DJs. This is one of my favorite events. I went in 2019 and it was awesome. There are multiple stages, alien entertainers running wild, and so many activities to see and do. Insomniac knows how to throw an alien-themed party. It will blow your mind. If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, you can head over to the ticketing website here. Tier three tickets are 80% sold out, so I recommend getting your tickets fast. General admission two-day tickets start at €159.99 and VIP starts at €269.99.

The NOS Event Center is a beautiful venue that is perfect to ring in the new year. I’d suggest dressing warm because it will be a high of 67 degrees and a low of 41 degrees. We have a lot of cute outwear that will keep you warm and cozy during the two days. I will be wearing my Kai Wachi jersey with a long sleeve underneath and some black flare pants for day one. Day two I am wearing our Holo Star Mesh Bell Bottoms with a long sleeve crop top. The savormeditation website has so many different pants to choose from that will be perfect to ring in the new year. 

Countdown Orlando Invasion

Artists like Adventure Club, Gryffin, Flosstradamus B2B Nitti Gritti B2B Valentino Khan, Madeon, and Sullivan King will be performing. This is Florida’s first invasion and I don’t think it will be the last. There will be multiple stages at this event that will no doubt have tons of lasers and lights to transport you to another planet. The weather for the event is looking at a high of 71 degrees and a low of 50 degrees. It would be best to prepare for both. Bring light outerwear along with some cute pants and you should be set.

The Orlando Invasion website has tons of information regarding travel, hotels, airports, parking, and of course tickets. You can head over to the ticketing website here for more information. Two day general admission starts at €129.99 and VIP starts at €149.99.

Left: Liquid Tripp Ultra Crop Long Sleeve, Liquid Tripp Ultra Hi Rise Booty Shorts
Right: Liquid Tripp Buckled Crop Top, Liquid Tripp High Cut Thong Booty Shorts
Accesories: Lunautics Kawaii Hair Extensions, Nomad Kandi X savormeditation Space Babe Earrings

For what to wear to Countdown, you can't go wrong with shopping the New Year's Eve collection from savormeditation. This dreamy collection of shimmery metallics and glittery studded pieces has everything you need to bring in 2022 with all of the glam. Shop the new collection here.

It’s almost time to leave 2021 behind and start fresh. What better way to do that than with your rave fam listening to great music and hanging with some extraterrestrials. Both events are just three weeks away, so the time to prepare is now. Don’t forget to explore. Countdown has so many activities and places to see throughout the venue. There’s so much more to do than just listen to music. Stay warm, safe, and Happy New Year!

This year’s lineup for Decadence blew away my expectations as it contains a wide variety of EDM genres and has some of the biggest names in the industry, headlining the event. Artists like Chris Lake and Porter Robinson will bring a blast of euphoric house to make everyone groove and smile, while artists Zeds Dead and Zomboy will hypnotize fans into a bass-filled trance, while Big Wild and Griz will bring the groove. Check out the lineup below:

Aside from a plethora of exquisite live music sets, Decadence also includes other activities to fill your New Years with joy. The 18+ festival has bars available for those who are 21 and up throughout the venue. The highly requested return of the silent disco has also been implemented and festival-goers will have the option to put on headphones and jam out with their friends to a station of their choice.  Beautiful interactive art exhibits and colorful lights have been a super cool part of Decadence in the past as well, as there is always something new to explore throughout the venue. 

Raves and music festivals are my favorite things in the world because I get to meet countless beautiful people, create new connections with friends, and make memories that will last a lifetime. New Year’s is also something that I thoroughly enjoy, as it is a time to be with people you love and celebrate a new beginning of positivity. Combining these wonderful events in my life into one celebration at Decadence is thrilling and I can not wait to hit the dance floor with everyone’s happy faces. If you do not have any New Year’s plans and would like to join me in spreading PLUR into 2023, Decadance still has single and two-day passes available. VIP tickets are also available and include separate and quicker entrances to the festival, elevated decks for viewing, as well as lounges and private bars throughout the venue. Get tickets here.

Decadence is going to be COLD. Luckily, there are some brand new warm pieces to shop from at savormeditation. I recommend a jacket, joggers or long chaps to keep you warm in the cold weather but still able to hit the dancefloor and heat things up without overdoing it.

The return of music festivals after the pandemic has been beautiful, and seeing people reconnect with the music they love makes me so happy. I am so excited to be back at Decadence and I hope everyone has a happy holiday season and a safe New Year's whether you are at Decadence or watching the ball drop from home.

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.

Whether you're planning to stay in and groove to a special New Year's Eve livestream, attend a drive-in rave or socially distanced party- we've got you covered with the comprehensive list of NYE Events.

This blog will be updated as more events are announced. If you have an event or livestream you'd like to be included - please email [email protected]

Deadmau5 Drive-In Rave

Although much smaller than the usual Countdown NYE, Insomniac is bringing deadmau5 to the NOS Events Center this New Year's Eve with two back-to-back shows. This drive-in rave is sure to be a fantastic way to bring in 2021 with your rave fam. 

Get Tickets Here.

Tomorrowland Live Stream

Wanna stay at home this NYE but still rage with your fav DJs? Be sure to check out Tomorrowland's epic New Year's Eve livestream. You can watch in your local time zone wherever you are in the world. In keeping with Tomorrowland tradition, the ticket packages will come with exclusive merch and the stage designs will be mind-blowing. 

Get Tickets Here. 

Sullivan King & ATLiens Drive-In Rave

Get Tickets Here.

EDM Drive-In: Reboot NYE

EDM Drive in is back in San Antonio, TX for New Year's Eve. This time, the event will be a pod rave where areas will be designated for people up to groups of 6 separated by 6ft from the next viewing area . 7'x7' sectioned areas per group. Each group area will have a table and chairs in place for enjoying food and drinks while watching the show.

Get tickets here.

Kaskade

Who better to ring in the new year with than Kaskade!? You can always count on him to bring supreme vibes and high energy. Perfect to say F U 2020 and say hello to 2021.

Get tickets here.

Reset NYE

The lineup for Reset NYE's two days of festivities speaks for itself. From Zhu and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs to Zomboy and ATLiens - you'll probably want to just commit to both days and create a mini-festival weekend out of it.

Get tickets here.

Day Trip Livestream

If you're craving a day party this New Year's - tune into Insomniac's Day Trip livestream for healthy dose of house music. 

Watch on tv.insomniac.com

Bassrush NYE

If you happen to live in Orlando, hit up Bassrush for a socially distanced NYE including Modestep & more.

Get tickets here. 

Desert Hearts

If house and techno is your thing and you're in Austin, TX - don't miss the Desert Hearts crew. Known for their incredible energy on stage and top notch beats, you'll be in for a real treat. 

Get tickets here.

Green Velvet

Green Velvet is always a vibe that's for sure! Celebrate New Year's Day with an amazing house and techno set. 

