Staying hydrated is the absolute most important thing at EDC than anything else. You can’t make it to your favorite set without being hydrated! I have lived in Las Vegas for the majority of my life and even I think it's still hot at night during May. I can't stress enough how important it is to stay hydrated. EDC does sell water bottles and water packs, but it's smart to get one before so you don’t have to wait in line and miss a set. savormeditation just got a ton of new Hydration Packs designs, so you can stay hydrated and have a fun accessory for your festival outfit.
Keep it simple. Write down who you CANNOT MISS, who you’d like to see, and who you could see if you have extra time! Stressing over the set times is the biggest thing for most EDC goers. You CANNOT see every single set unless you want to spend 5 mins at each. Plan the ones that are your absolute favorites then work down from there to ensure you see who you really want too. Figuring out which sets are important also helps you figure out when to leave for the night. I always have to see Excision, I never miss his sets!
Photo Credit: Insomniac Events
Visiting the LUX Rave pop-up store at the Luxor is an absolute must. This 10,000sq ft pop shop is the biggest and best during EDC to find all your last minute rave essentials. There are flow art toys, glitter, accessories and tons of outfit options for girls and guys! You can even order online and do in-store pickup if you don't want to pack your rave outfits.
The store also has different events every day, like kandi making with the savormeditation team! Even if you don't want to shop, it's a great experience to just come stop to meet the team or maybe get a light show from your favorite Emazing Lights Glover! I’ll be there for a 3rd year in a row and I won’t be missing it!
UBER and LYFT have carpool options and I can’t stress it enough. It helps more than just your group - it also helps traffic and helps with the parking lot. I highly recommend leaving to the speedway early, even if you don’t have a set to see. If you get there early, you can get on the rides, get water early, get a parking spot near the exit and you can be standing under the shade in the ID line rather than in the sun! If you take your own car, take pictures of where you parked, what is significant around you (light poles, flags, etc.), what lot you are in. If you can drop a pin on your phone, do it. Don’t take the chance of forgetting, it is unforgiving.
Saving your battery to record the very last set at sunrise is great but it's even better when you can find your car, your friends, or a ride home! Don’t be the friend that no one can find because you let your phone die. Get a portable charger, use it and enjoy the whole night full of recorded memories! The best part is looking at what you captured the next morning!
There is a ton of walking at the speedway. There is asphalt, grass, bleachers, stairs, and gravel, so shoes that you're comfortable in are an absolute must! If you're dying to wear those gorgeous platforms that you just bought, I definitely suggest you bring an extra pair to stash in your locker and use them later if you need to. Or, try checking out some rave shoes with less of a heel.
The Electric Daisy Carnival can be overwhelming for a first timer. I suggest mapping out some chill areas before you go. Consider the grass at Cosmic Meadow to sit and relax on or the bleachers where you can take a high seat and enjoy the view. There are even nice areas in front of Art Cars! If you find an empty time slot in your adventures you could make it on a ride! Any of the rides at EDC are a blast. I recommended the hang gliders because it cools you off with an awesome view. Or, try one of the Ferris Wheels to really get an amazing glimpse of EDC!
Here's this year's stage by stage lineup and who I"m most excited to see:
Wolves' Den
Wolves’ Den has a few heavy hitters from everyone’s favorite girl, Wenzday, to Dr. Fresch (who better use more cowbell for me), and not to mention, SAYMYNAME, who I haven't seen since EDCLV 2017 (you can find me front right of the stage going insane for that set).
Labyrinth
Labyrinth will be a lighting bolt of music to my ears that I am ready to hear! No doubt I’ll be feeding my dubstep heart full of Gentlemen's Club, Zomboy, Subtronics, and anyone else that wants to throw filthy drops at me. I have seen almost every artist on this lineup except for Peekaboo and he is on my must-see list.
Sunken Garden
Parliament Art Car
For Saturday, the Art Car has Jayceeoh then ETC! ETC! Then JSTJR THEN a secret B2B2B2B how insane. The art car will be taken over by Space Yacht on Sunday and they stacked Yakz then Nitti Gritti then UZ all in a row! The conflicts of sets will be hard to get through but it’ll be worth it!