Get tickets here.

1. Get that Rave Bod!

The start of the new year means an opportunity to change your lifestyle and to improve yourself! Despite being in the midst of the winter, this only means that festival season is getting closer and it’s never too early to get in shape for festival season. Check out this blog post about fitness ideas created with ravers in mind!

Adapting a healthier lifestyle not only makes you feel better about how you look, it will make you feel better overall and be more energized for more raves and festivals! 

Shop this 'fit and more in the savormeditation' Activewear Collection

2. Explore More Artists and Genres

We all have our favorite artists that we can listen to on repeat and can see over and over again at festivals. Even though I have many favorites myself, I have discovered lots of new artists as well as new favorites by exploring other music outside of what I typically listen to.

There are many ways to discover new music - you can check out different playlists and albums on different apps, or even create collaborative playlists that you and your friends can add to! Another way to discover tons of new music is to look at festival lineups and listen to all the different kinds of artists, even the smaller ones. Then, check out those new artists at the festival or show! Sometimes being there in person makes all the difference in enjoying a set or liking the music, and you never know what you’ll end up liking.

3. Make New Rave Friends

Many of us go to shows and festivals with the same group of friends. It is super fun to be able to enjoy a set with some of your closest friends, however, I met some of my closest and newest friends at various festivals and raves! I’ve gone to some events solo and that has challenged me to meet new people, from joining group chats to attending meetups. As a raver, I highly recommend that you take on the challenge of attending an event solo!

You get to wander around on your own and meet so many different people while seeing some of your favorite sets and artists. There are tons of groups of people at raves that are welcoming to one another, such as shufflers or flow art groups and glovers. There are also lots of meetups that happen at different festivals! I’ve been able to find and attend some myself through social media. Take on the new year by making new rave friends! You might find a new rave fam for different festivals in the future.

Photo Credit: @betsy_ville

4. Spread More PLUR!

As more and more people attend raves and festivals, there will be more people who are unaware of the rave community. There have been more negative incidents that occur at these events from my experience and one thing that I encourage ravers to strive for this year at raves and festivals is to spread more PLUR!

If you see someone at a festival or show that needs help or is not feeling well, help them out and give them water, fan them off, or bring them to a medical tent. There are many little things that ravers can do to improve the community, such as using manners when passing through the crowd and not pushing, or being respectful of people and their belongings.

If you find a lost item, return it to the lost and found! There are other ways to spread PLUR at different events such as making and handing out kandi. Trading kandi or even giving them away to other ravers always puts a smile on their face and gives them something to remember even after the event ends. There’s a lot of sentimental meaning to kandi and I always enjoy spreading positivity and good vibes to others. 

5. Take your Kandi making skills to another level!

There are many times where you go to a show and trade kandi with someone and they give you a bracelet that consists of the same beads with no words. Although it’s great to trade kandi with any raver, taking your kandi making skills up a notch definitely makes the experience even better! Kandi making is the opportunity to express your creativity with other ravers. It gives you a chance to connect with others and share a special moment at a rave even as the music is blasting. You can make tons of cool kandi with perlers and attach them, or even attach other items like inhalers, 3D printed logos, and more! I made one that had an avocado face mask attached and gave it to a raver who was dressed as an avocado.

Check out this blog post about knots every kandi kid should know!

It is never too late to start on your resolutions for the year! Reflect on the past year and strive to become a better raver for 2020! 

Held at the Convention Center, this festival is no joke. Featuring two huge stages and a silent disco stage, this festival is truly a playground of PLUR. Oh, and there's a huge blue bear outside that makes for great Denver-landmark-esque photos.

I'm not going to lie, I've been attending raves and festivals for 9 years and it truly takes a lot to get me out of the house these days. However, after I attended a record-low in shows this year and after a heart-breaking Day 2 at Global Dance, I knew I had to end the year with a bang. When the Decadence lineup dropped back in September, I was 100% sold. I couldn't remember the last time I was so excited for BOTH days of a lineup which truly never seems to happen anymore. 

Around New Year's, it seems like there's a lot of talk about whether the rave community is "dying", "sold out" or "too mainstream." Although I went into the event with these thoughts lingering in the back of my mind, I told myself I was going to go into this event with an open mind and no expectations. And, I am happy to say, that this is not what I experienced whatsoever. Yes, there were some attendees that were too drunk and obnoxious, but for the most part, the vibes were great for me all night! 

Opposite of attending with a large squad like we normally do, I did Day 1 with just my husband. It was really fun going to an event where we didn't have to make a ton of plans with inevitable set conflicts - it was just us and the music.

Of course, Bassnectar did not disappoint and shook my soul, literally. I had a feeling that would be my favorite set of the night and I'm so happy it was. No matter how many times I've seen Lorin, it never gets old. Coming in hot second was Tiesto. We were really close to the stage with a ton of room to dance and it was great to hear some of my favorite, classic EDM tunes. 

On Day 2, we still kept our squad small and just went with one of our good friends. It's tough to pick a favorite set from that night because there were so many sets that I was excited to see. From Steve Aoki's fun energy that hyped up the crowd early in the night, to getting my soul snatched by Space Mom, getting all the feels at Slander, and grooving to Don Diablo, the music aspect was absolutely great!

Aside from the music, there were tons of cool art installations to check out. My personal favorite was this really cool, big dome that had visuals on the inside, complete with a carpet underneath so you could sit down and look up. It definitely was a good place to take a break from dancing and stare off into space, literally. 

Photo Courtesy of Jaybird Photography & Decadence

I loved all the other art installations, too! There was a 'futuristic' vibe going on with a lot of the art that was cool to look at.

Photo Courtesy of Jaybird Photography & Decadence

There were also lights on these trees that looked like a lit-up, enchanted forest - it was so pretty!

Overall, I'm really happy I decided to attend Decadence this year. From the stage production, to the performers, and art installations, this year's event was unmatched. It was a great way to start 2020 and end nearly a decade of raving for me. You can definitely bet I'll be back next year. 

Next up: Catch me at Global Dance Festival in July, ready to rock!

This was the second Countdown I have attended, but it was the first that was held on a single night. Even though this festival lacked multiple days like other NYE celebrations across the country, it surely didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. From the stacked lineup, the unmatched vibes, and extravagant art installations, my EDM loving soul felt as nourished as it needed to be to end the decade. 

The night began wandering around the festival to take in everything Insomniac had to offer. I always like to make it a point to experience the performers and art pieces outside of the main stages at a festival, and given how much my group and I planned on hopping from stage to stage early on in the night, we arrived at the front gates early with our excitement levels spiked high. 

Photo Credit: Insomniac/Countdown 

I’m a regular attendee of Insomniac events at the NOS Events Center, but I’ve never seen the grounds transformed quite as… other-worldly… as they were for the alien invasions at Countdown. Every corner was donned in extraterrestrial decor or inhabited by real life aliens. We stood in awe of the alien babes spotlighted in the makeshift red light district and my nostalgia was brought on full force by the Mars Attacks! aliens threatening to zap any passerbyers. Once the sun fully set the lasers that constantly shot across the venue were much more impressive, and I had to physically refrain myself from shouting, “Beam me up Scotty!” every time I saw one shoot overhead. Oh, did I mention that jaw dropping luminescent forest? If the sound of the stages didn’t pull me out of my wide-eyed daze, I could’ve spent hours wandering around in those beams of ever-changing colors. 

Photo Credit: Insomniac/Countdown 

The first set we started the jam-packed night with was throwing down with ATLiens at the Nebula stage. Once the sun went down the venue got COLD and only continued to gain a stronger chill once the night progressed. Luckily, there were plenty of heaters to huddle by around each stage so I stayed towards the back and danced during Gryffin and then headed over to finish out Elephante’s set at the Mothership stage. 

Passing by each stage gave me insight into how unique each one was set up and how it represented the name assigned to it. There were four stages set up at Countdown: Mothership, Nebula, Area 51, and Twilight Zone -- with the addition of two smaller stages/silent discos: Biosphere and Area 151. While my personal lineup didn’t allow me to fully explore each stage, they all had incredible production and did a great job of dispersing the attendees in an already crowded fest. 

Photo Credit: Insomniac/Countdown 

My night continued with rushing back to Nebula to catch Nitti Gritti and then back to Mothership to groove to Oliver Heldens. The excitement only grew with the booms of the bass as the clock ticked closer to midnight. 

Jai Wolf was my next stop. I’ve never seen a full Jai Wolf set before and now I’m slightly kicking my past self because I had no idea what I was missing. This was easily tied for my favorite set of the night. Jai Wolf’s set was the perfect mix of feel good tunes, familiar tracks, and absolute incredible beats that got me completely lost in the music and had my body groovin’ to each song. Which is exactly what I look for in a perfect set. 

Ok, now Porter Robinson. As soon as the set times dropped I was completely over the moon that I was going to be closing out the decade with a Porter set. He is my all time favorite artist and even though I’ve already seen him play 3 times this year, my stomach still filled with butterflies as soon as he took the stage. I heard a lot of talk on social media that his set was the most anticipated of the evening and I was fully expecting to be sandwiched in between ravers the entire time, but I was surprised that where my group was there was still quite a bit of room to dance around. Porter gave us quite possibly the best gift I could’ve ever asked for at midnight, ending and starting two decades with Language. My cheeks have never hurt so much during one set (from both smiling and the cold air). 

The remainder of my night and beginning of 2020 was closed out with SVDDEN DEATH’s VOYD set and 12th Planet. The entire evening was a flurry of extraordinary beats and joyful people. I did get a boost in my mood every time someone complimented my outfit, too! 

This year, I dove headfirst into the cyber vibes with the Reflective Wave Mesh Bodysuit and Down 4 The Ride Reflective Chain Chaps. 

Countdown 2019 was the best way I could’ve imagined ending both the year and the decade. Not only was the music incredible, but being able to groove, explore, and countdown to midnight with my favorite people was the cherry on top of a perfect event. 

While there are many NYE fests that call for your attention every year, I highly recommend spending your next new year’s celebration in Southern California. 

Here's what made HiJinx in Philly so spectacular: 

With the Philadelphia Convention Center as the location, there was a very big and open space to hold all of us. Of course the closer you got to the stage, the tighter you were. But, there were PLENTY of areas to go if you wanted space, still getting an incredible sound and view. Personally, I don’t enjoy the music nearly as much if I feel too close for comfort, and don’t have the room I need to dance freely. Something that made HiJinx entirely fresh and unique for me was the fact that there was only one stage. Only one place for everyone to play. No conflicting sets. Just fire artist after fire artist and everyone in attendance radiating in the same energy, but experiencing it uniquely in their own way. What magic!

Artwork/photo courtesy of Hijinx Festival

To my surprise, getting into the venue was a breeze both days! Even if they lines were a little lengthy, they moved quickly and within a nice flow and order. Security was thorough and respectful. The lines to purchase food, alcohol and/or water were practically non existent. The best part? So were the lines for the bathroom! Of course those were a bit longer, but truly, compared to other events it went by like a breeze. They were well kept and clean! There were Porta-Potty options as well, but if you wanted a real bathroom, you really hardly had to wait. Arguably the best part overall? In addition to a water station, there were multiple water fountains between each bathroom with… wait for it… wait for it… fresh AND cold water!!! It was so refreshing and delicious!

The stage was huge and so dope. The light show from each set were breathtaking. So truly transcendent. Each and every artist on the lineup really went the extra mile to deliver an unpredictable, creative and mind-blowing set. From day 1 I think I have to say my favorite set was GRiZ because out of all the times I’ve seen him, it was the hardest, most dubstep heavy set he’s ever thrown down and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. For day 2 I have to say the Excision b2b Slander set because, well, how iconic! I love witnessing something when it happens for the first time. That set was the perfect amount of headbanging and feelings as you’d expect and desire.

Photo by Santina Murin during GRiZ set!

I truly feel so blessed to live this life as a part of the EDM community. I’ve never felt so understood, welcomed or accepted anywhere else in my life. To have so many beautiful friends to share these experiences with makes it all even better. It’s really what it’s all about. Finding yourself. Expressing yourself. Feeling the love of the community with your friends who are more like family.

5. My Day 2 Outfit

I felt so free, fun and cute rocking this outfit for Day 2! I was wearing and iHR x Rolita Delusion Thong Bodysuit, Neva Nude Black Vinyl Cross Pasties, and the Euphoria Galaxy Glider Combat Boots! I always feel so confident and comfortable in my savormeditation outfits!

If you’ve received your wristband but are still stumped on who to lock in on your lineup, or you’re still debating on full sending it to this festival, worry not because this article will help persuade you to make those difficult decisions. 

While this stacked lineup is sure to have artists you’ll be dying to see, I’m sharing my thoughts to help narrow down those set conflict choices. 

Here are the top 5  sets I’m making a priority to attend at Countdown 2019. 

Yes, I am extremely biased because Porter has been my all time favorite artist for years, but for good reason! If you’ve never seen a Porter Robinson set, or you’ve seen 50, this is one performance you will not want to miss out on. His melodic beats and colorful visuals lift your soul and transport you to another world. Plus, he’s one of the artists ringing in the new year at midnight! Who doesn’t want to kiss their rave bae or dance into 2020 with Divinity or Shelter as the song that introduces you to the new decade? 

SVDDEN DEATH presents VOYD

SVDDEN DEATH is making his VOYD set at Countdown the first set his plays in the 2020’s. VOYD has been annihilating audiences in 2019, with theatrical stage presence and insane visuals, but according to SVDDEN DEATH the Countdown VOYD set is the one that really counts. 