Can’t wait to see all you beautiful people to be there!
]]>The Lineup/Stages:
First things first, you NEED to check out this awesome lineup. The lineup is one of the most important parts to the festival and this year's lineup is AMAZING:
The stages even have the best names that keep me excited to catch sets at them: Wolf’s Den, Labyrinth, Sunken Garden, and the first time ever, the Parliament Art Car! I can’t wait to finally see Dr. Fresch live again, I also love his mashups.
Themed-Oufits
One of the most fun themes of Nocturnal Wonderland is being able to dress the part for this funky festival. I will definitely feel like real-life Alice-in-Wonderland for the weekend since it’ll be my first time, but even more for others because there will be three new stages, a pre-party for campers, new art pieces and silent discos. I might even dress the part! If you need outfits, check out iHeartRaves' Nocturnal Wonderland Outfit blog.
Nocturnal Wonderland Rave Name Generator
Another fun experience Insomniac has added is their Rave Name Generator, on their website you can put your first and last name and it will generate a funny rave name. I already have one given to me by friends and I think Eharmony rolls off the tongue better than “Crusty Groundscore” but maybe for the weekend I’ll use it. Try it yourself and see what you get, you could get “Thirsty Guest List”
The Art Installations/Performers
Nocturnal Wonderland has always been a mystery to me but all the stories I’ve ever heard were how vibrant the colors, art, and people were. I’m most excited for the glow in the dark experiences and three-dimensional artwork. Walking into wonderland is going to be an experience itself, trying to hold my excitement down, I mean “LED-infused life forms” doesn’t that sound like the most amazing thing to see ever?! I am a huge renaissance fair fan and the fact I know there will be performers as forest nymphs and cats will keep me on my toes to find them.
Lost Lands is just around the corner! Soon we will be reunited at Legend Valley, Ohio amongst the dinosaurs on September 27 - 30th. As Lost Land creeps towards us, it's important to be properly prepared for this legendary, 3-day fest in the woods! If you're wondering what to pack for Lost Lands, I am a Lost Lands Veteran AND designated rave mom that's here to help you!
By now, you should know if you are driving or flying to know how much you can bring! I like to categorize my things into piles such as, “Don’t Forget”," “Just In Case” and “Extras.” This will help you be able to quickly save space - just start by packing the "Don't Forget pile" first! Also, I highly recommend coordinating non-personal items with your squad so you can maximize space in your suitcases or car!
Here's a quick packing checklist for Lost Lands to help you get there with everything you need!
Festival Must Haves:
General Travel Essentials:
Campsite Must Haves:
Nice to Haves:
Extras:
Still need some extra packing tips? We've got you covered!
Lost Lands Packing Tip #1: Research all rental car companies at the airport before selecting one. You can compare prices and double-check how much the young driver fee is (25 and under)! I always have a list to see what the best deal is. Always check airlines too! Southwest is normally always the cheapest airline. PRINT CONFIRMATIONS OF EVERYTHING. Sometimes your phone is dead or no service, don’t get stuck without a car cause they can’t find your reservation.
Lost Lands Packing Tip #2: IN CASE YOU FORGOT SOMETHING IMPORTANT! The closest Walmart is about 9 miles away from Legend Valley maybe 20 minutes down the road. There is UBER and LYFT available but last year it was hard to use the apps because there weren’t many drivers. Hopefully this year there will be more. Don’t forget you can carpool with other ravers who might need a store run for cheaper rides!
Lost Lands Packing Tip #3: PREPARE FOR ANY WEATHER: The weather is supposed to be nicer than last year but it can change in a heartbeat. Last year I wrote about how to prepare for your first Lost Lands in Legend Valley, but just be ready for any weather!!
Lost Lands Packing Tip #4: When packing, roll your clothes. It helps saves space for more things. Put your socks into your shoes. Use kandi to wrap things tighter. Also, bring a JACKET the weather can change in a heartbeat!
See you at Legendy Valley!
]]>Prepare for X’s up and stretch those necks for the third year of Lost Lands! For the third year in a row, Excision is bringing back the prehistoric fun and heavy bass once again in Legend Valley, Ohio. September 27th - 29th brings another beautiful weekend to check out everything you can.