This set will be a basshead’s dream come true, so if you have an itch to do some serious headbanging make sure to keep SVDDEN DEATH in mind. 

Oliver Heldens

If Oliver Heldens is on a lineup I always try to make it a priority to see him. His groovy sound creates the perfect atmosphere to let loose and vibe to some serious house tunes. If you’re a fan of his funky beats, this set is sure to make you walk away in a much better mood (even if you’re already having the time of your life). 

Want to be all up in your feels? Jai Wolf brings his emotional tracks to the table for every set he plays and Countdown should be no different. I have been particularly stoked to see him play since he released his album, The Cure to Loneliness, in April of this year. His newer indie/folk tunes are definitely a change of speed compared to the rest of the festival and I’m so excited to dive in head first. 

Why not melt your face off for the final set of the night? It was an extremely tough decision but 12th Planet has occupied my slot for the final set of Countdown. This is the perfect set to throw down any remaining energy you have at the end of the night and get down to some serious riddim and deep dubstep beats. 

I’ve shown you my essential lineup, so tell me who’s on your list of CANNOT miss at Countdown 2019? 

Still haven’t locked in your tickets? Get them before they’re gone! 

It’s time to end this decade with a BANG! What better way to do that than to go to Decadence Arizona? The lineup is killer. Every year this event gets bigger and more lit. The excitement is real! With that in mind, there’s a lot of information to go over to help you maximize your New Year’s Eve experience. 

BEFORE THE EVENT

How to prepare for all the amazing music:

First, take a look at this lineup. Bangers, right? That’s not all though. There’s going to be over 25 local artists playing as well. This year there will be three different stages. With so many artists playing and three different stages, it’s always a good idea to make a plan ahead of time. Which stage(s) do you picture yourself spending the most time at? (But don’t be bummed if your plans change while they’re in motion. Just live in the moment!) 

Do you know where all the stages are? I like to take a screenshot from my phone of a map of Rawhide. You should soon be able to see where all the stages will be set up on the event’s Facebook page or on instagram. Then once set times are out, I like to take screenshots of that. Making the schedule(s) your lock screen can be super helpful.

I love to look up all the artists on the lineup and listen to at least four to five of their songs or even maybe a few of their sets on SoundCloud. If you look up like “Decadence AZ 2019 playlists” on Spotify and Soundcloud, you should be able to find samples of what’s to come!

Sets I’m keeping an eye out for: 

There are some sets I wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing.

Illenium: Ascend live set - It’s a live set so you know there are going to be some crazy magical things happening. Also, this is a great album Illenium released this year. 

Blossom – she is a local artist who has risen to great heights. Her music has been released under Night Bass Records. Her sets have a lot of range and always bring the beat that makes you want to shuffle and groove. 

Dab the Sky (B2B), Tchami x Malaa: No Redemption (B2B) and Griztronics (B2B) – These are very talked about B2Bs. I love when artists collab on stage, their energy is unreal.

How to dress:

When it comes to your outfit there are three factors that should come to mind – your preference on style, the weather and the venue layout. The best thing you could ever put on is something you feel your most authentic self in. There’s tons of stuff in the savormeditation Icced Out collection that I absolutely adore! Layers are essential. So, when you’re picking out your outfit I highly suggest building upon it as much as you can. The temperature can change a lot for you. It can be very chilly when you’re outside. But the sets themselves may be a lot warmer inside the tents. You can stay warm without sacrificing your cute outfit by adding gloves, a scarf, wool socks with shoes (that should go at least past the ankle,) tights, stockings, a hat or earmuffs, etc. (These are places where a lot of your body heat escapes from.) Check out this blog article if you need some inspiration!

Be sure to check the weather a few days in advance and especially on day of to be sure that your outfits will make the cut on keeping you warm!  

If you plan on bringing a coat or big jacket. I love to tuck mine horizontally in my bottom of my backpack straps (if it doesn’t fit in your backpack.) It keeps my jacket from touching the ground when I take it off. 

No matter what you wear, be sure to bring a face mask or bandana. Rawhide mixed with a lot of foot traffic kicks up large amounts of dust into the air. Plus, the mask or bandana can also add extra warmth to your neck. Heads-up: last year it rained and the muddiness was real. That could potentially be the case this year as well. It all depends on the weather mixed with the venue layout. 

Pro tip: Pack hand warmers! You can put them in your bra, in your pockets, in your gloves, etc. Instant warmth! 

Transportation:

Do you know how you’re getting to and from the venue? That’s an important thing to have locked down. With Decadence being the largest New Year’s Eve event in the state, there will be a decent amount of traffic. It can get congested too. Although using ride-sharing apps are the best way to ensure you have a safe and responsible person driving you to and from the venue, it can be hard to land a ride at peak times. If you have a large group, see if you can coordinate a party bus situation or be a part of one. Party busses usually arrive before the event ends so you don’t end up waiting around too long to go home or to the next party spot. 

WHEN YOU’RE AT THE EVENT

How to keep groovin’ comfortably all night long:

If paper schedules with a map are being handed out, grab a few. They’re perfect if you don’t want to use your phone too much. Grab extras in case you lose the first one or if other people around you need them too! 

Put insoles in your shoes. This is a huge life-saver. The extra cushion will help keep your feet feeling happy after hours of dancing and walking. 

Bring a fully charged portable charger for your phone. 

Bring earplugs! Chances are, the medical tents will have some too. But just in case, bring a pair or two. Especially if you want to get up to the front at certain sets. Your hearing will thank you! Like I mentioned before, ear muffs work great too! They’re super cute and add to an outfit while keeping your ears safe and warm.

Drink lots of water! I love to drink an Emergen-C or Pedialyte on my way to Rawhide. When I’m there I make sure to fill up my water pouch in my hydration pack or a reusable bottle as much as possible. Then I drink the heck out of it! Also, there’s lots of yummy food vendors! My go-to is cheesy fries or french fries. You’d be surprised how much of a pick-me-up a warm meal or snack can be. Even if you’re not that hungry or thirsty, remember to nurture yourself! 

How to avoid getting your stuff stolen:

Ahh yes. I wish I didn’t need to cover this topic but unfortunately, there actually are non-PLUR people out there (if you can believe it.) Some people go to this event just to have the opportunity to steal thousands of people’s valuable items like phones, money, flow toys and so much more. But there are steps you can take to make it harder on these people.

First of all, luckily your wristband is connected to your debit or credit card. Anything that you need to buy inside of the venue can be done so through your wristband! So, you don’t technically need to bring your wallet. Bring your ID for sure though! You need that to get in.

If you do feel the need to bring money, bring cash. Pro tip: don’t put all your cash in one place. In the case that someone finds your cash, it won’t all be stolen from you. I pick two designated spots that are discrete and safe for my cash. I put a few bills together in a hidden pocket of my backpack and then another few all together in a zipper pocket in my jacket or something.