For first-timers or anyone who wants to get the inside scoop about Lost Lands, check out this article to hear from a few veterans about their previous Lost Lands experiences and what they're looking forward to in 2019!
]]>Prepare for X’s up and stretch those necks for the third year of Lost Lands! For the third year in a row, Excision is bringing back the prehistoric fun and heavy bass once again in Legend Valley, Ohio. September 27th - 29th brings another beautiful weekend to check out everything you can. Check out my Lost Lands 2019 article to see what you can get into! If you have never been or it’s your third one (like me) you can’t wait for everything Lost Lands has to offer! Full of fun activities, great people, playful dinosaurs and of course, INSANE watts of bass.
To start off with the elephant in the room, the lineup! COULD IT BE AS BIG AS A BRONTOSAURUS?! I think so! Wow, Excision outdid himself on the number of artists he has coming to Legend Valley this year. I don’t know how to prepare for the set conflicts but it is okay since I know Excision will make it worth it.
For first-timers or anyone who wants to get the inside scoop about Lost Lands, I sat down with a few Lost Lands veterans. Here's the inside scoop on their previous Lost Lands experiences and what they're looking forward to in 2019!
Dino Spotlight: The Unique Atmosphere
“Lost Lands 2018 is, by far, festival I’ve ever been to. It’s not your typical mainstream festival that everyone and their mothers go to just because they hear about it on the radio.. No, it’s the type of festival in the middle of Thornville, Ohio (where’s that?).. Exactly. It’s that festival that everyone goes to because they’re there for one thing – hard, heavy, dirty, BASS! In addition to the filth, I think art and production was unique and one of a kind. I walked in and felt as if I was living during the time of dinosaurs. Lastly, the people and staff were extremely friendly and did not feel unwelcome upon arrival. It seemed as if the people of Thornville were excited to have us there. Landowners outside of the festival were providing their land as parking spots for us, complimenting people for their outfits, taking pictures with them, and just hanging out drinking and having a little party of their own! I can’t wait for Lost Lands 2019! The lineup is flame and the place is unforgettable. See you soon!” - Ant (most excited for 12th Planet)
“I loved LL simply because we could bring coolers full of food, snacks, and water.” -Cambria (most excited for Blunts & Blondes b2b Hesh. Follow here on Instagram, @Cambriaburga)
“My favorite part of Lost Lands is the dinosaurs, how hard everyone throws down, and seeing how much it grows every year, since jeff put more and more love in it all the time.” -Tay (most excited for Mastadon. Follow him on Twitter, @_daddy__ )
“My favorite part was being at the front of prehistoric Paradox and looking back to see the whole crowd. There was a sea of smiling faces, and we were all there for the same reason. This was my first big festival, and I had never experienced this before, and it was beautiful. This year I am excited to see what is different from last year, and to make new memories with my favorite people!” -Drew (most excited for Habstrakt. Follow him on Twitter, @drewhawkinsyo)
Dino Spotlight: The Overall Production
“Favorite part of LL is how it really is put on for the fans. Excision is so involved in the festival from capping water bottle prices at $2, sending out artist surveys, handling situations personally and staying connected with attendees. You feel like he really is putting it on for you and not just making money. The dinos are always getting bigger and better so that’s dope. Merch is always on point and not overpriced, $40 for special edition Lost Lands electric family camelbak. I’m super excited to see what they do with sound camps this year, I’m sure they will be even better than last year.” - Jake (most excited for Excision b2b Illenium & Dab in the Sky. Follow him on Instagram, @thomasjake73.)
“Lost Lands is solely based on bass in your face and the music, no rides or fairy tales. Just the roots of music like prehistoric times where music is the only thing to care about. I like that the dj camp sets are close to the venue to see artists you may have missed. The water stations are like NEXT TO THE STAGE and not a fat walk. I LOVE all the food options and sitting in the hammocks watching a closing set with space fruit in my hand. Excision is a great advocate for festivals because he even rearranged set times with weather complications to try and let everyone get out safe, even though it was difficult he did do it for the better of the people. I can’t wait to see Subdocta cause he’s a great reno local with some funky womps getting people to groove and headbang. Mostly love LL because my best friend took me for the first time.”- Megs (most excited for Excision b2b Illenium, Sullivan King, Whipped Cream, Flosstradamus. Follow here on Instagram, @miller_megs)
DINO SPOTLIGHT: The Sound Camps
“If I had to choose what my favorite part of LL last year, it would probably be the sound camps, the set up they had was phenomenal and bringing back the executioner stage brought a tear to my own two eyes. I’m most excited to see what they do with the stages this year if they’re gonna be the exact same or not. Wompy Woods was a breathtaking creation and is probably one of the coolest stages I’ve ever been too in my life! This B2B is going to be a rollercoaster ride full of filth and raw emotion. So perfect.” - Christian (most excited for Excision b2b Illenium. Follow him on twitter, @fuknwelded)
Who are you most excited to see at Lost Lands or on the Lost Lands livestream?! Keep a lookout for more Lost Lands articles preparing for the upcoming months. Don't forget, Lost Lands tickets are still available, but act fast before they sell out!!
I can’t wait to hear how everyone’s Lost Lands is going to be this year! See you in Dinoland!
]]>Lastly, have an amazing time at Lost Lands! It is one experience you need to have in your life. Also bonus tip, you can bring in chairs, blankets, hammocks, and a few other things to sit on to relax the weekend away watching the festival from off your feet. Also never a bad idea to have an extra blanket in your car going to a fest!
See you at Legend Valley in September!
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Alesso - Hereos ft. Tove Lo
Alison Wonderland - I want U
Armin Van Buren - Blah Blah Blah
Bruno Martini - Hear Me Now
Carta - If Only
David Guetta - Say My Name
Deorro - Bailar ft. Elvis Crespo
Dillon Francis - Get Low
Diplo - Worry No More
Don Diablo - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
Excision - Vault
Green Velvet - Fuzion
Gorgon City - All Four Walls
Jamie Jones - Doctor Zouk
Kaskade - Disarm You
Loud Luxury - Love No More
RL Grime - Core
Salvatore Ganacci - Jook It
San Holo - We Rise
Tiesto - Secrets
Timmy Trumpet - Hipsta
Tritonal - Untouchable
W&W - Arcade Mammoth
Zaxx - Together
4B - Whistle
A$AP Rocky - A$AP Forever
Boombox Cartel - Jefe
Born Dirty - Squeaky
Camelphat - Panic Room
Chris Lake - Turn Off The Lights Ft. Alexis Roberts
Claude Vonstroke - Deep Throat
Cut Snake - Echo
Deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon
DNMO - We Could Be Kings
Ducky (live) - Rave With Me
Ghastly - LSD
Gorgon City(live) - Lick Shot
Hekler - 404 ft. Gladez
Joyryde - I Ware House
Justin Martin - Don't Go (Vip)
Malaa - Notorious
Medasin - Wild Thoughts (Medasin Dance Remix)
Nghtmre - Goosebumps (Nghtmre Remix)
Party Favor - Work It Out ft. GTA
Quix - Stronger ft. Elanese
Rick Trainor - Decide
Snakehips - Don't Leave ft. MO
Tails - Skeleton ft. Nevve
Tchami - Shades ft. Donnie Sloan & Ricky Ducati
Tokimonsta - Bibimbap
Valentino Khan - Lick It
Vnssa - Anxiety ft. Kendoll
What So Not - Innerbloom (What So Not Remix)
Yultron - Stronger
ZHU - Blame ft. Ekali
Adventure Club - Next Life ft. Krewella & Crankdat
A.M.C + Turno - Cascade ft. Muzzy
Andy C - Till Dawn
Badklaat - Purge ft. Kompany
Barely Alive B2B Phaseone - Send It ft. 12th Planet
Black Tiger Sex Machine - Zombie ft. Panther
Consouls - Like That ft. Kronology
Nightstalker
Danny Byrd - Salute
Rene Lavice - Don't Look Down
Delta Heavy - Kaleidoscope
Dirtyphonics - Rise From The Dead
Dieselboy - Angel Dust ft. Mark The Beast
Dimension - Desire ft. Sub Focus
Culture Shock - Take Control
Dion Timmer - Join Me ft. Laxx
Fallen B2B Fury + MC Dino
Friction B2B Metrik - Ultrafunk
Funtcase - Scary Yikes Grrz
Ganja White Night - Headband ft. Subtronics
The Glitch Mob - Take Me With You ft. Arama
JSTJR - Subete ft. ETC!ETC!