Also, it might help to use little coin purses for your bills so they don’t get loosely scattered in your stuff. Another good way to avoid getting your stuff stolen is by having designated spots for all of your valuable belongings. If you keep putting them away in various places, you’re going to be more likely to lose track of them. You most likely will be putting your stuff away complacently so you can’t really put your finger on where you last saw your items. (I’ve been there.) The key is to be mindful. Put things away mindfully. A way to make sure your bag, as a whole doesn’t get stolen is by putting something distinguishable on it. If it’s a fanny pack, backpack, purse or whatever, you can put vibrant scarves, ribbons, pins, lights etc. on your stuff.

How to maximize your experience mentally:

There are so many magical things happening all around you, and it goes by fast. Remember to take a second every little while and soak it all in. 

Dance like how you do when you’re all alone. Just let go and do your thing without a care in the world. That’s how music should make you feel, right? It’s the last big event of the decade so end it in style- YOUR style.

Photo Credit: Decadence Arizona

Be as open-minded as possible. No matter how much you plan at the venue, things may not go as you pictured. A deep breath and a change of perspective does the trick. Lost your friends? Time to find yourself. Not how you pictured that set going? Time to practice not setting expectations and just enjoying things for what they are. Plus, when you don’t set expectations, that’s when you have the BEST time. Every moment you’re at Decadence is a chance to melt your cares away and get lost in the music. Every set is going to hit differently. Every crowd you’re in will have a different vibe. Don’t be afraid to go off and explore in order to find the vibe that feels right to you. Don’t stress about things you can’t control like lines or other people. Just remember, all that you see and all that you hear – it’s all for YOU! Decadence is all about peace, love, unity and respect. You just have to find it and spread it! 

My final guide tip for you:

Pick up after your trash!

I hope you have the best New Year’s Eve ever. Stay safe. Stay hydrated. Stay spreading peace, love, unity and respect!

-Polly

If you're reading this, chances are that you've probably made the decision to send it Decadence Colorado. First off, congratulations - there's no better place to ring in the new DECADE with your rave fame (at least in my humble opinion ;) And, if you're still on the fence, hopefully, this articles gives you major FOMO and you make the right decision on where to ring in the new year.  

With a stacked lineup like this, it's no problem finding artists that you want to see. 

Although we wish we could see them all, it's inevitable that there will probably be some set conflicts for you. While it was a hard decision to make, here are the top 5 artists that I CANNOT miss at Decadence NYE. 

1. Rezz - 

Okay, this is a superrrr obvious choice, but for good reason - how could you attend Decadence and NOT see space mom, ESPECIALLY because she'll be playing into the next decade, literally. I could not be more excited to spend the ball drop with Rezz!

This EP came out over the summer, but it's still one of my most favorite things to listen to, especially 'Falling" featuring Underoath (which makes the former, emo kid inside me cry for joy).

2. Zed's Dead

It's Zed's Dead, baby! This dynamic duo has NEVER disappointed me live and I truly cannot wait to see them again for the first time in 2019. Make sure you pace yourself because they'll be playing the last set until 3am.

This single, a collab with Dion Timmer is one of my favorite songs of all time. 

3. Big Gigantic

I love Big Gigantic for many reasons, but mostly because the sound is so unique. I love getting down to these funky beats and groovin' all night long. If you're looking for some fresh new music, grab a cup of [spiked] hot chocolate, and check out this chill, Winter Mix they just dropped. 

4. Steve Aoki

We've hit tubulance...I know there are a lot of mixed opinions about Steve Aoki, but to be honest, I really love him. Also - this was my first raver ever back in 2012, so Steve will also hold a place in my heart. I'm looking forward to dancing all night long to his crazy, upbeat style. It's also been so long since I've seen him live that I'm really looking forward to this set! 

 5. Bassnectar

Because....it's Bassnectar. Although I've seen the kind countless times, his sets never get old. Unfortunately, you won't be able to ring in 2020 at this set, but I think it's just what I'll need to get in full NYE mode the night before! This classic song is a pre-game ritual before any Bassnectar show. 

Who are YOU most excited to see at Decadence Colorado?

Here are some suggestions to help you make a great first impression with the electronic loving extraterrestrials: 

I Come in Peace.Love.Unity.Respect  

Step off your UFO and into the festival in this fun and glamorous space babe look. No matter what planet you’re from, you’ll be the star of the night in this holo-heavy outfit. 

Silver Drip Holo Corset Top, Neva Nude Kanye The Alien Super Holographic Pasties, Sky Full Of Stars PVC Mini Skirt, Demonia Hella Holographic Platform Boots

Future Reflective Renegade 

Reflect on 2019 and then take control of your future with this edgy reflective look. Not only is reflective wear one of the top rave styles right now, but you’ll shine brighter than the sun once those stage lights hit the crowd. 

Down 4 The Ride Reflective Chain Chaps, Reflective Wave Mesh Bodysuit, Neva Nude Reflective Cross Pasties

Alien Rave Babe 

Show your style is out of this world with this alien-inspired look. This outfit combines two of the most popular looks of 2019, neon and fishnet. If your fierce confidence from this look isn’t enough to make you stand out, the glow in the dark alien pasties will do the trick. 

Fishnet Bikini Top, IHR X J. Valentine PWR UP Corset,Pastease Glitter Glow In The Dark Alien Pasties, Heeled Combat Boots, Go After It Fishnet High Waisted Bottoms, Shrine Easy Tiger Alien Face Jewel

Captain Starlight

Get ready to take command of the stars with this complete outfit by savormeditation. You’ll be a shining star on the dancefloor with this look, topped off with an iridescent captain's hat, sparkling boob & body gems, and a holographic choker. You can find more complete outfits like this in the outfit's section of savormeditation's website!

Captain Starlight Outfit

Stay Lit

Looking for an easy way for ET to spot you and beam you up to his spaceship? Make sure you’re wearing a luminous look! Choose one of the light-up bodysuits and wings, and pair them with LED flow toys. 

J. Valentine Light Up The Night Bodysuit, Multi LED Wings, Astro Levitation Wand

Festival Fringe

Not onboard with the extraterrestrial vibe? Celebrate stepping out of this decade with these fringe-tastic looks. These colorful and unique outfits are just what you need to blast out of this decade! 

 J. Valentine Neon Carnival Fringe Harness,

J. Valentine Sassy Fringe Harness Bottoms, J. Valentine Sassy Fringe Harness Top

Sequin Star Sisters

Attending Countdown with your festie bestie? Check out these sassy and sparkly looks that feature subtle, space elements with these mesh skirts. The sparkles on the skirts will twinkle like stars under the stage lights, making you two the bright babes in this galaxy!