Liquid Stranger - Spaceboss ft. Space Jesus
Matrix & Futurebound - Got You There
Cyantific - Cyborg VIP
Murdock - Cant Keep Me Down ft. Shystie & Sena
Nero(DJ Set) - Lullaby
Phiso - Sick Fuck
Definitive - Sinistar ft. Aweminus
Riot Ten - Fuck It
Skream! B2B Rusko (Old Skool Dubstep Set) - Somebody To Love (Skream Remix)
Snails - Magnets ft. Zeds Dead & Akylla
Sub Focus B2B Wilkinson - Take It Up
Svdden Death - BZZRK ft. AFK
Virtual Riot - Show Up ft. Virus Syndicate
Zeke Beats - Bad Robot ft. Avance
Champagne Drip - Eternal Now ft. LSDREAM
13 - Uppercut
Above & Beyond - Sun & Moon ft. Richard Bedford
Adin - Locomotive Ghost
Armnhmr - Oceans ft. NKOLO
Audien - Favorite Sound ft. Echosmith
Blacklizt
Bonnie & Clyde - Bass Jam
Cash Cash - Finest Hour ft. Abir
Drezo - Guap
Ekali - Blame ft. ZHU
Elephante - Dynasty ft. MIIA
Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
Gareth Emery - Saving Light
i_o - Low
Illenium (DJ set) - Crawl Outta Love Ft. Annika Wells
Kayzo - Whistle Wars
Martin Garrix - In The Name Of Love ft. Bebe Rexha
Nitti Gritti - Crack
Rezz - Purple Gusher
Saymyname - Get On My Level ft. K. Flum
Slander - Running To You ft. Spag Heddy
Steve Aoki - Boneless ft. Chris Lake & Tujamo
Whipped Cream - You Wanted It
Zeds Dead - Collapse
Adam Beyer - Your Mind ft. Bart Skils
Alan Fitzpatrick - M27 ft. Wheats
Amelie Lens - Never The Same
Anna - Singularity (ANNA Remix)
Artbat - Papillon
Black Coffee - Wish You Were Here ft. Bedouin
Charlotte De White - Wisdom
Declan James - Weapon ft. Fatum
Eats Everything - Complex ft. Green Velvet
Patrick Topping - Be Sharp Say Nowt
Eli Brown - Hurt Me ft. Sonny Fodera
Mason Maynard - Soul Service
Enrico Sangiuliano - Symbiosis
Fisher - Losing It
Joseph Capriati - Parallels ft. Adam Beyer
Layton Giordani - Fuzion ft. Green Velvet
Bart Skils - Your Mind ft. Adam Beyer
The Martinez Brothers - Blessed ft. Tiga
Mihalis Safras - Microwave ft. Green Velvet
Sinopoli
Solardo - Accelerator ft. Camelphat
Idris Elba - Badman
Yousef - The Night
Adaro - I’m Alive
Adrenalize - In This Moment
Angerfist - Pennywise
Atmozfears - Lose It All
Ben Nicky presents Xtreme
Brennan Heart - Follow The Light
Crime Family
Da Tweekaz - Because of You Ft. Refuzion
Darren Styles - Party Don’t Stop
DJ Isaac - Face Down Ass Up
DJ The Prophet - Fiyaaah!