Don’t Forget the Fur

Stay fashionable and protected from frostbite with this year’s collection of faux furs and sherpa outerwear. Not only are these a must-have for the freezing New Year’s Eve chill, but they add a staple piece to any under-accessorized outfit. 

Now that you have your New Year’s Eve outfit put together, it’s time to finalize your welcome message when the aliens land at Countdown, December 31st at the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino, CA. See you there, Earthlings! 

Photo Credit: USC Events

This year, Night Bass is hosting their own stage takeover! Featuring artists from their record label, such as AC Slater, Jack Beats & Seattle’s own: Kendoll! Check out the lineup here:

Photo Credit: USC Events 

2. The Ball Drop

Resolution is on New Year's Eve again this year, so we’ll be counting down the remaining seconds in 2019 in the sea of white and gold. In years past, we’ve had names like Snails, Eric Prydz, Above and Beyond and many other world-renowned DJ’s bring us into the New Year. This year I am hoping for Madeon to start off our 2020. We’ll know whos playing when, the week of the event when USC Events reveals the set times.

Photo credit: Parallax & USC Events

3. The VIP Experience

If you decide to go to Resolution, The VIP Experience is out of this world. VIP includes private viewing sections, a private bar, and a separate entrance to the event with a much shorter line. With a certain package, there's even a VIP Champagne toast at midnight. There are different VIP packages to choose from. You can visit USC Events Website for more information.

4. The Theme

It's amazing how Seattle coordinates their outfits by event theme and Resolution is no exception. The annual theme for Resolution is the colors, white and gold.  White represents a clean slate into the New Year and gold represents the elegance of being amongst 17,000 all joined together for a single moment. Check out this article for inspiration about what to wear to  New Year's Eve Raves.

Tickets to Resolution are on sale now and selling quickly - don't get left out of the fun! If you're still not convinced, you can read about my experience at Resolution in 2017. 

However, while the lineup is obviously important, there are tons of other factors when choosing the New Year's Eve fest that's right for you!

Luckily for me, there's one of the best New Year's Eve festivals that's right in my own city - Decadence Colorado. If you're not fortunate enough to live in colorful coloRADo, trust me when I say this is one event that's worth traveling to! In fact, this will be my third year attending Decadence and the first time I don't have to travel to Denver to attend (thanks to a move earlier this year).

Here are four fabulous reasons not to miss out!

 

1. The Lineup

Global Dance dropped THE most fire lineup earlier this week. The Decadence 2019 lineup features HUGE names like Rezz, Bassnectar, Tiesto, Zeds Dead, and more. This is definitely one lineup that's well-worth the money, especially since it's New Year's Eve!

 

 

Lineup By Day: 

Day 1, Dec. 30th: Bassnectar, Boys Noize, Cash Cash, Clozee, Feed Me, Ganja White Night, Jai Wolf, Mersiv, Oliver Heldens, Softest Hard, Tchami & Malaa, Tiësto, Whethan

Day 2, Dec. 31st: Cosmic Gate, Diesel, Don Diablo, Fisher, Gareth Emery, Graves, Louis the Child, Rezz, San Holo, Slander, Steve Aoki, Zeds Dead

The Sweet Venue

Some people are excited to embrace the outdoors for NYE, which is totally cool if that’s your thing. However, I do not get along well with the cold, so I’m looking forward to being toasty indoors. Plus, this means I can rock my super cute NYE rave outfit, which does not involve having to layer. The Colorado Convention Center proudly boasts three stages with plenty of room to dance and plenty of room in between stages to eliminate noise competition. Pro tip: I highly recommend wearing sweatpants to the venue and stashing them in your backpack for the walk home. Last year it was 5 degrees outside, which made our 10-minute walk feel like an hour!

  Image Courtesy of Decadence

 

Because it's in Denver!

In addition to two days of stacked music, this location of this event freakin' rocks (I may be biased since I live here, but I don't care - it's the truth!). Downtown Denver boasts good food, great craft beers, and guarantees good times. I love that there's so much to do in this city. If you have the option to extend your trip to do some exploring, I would highly recommend it. Another great thing about Decadence - there are many hotels within walking to the Convention Center. Many of them are pretty affordable, especially compared to other New Year’s Events (as long as you plan ahead and book relatively early!) Last year, we stayed at the Sheraton downtown which was a quick 10-minute walk to the venue! I recommend checking out the "Find Hotels" feature on the Decadence website - it’s super convenient and easy to use!

The Colorado Convention Center boasts 2,200,000 square feet for dancing all night long. And yes, it also contains a larger-than-life statue of a Blue Bear outside the front of the building. (Image Courtesy of Decadence/Badastronaut)

 

The Performers and Production

Performers always make my day at events, but NYE is one of my favorite holidays (next to Halloween), so I’m extra stoked to see the performers at Decadence. They always do a great job with the styling and outfits - I can’t wait to see what they do this year! Last year the production was insane at Decadence and I can't wait to see what's in store this year!

 

 Image Courtesy of Decadence

 

Decadence Tickets are moving FAST for this event, so get yours while you can! If you can't afford a ticket, I definitely recommend hopping on the payment plan option!

 

See you in Denver!

 

Here's why you should join me for HiJinx at The Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia!

The Lineup

The lineup made quite the splash on social media, with so many people losing their minds over how HiJinx has successfully included so many big named, major festival headlining artists into just 2 days of fun. And it’s true. With acts like Bassnectar, Excision, Slander, GRiZ, Porter Robinson, Skrillex and Zeds Dead, it’s next to impossible for your jaw not to hit the ground. But, here’s your “pinch me” moment, because, yes, it’s real and it’s happening!

Must-See Sets

I think it’s safe to say, we can all agree this lineup is aboutely fire. While the 7 major name headliners are, in my personal opinion, all must-sees, I want to focus on the top 3 artists that aren’t headliners (yet!)

Big Wild

Big Wild is one of the most talented artists in this entire community. Seeing him live is a full on adventure. Not only does he produce songs and mix at shows, he plays instruments and sings, too. It’s seriously beautiful to witness. For a fun, vibey set, with a lot to entertain you in different ways, you most definitely don’t want to miss Big Wild. 

Subtronics

The first time I saw Subtronics was just this summer at Spring Awakening and I was completely blown away. After that set, I saw him about 4 more times this summer and his sets only get better and better. It’s so obvious how much he puts into each set to make every one stand out in their own way. If you’re looking for a wubby, dirty, dubstep set, this is for sure for you. Aside from this banger with Rusko, one of the most popular songs of 2019 is his song with GRiZ, “Griztronics.” I highly recommend it!

SoDown

I was recently introduced to SoDowns music by a friend and I’ve been trying to catch a set by him ever since! I’ll finally get to make that happen soon. If you’re looking for new music (who isn’t?!)  and haven’t heard of him yet, here’s your sign to do just that. Another song to make you feel like the true Queen/King you are, check out “Jet Black” and go from there!