Dr Phunk - Down Down Down
Geo - Bass Up
Gunz for Hire - Don’t Look
Kikeone - We Are Hardstyle
Lady Faith - PLUR
Lil Texas - Terror to Your Ear
Lny Tnz - We Go Up
Madgrrl - Losing Myself
Radical Redemption - Razor Ft. Crypsis
Ran-d - Hurricane
Rob Gee - Peacock Is My Trip Advisor
Suae - Jack Had A Groove
Sub Zero Project - The Contagion Ft. Christina Novelli
Sylence - Noon
Technoboy - Rage
Tuneboy - Power Hour
Tweekacore - Down with the E Ft. Darren Styles
Warface - I Need You
Wasted Penguinz - Evergreen
Aly & Fila - Gravity Ft. Deirdre Mclaughlin
Andrew Bayer - Lose Sight
Andrew Rayel - One In A Million
Arkham Knights - Another Dimension
Bryan Kearney - All Over Again
Captain Hook - Desert Adventure
Cosmic Gate - Exploration of Space
Craig Connelly - This Life Ft. Roxanne Emery
David Gravell - Battlefront
Ferry Corsten - Anahara
Ganesh
Giuseppe Ottaviani Live 2.0 - Why
Infected Mushroom - Becoming Insane
Jase Thirlwall - I’d Still Have You
John Askew - Bad Apple
John O’Callaghan - Morning Struggle
Leiel
Mark Sherry - Here Comes the Drums
Mark Sixma - Restless Hearts
Marlo - The Dreamers
Niko Zografos - Porto Katsiki
Paul Denton - Supernova
Paul Oakenfold - Only Us Ft. Little Nikki
Paul Van Dyk - Solar Snapshot Ft. Chris Bekker
RJ Van Xetten - Ground Zero Ft. Edward Whitten
Ruben De Ronde - Riptide
Sander Van Doorn - Gold Skies
Scot Project - Overdrive
Benda - Funeral Service
Bijou - Kung Fu ft. Dr. Fresch
Chris Lake (Black Book) - Deceiver
Chris Lorenzo - Hey Pablo
Dillon Nathaniel - Pressure
Dustycloud - Her
Gentlemen's Club - Let U Go
Holy Goof - Gully
Kai Wachi - Luvsick ft. Ylti
Kendoll - Stop Calling Me
Lucati - All About House
Melé - Ambience
Morelia - Vibrate ft. Dani
Noizu - Rave Alarm ft. Dombresky
Oolacile - Riddim Girl
Rawtek - Guava ft. Flosstradamus
Redlight - Get Out My Head
Tisoki - The Devil’s Back
Tsuruda B2B Great Dane - Brrrap!!
Volac - Like Dis
Walker & Royce - Word ft. VNSSA
Wavedash - Move Back ft. Slander
Yolanda Be Cool - Dance and Chant
There are Art Cars to check out, some big names play at them usually in secret. You can follow them around and get more a personal show. They are blast to be around. There are plenty of new artists that will be at EDC but there are a few oldies showing up that cannot be pointed out! David Guetta hasn’t been to EDC since 2012 and Skream! Is playing an OLD SKOOL dubstep B2B with Rusko that is definitely two sets that will be jammed with people. If you didn’t know actor Idris Elba was a longtime DJ then you should go see his set! Bill Nye isn’t djing, at least we don’t think so, but he will be apart of the Opening Ceremonies!
Don’t forget about EDC Week, full of shows, pool parties, after parties, and pre-parties. If you have spare time get your tickets to one of these parties to have a great time in the sun but don’t forget sunscreen! For more pro tips, check out my article, Tips for Attending EDC. And - if you need inspo on what to wear, check out the official savormeditation EDC Outfits Guide. See you under the Electric Sky!
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First and foremost NEW for 2019 is opening Lost Lands early access camping up ON Wednesday, September 25th! Last year was the largest campground ever held at Legend Valley; in 2019, Lost Lands camping will be even better by having an extra day to get settled in. You won’t have to stress over missing any sets because no stages will be open. Lost Lands just wants you to settle in and catch up with fellow campers. The main goal is for Lost Lands Early Access Camping on Wednesday is to reduce wait times and traffic for everyone - hopefully, this will help! The camping pre-party will take place again this year on Thursday, September 24th. REMEMBER: those tickets are a SEPARATE PURCHASE from your festival wristbands. Wednesday Early Entry includes Thursday pre-party access, so you do not need to purchase both.