NEW Production and Sound

Convinced Yet? If for some reason the lineup hasn’t forced you into a full send, check out what's new for 2019! According to HiJinxfest.com, “the salt of the half sends may remain, but the hearts, minds and souls of full senders will melt again with even more lights, lasers, video, monsters and a brand new custom sound system.”

Payment Plans

Tickets are on sale now! If you're worried about coming up with the cash for Hijinx, no worries. HiJinx offers payment plans to alleviate one major purchase hit at once. They offer 2 day GA and VIP tickets, but do NOT offer single-day tickets. No half-senders allowed, sorry!

After Parties

After parties aren’t announced quite yet, but I can only imagine how great they’re going to be! The party can’t stop, right? Keep your eyes peeled for those announcements! 

You can definitely find me at HiJinx this New Year's Eve! The lineup is mindblowing, my friends I want to spend that weekend with all decided that’s where they’ll be, and living in Pittsburgh makes sending it to Philly pretty easy and convenient! I hope to see you there!

I think one thing that makes Arizona festivals unique is that Arizona is a large, diverse college town. I lived there for about 4 years for school and everyone attending is from all over the world which creates a pretty unique rave culture. Needless to say, I was excited to return back to my old stomping grounds to ring in 2019. 

Here are 4 reasons why I would recommend putting Decadence on your radar for this year’s New Year’s Eve Events:

The Location

The location at the Rawhide Events Center in Chandler, Arizona was much bigger and spread out than previous years I’ve attended. This was a genius way to spread out the crowds of people. There were added rides and carnival games that made the experience a lot more enjoyable. Because Decadence AZ is outdoors, one tip I would give to a first-timer is to check the weather! There is nothing worse than being unprepared for the cold and not having enough layers to stay warm or the correct kind of shoes to keep your feet dry. New Years festivals are always cold. Be prepared and think ahead, always!

The Vibes

It being New Years weekend I think created an excitement in the air that was incredibly contagious. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. There were tons of nice gestures and compliments being thrown around left and right from groups which I thought was super PLUR.   

The Lineup

The lineup was AMAZING! Definitely, the main reason why I chose Decadence over any other New Year's Event. Which is odd for me because I usually go for the vibes and experience rather than chasing a lineup. Relentless Beats always has the hottest and most stacked lineups I’ve seen to date.  Above and Beyond and Anti-Up were my absolute favorites of the weekend. Chris Lake & Chris Lorezno created this duo and it is seriously the perfect combination of house and techno. I could not stop dancing the entire time every minute just kept getting better and better. 

The Food

The food was super good! I had some garlic cheese fries from a food truck and was incredibly surprised. Festival food is always a hit or miss but these fries were a HIT! I loved them so much I  had them two days in a row, haha!

To say that I had an unforgettable time at Decadence AZ would be an understatement - I even got a special surprise from my boyfriend that he told me was attending the 2nd day of the festival so that we can spend our first New Year's together! I highly recommend checking this event out next New Year's Eve.

Be sure to check out the official after movie! 

This festival is "America’s Biggest New Year’s Celebration" and you don’t want to miss out. Decadence will be two full days of some of the best artists. Not sure who to check out? Here are some sets you should definitely check out at Decadence!

Skrillex

Skrillex is finally back again! After taking a break from playing live for a few years, Skrillex is finally making a comeback and playing at festivals. He is luckily one of the artists that will be at Decadence to ring in the New Year. Throughout the years he took a break, he released some songs with many different artists. His most recent release was with JOYRYDE, and this song has been a hit, playing at so many sets at different festivals!

Eric Prydz

One of my absolute favorite artists is Eric Prydz. His live sets are always unique and so full of energy. He is also known for his use of many lasers that are in perfect sync with his music. His style is progressive house and he often plays under his two other aliases, Cirez D and Pryda, which feature more dark house and techno music. He’s also known for featuring many unreleased tracks in his sets, so there’s always this mysterious aspect about his sets. I definitely recommend everyone to check out his set, he’s played some of my favorite sets I’ve seen live. Check out his Ultra Miami 2018 set! This one was one of the best ones I saw live.

Above & Beyond

For all trance lovers, this set is perfect for you! And for those who haven’t seen Above & Beyond live or trance sets much, I recommend you check them out! Above & Beyond bring a set that is a completely different experience than any other set that I’ve ever seen. The crowd never fails, and is always so energetic and alive, especially with the huge fan base that they have. One thing that I love about their sets is that they type and display words and phrases up on the screen. It’s always fun to read along and see that they type out during their sets.  They recently released a new track with another trance artist, Spencer Brown. It’s one of my new favorite tracks! Listen to it here:

Bassnectar

Bassnectar is one of the most well-known bass and dubstep artists out there. He is popular for creating sets that takes over your senses, both auditory and visual. Bassnectar often throws his own events and festivals, such as Spring Gathering and Freestyle Sessions. He’s even has a festival in Mexico, called Deja Voom that is an all-inclusive festival right on the beach. His sets are never-the-less filled with tons of bass and nasty drops, combined with the breathtaking visuals that will leave you in awe. He came out with an album called Reflective Part 3 that has many amazing tracks, so check it out!

1788-L

1788-L is an up and rising new artist that rose into fame this year, especially for their remix and collabs with some of the best artists, such as Rezz and Illenium. Their style is one that uses heavy bass sounds that will keep you headbanging all night long. 1788-L has turned so many songs into amazing remixes, as well as produced some great tracks as well. I definitely recommend checking some of it out! Here’s one that they did with Rezz. This would be such a dope song to hear live.

Griz

Griz is one artist that features a really unique sound! His style can be described as “future funk” with a mix of dubstep. He is well known for playing the saxophone live during his sets. Some of his hit songs include “Good Times Roll” and “Rather Be Free” with Muzzy Bearr. He recently released two songs “It Gets Better” and “Can’t Get Enough”. His set is one that you need to check out! It’s such a unique experience and he plays the saxophone so well, you wouldn’t believe he’s playing live. Check out his two recent songs here:

2018 was a year filled with amazing new songs and artists, festivals and tours. I can’t wait to ring in the New Year at Decadence CO and see what 2019 will bring! Tickets are still on sale, but get them before they sell out here. And, if you haven't already, be sure to check out the official 2018 Decadence Trailer to get pumped up for the event!

Andrew Rayel

I have seen Andrew Rayel countless times and his sets are always an amazing time. His music is so energetic that one minute you’re in the feels, and the next you're sweating from jumping in happiness. His euphoric tunes and progressive transitions are something that has set him apart. “One in a Million, Miracles, and Horizon ft. Lola Blanc” are some of my favorites. PLUS, Andrew Rayel will have a special place in my heart because my friends got engaged at his set EDCLV 2015! I'm definitely looking foward to seeing him again at Countdown. 

RL Grime 

RL Grime has made many music moves since he first debuted in 2012, but even more, since I first saw him in 2015. In simple terms, he never disappoints. Trap, Future Bass, Big room, and Electro house are some of the genres he can excel in whether he plays as Clockwork or RL Grime. His new album, NOVA dropped in July and has been popular ever since. More recently, he dropped NOVA remixes Vol.1 and Vol.2, which hypes me up more to see him. All the different genres he can compose means he can take you to another world of music without you even knowing.

The Prototypes 

Not new to the Drum & Bass scene, the Prototypes have been around almost a decade. If you’ve been to a D&B set, you’ve more than likely heard their song “Lights” released in 2014. 2014 was a great year for them - they were nominated for best DJ, best producer, best track, and best music video at the Drum & Bass Arena Awards. They’ve put their mark on the EDM and the music loving community by having an outstanding number of remixes with countless artists. There’s a reason they are in my top not to miss!

Shiba San 

I might not be a huge house fan but for Countdown, I am trying to go to each stage at least once. Shiba San is definitely one that I can go check out! Shout out to Dancing Astronaut for showing me “Okay”. It got me hooked to Shiba San. Spending more than 15 years in French hip-hop production, Shiba San knows how to keep your feet moving and your energy positive all set long. Catch me there dancing my fluffies off!

GG Magree

GG Magree is one boss lady I’m dying to see. She sings, produces, and is the CEO/creator for her clothing brand; is there anything she doesn’t do?! GG stays heavy with her sets but her vocals give her a creepycool-girll edge. I have only heard her voice on songs like “Heart” by LAXX, “Ghost ‘ by JAUZ, or her most recognizable “Frontlines” by Zeds Dead & NGHTMRE. Now that she has a full set I can go see, I’m making it my mission to see her. I heard she is also a cat lover (so am I) and she uses them in her visuals. Count me in at Countdown!

I can't wait to ring in 2019 at the NOS Center with all you beautiful people! If you're still on the fence about getting your Countdown ticket, I HIGHLY recommend getting one sooner rather than later. Tickets are moving quickly, so don't wait! 

This year's Countdown theme is new to the event. The new theme, Aliens and outer space, is one I am definitely down to be a part of. The outfit options are going to be out of this world ( think neon colors, shiny skirts, glitter, and awesome platform shoes)! I will definitely be channeling my inner Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century, for outfit and hair inspirations (plus, this is an amazing excuse to rewatch our favorite supernova girl in this classic Disney Channel movie).

Insomniac is known for playing their attendees (or better known as "headliners" of the event) and I'm really looking forward to how they'll execute this theme. For starters, the lineup was dropped last month in a coded message. Before Insomniac even had a chance to decode the lineup, the internet was buzzing with guesses as to who would be playing. When the official lineup was revealed, I was blown away -  what a great mixture of genres! I LOVE bass but I do love other genres and this event is going to be a melting pot of great artists. Big names like Alison Wonderland, RL Grime, Andrew Rayel, Tiesto, The Prototypes, and plenty more! They also have plenty of stages to pick from and all in one night. It only seems fitting since I live in Las Vegas that the Bass stage would be Area 51. Although I'm a true basshead at heart, Insomniac gives me motivation to check out each stage because of the promise of the amazing production at each one, and because of awesome names they gave them: 

• The MotherShip
• The Nebula
• Area 51 (Bassrush)
• Twilight Zone (House)

Additionally, I'm really looking forward to seeing the art installations and performers that’ll be there this year.  I am a geek for the clouds, stars, and anything in the sky so I'm curious and excited to see the themed-attractions at the NOS Center. 

In addition to the new theme this year, Countdown also dropped another change this year. This year, Countdown will only be one day instead of two, like previous years. Personally, I kind of like the idea of one day because that saves money on hotels and travel, especially since it is on a Monday. It should be cheaper than if it was on just a Friday night. This could also be beneficial to crowds, but most people have New Years Day off so we will see what kind of life forms come out to play. 

Tickets are available for GA, VIP or a "combo ticket"! A combo ticket gives you two tickets, one for Countdown and one for Audiotistic. Audiotistic is a two-stage event, also at the NOS Events Center on Saturday, December 29th, with major acts such as Porter Robinson, Drezo, Chris Lake and more. 

If you're looking for a New Year's Eve event that's out of this world, don't sleep on Countdown tickets! Grab yours while their still part of this world. 

This was my third Resolution Festival here in Seattle and it was by far my favorite. What made this year so special? A new, third, stage was added to the mix, AND it was full of house and trance! USC named this stage “The Clock Tower” and it was the best design I’ve seen in quite some time. The visuals, the stage, the vibes accompanied with the sounds of Gorgon City, I was in house heaven. At Freaknight, (USC Event’s annual Halloween Event), this hallway is where you would’ve found the bass stage, but at Resolution you were instantly captivated by the repetitive house beats and vortex-like tunnel USC created.

Photo credit: Hayley Edwards

Something that really stood out to me about Resolution was the sense of community I received everywhere I went. USC Event’s has a program called “Conscious Crew” which is volunteer group of ravers who walk around the events, in pairs, ensuring other ravers are having a good, safe, time at USC Events. That alone always made me feel like I was being watched after and cared for. Unity surrounded me, for example, I’d walk up to one of the water stations to refill my water, and the person in front of me in line would offer me to go in front of them. Even a small gesture like that, (although I declined their offer) made me realize what a caring community I am a part of.

Photo credit: USC Events and Paralax

Resolutions lineup was so diverse, I never found myself being the slightest bit bored. I was able to jump from the future-bass style’s of K?D, to some grimy bass provided by Figure. I was fully entertained the entire time. Speaking of K?D, he definitely had the best set of the evening. I had seen him once before at EDCLV this year, but his set at Resolution definitely took the cake. He was able to go from some future bass, to psy-trance, to dubstep flawlessly. Transitions were great and the crowd he drew was incredible. People dancing all around me, all enjoying the same thing I was enjoying: true bliss.

Unfortunately, Resolution couldn’t be held on NYE this year due to the Seahawks game that same weekend (for those of you that don’t know, The WAMU Theater is directly underneath Century Link Stadium). Even though Resolution wasn’t held on NYE this year, that didn’t stop USC Events from throwing the best New Years Party in the Pacific Northwest!

The sea of gold and white was a breathtaking way to bring in the new year and I’m already thinking about the next USC Event’s massive - Lucky. Held on March 17th, 2018, Lucky is USC’s St. Patrick’s Day event and without a doubt, should be just as magical as Resolution.  

What are you waiting for? Grab your outfit from savormeditation’ new Winter Line, Midnight Radiance and join your rave fam and experience the most magical night of the year!

Check out this year's insane preview:

Click here for more information and tickets: https://www.savormeditation.com/co/.