A new addition to Lost Lands this year is the redesign of the Dino Den into three different camping experiences, adding in Tent-ONLY camping. Quiet camping will be more secluded for the best experience and tent-ready camping has also been added to GA for closer spaces at more affordable prices. Excision and the Lost Lands team have also added GLAMPING this year! If you haven’t seen what premium camping looks like you need to check it out! CAMPING PASSES ARE SOLD SEPARATELY.
Another big change for 2019 - Sound Camps will be relocated to be inside the main venue! This will be really convenient because right after the festival, you can stick around for the after-party that's close to the food and drink vendors.
If you aren’t camping and choose a hotel with a shuttle spot you are in luck, Lost Lands has added more shuttles to the schedule for you to still make it to every set! If you're coming from out of town, be sure to check out the Long Haul Shuttle. The Long Haul Shuttle is for those coming from a nearby city that don’t want to drive. Instead, you can hop on this shuttle all the way to Legend Valley. Check out their website to see if your city is listed! I have seen this with other festivals and I have heard they are a blast to ride on.
Also brand new to 2019 is the Producer’s Den - a one of a kind experience only Excision could bring together for those who have been creating music or just wanting to know how the nasty wubs are made. The lineup of artists that will lead the workshops is beyond amazing. Passes are available only Friday or Saturday and include 5 HOURS with amazing artists working on a lot of nasty bass.
Additionally, the Lost Lands team is working hard on making water even more accessible this year. Their website states that they are, "improving the entire water station experience by investing in multiple layers of fail-safes in case excessively wet weather conditions lead to our water wells failing when they are needed most." If you aren't planning to bring a refillable water bottle (which I HIGHLY recommend you do, or invest in a hydration pack), Lost Lands' cap on water has and will continue to be $2 per bottle. This is exciting news for fellow festival-attendees, as we all know, that buying water throughout the day can be quite pricey!
The 2019 Lost Lands lineup has not been released yet, but I'm positive that Excision and his team are cooking up a soul-shattering lineup this year! Keep an eye out on Lost Lands and Excision’s social media for updates (including the lineup announcement) and ticket info and all your bass needs.
I'm positive that the 2019 Lost Lands is going to be a blast and looking to be better than the years before, three times the charm works for those t-rexs. I hope to see you in Legend Valley and stay safe! There are still tickets available with payment plan options.
Ready to rage? Watch the official 2019 Lost Lands Trailer:
And, don't forget - you can relive last year's event by listening to Excisions' 2018 Lost Lands Set!
Red Daisy: Camping
Any advice I can give would be is treat this camping experience like any other one. There are plenty of options for camping, tents or RVs, choose based on your group. Bigger is better for camping festivals because it stays at a party when there are a lot of people. It may stay hot even through the night but the campsites are created to help with that. Bring sunscreen, snacks, bring lots of water to your site, and don’t forget your sleeping bag. Be sure to check out this EDC camping list for inspo about how to start packing!
Photo Credit: EDC/Insomniac Events
Orange Daisy: Carpool/Uber/Lyft/PinPoint
Carpool with friends or use Uber/Lyft. Trust me when I tell you carpooling is the best thing for your EDC experience especially if you plan on having extra fun. It is the safest thing for you and your squad. Benefits to carpooling are having travel buddies to pump you up on the way to EDC through the traffic and to enjoy the sunrise on the way back to the hotel. If you are taking your own car I suggest leaving early as parking does fill up quickly or buying a parking pass. I highly recommend pinpointing on your phone or taking pictures of where your car is. If you haven’t been to the motor speedway at 5:30am, every light pole and fence looks like the one you parked near. Check for the name of the lot as well as entrances /exits you go through to get to your car.
Yellow Daisy: Battery Life = FULL
Buy a portable charger, charge your phone, and CHARGE THE PORTABLE CHARGER. I can’t stress enough trying to keep your phone a little alive by the time EDC is over. You won’t be able to find your car, your friends, or call an uber/lyft if YOUR PHONE IS DEAD because you were too busy trying to Snapchat every set you saw. Be smart, put it on low power mode, and try to keep it long enough to get home safe. You can also rent a locker with a portable charger!
savormeditation has tons of Cute & fuzzy portable chargers like these!
Green Daisy: Take breaks and wear comfy shoes
Shoes can make or break a great outfit, as well as, a festival. If you're looking for some cute rave shoes that are also comfy, savormeditation offers tons of glittery & fun sneakers. They also offer tons of Platforms, but be careful about making the commitment to wearing these all weekend long! I recommend bringing a backup pair of shoes and renting a locker to stash them in, just in case your feet get tired! Also, pro tip: invest in a pair of shoe insoles to make your platforms even comfier! Whatever type of shoe you choose, make sure your shoes are comfy and can withstand all the walking you will do in the speedway. All the walking you’ll be doing will take a toll on your shoes, feet and body so TAKE BREAKS. Take a seat in the bleachers, or go sit in the grass at Cosmic Meadow, or buy a flag to sit on the concrete at whatever stage you are camped at but take a seat and relax. Buy a “BIG B*TCH FAN” to keep yourself cool. You could even go on a ride, preferably one in which you are sitting. There are multiple rides so take your pick and enjoy your break.
The Ferris Wheel is a great place to take a break when your feet need a break! Photo Credit: EDC/Insomniac Events
Blue Daisy: Stay Hydrated
This daisy is obviously the most important one. Even though EDC is no longer in June, it still has the chance to get in the high 100s. PLEASE STAY HYDRATED. Buy a hydration pack or water bottle to refill. Even if you think you have drunk enough water, you probably need to drink more. Although, always be careful not to over-do it! Do a good deed and buy someone a water bottle that needs it or even someone who doesn’t. You could even drink a Gatorade, just stay hydrated. There are free water stations you can fill up as well don’t forget about those. Pro tip: buy some Gatorade packets that are sealed so you can bring them inside the festival and change your water from ordinary to extraordinary!
I HIGHLY recommend investing in a hydration pack - they came in tons of cute styles and colors to match your outfit!
Purple Daisy: Schedule Sets
Schedule out meeting spots, when to park and when to pregame can only happen if you schedule out who you will see and when. Make sure to prioritize which sets are NOT MISS sets and which ones you can explore everything EDC offers. There is more to EDC than just your favorite DJ playing at a stage. You can only experience EDC if you plan correctly, even if you are WINGING it you still plan on who you are seeing at 7PM. Pro tip: Write your favorite sets in an Excel sheet and screenshot the sheet to save as your phone lock screen!
I'm not joking when I say that EDC is huge! Setting meet-up spots with your squad is crucial! Photo Credit: EDC/Insomniac Events
Pink Daisy: Visit the LUX Rave Pop up Shop
The LUX Rave pop up shop offers 20,000 sq ft of last minute festival shopping! If you haven’t gotten a chance to go this would be the year to! Tons of flow art toys, glitter, accessories and more outfit options for girls and guys! Don’t forget to order online and do in-store pickup if you don't want to pack all your rave items or pay for shipping. Every day there is a new event for you to check out! If you're looking for EDC outfit inspiration, savormeditation has you covered!
Rainbow Daisy: Using P.L.U.R.
This is my favorite daisy, throughout your EDC week or weekend, depending on how long you choose to rage, PLEASE USE P.L.U.R. every single second! We are all trying to have the best experience and if we all spread Peace, Love, Unity, & Respect throughout our EDC time we make our adventures that much better. I try my hardest to use it before, during and after EDC (even in the parking lot)
Photo Credit: EDC/Insomniac Events
I hope my daisies are helpful and I hope that when you see them throughout EDC you will remember them! Have a blast and stay safe! Meet you under the electric sky!
]]>I have been to the NOS Center a few times for events but this event was truly one-of-a-kind. This year, Countdown adapted a few new changes to the annual New Year's Eve event. Not only did the event switched from a 2-day to a 1-day event, but the event adapted a new theme for the evening. This year, we celebrated NYE with an alien/outer space theme for the event. Insomniac went all out for on decorations. Everything was alien, UFO or outer-space themed. They even used old carnival rides (the UFO shaped ones that spun everyone really fast inside) as a bar. The Area 51 bar was a spectacle to walk by and through. As always, Insomniac does a spectacular job with their performers. This year, special alien performers walked the grounds of the NOS Center. Talk about out of this solar system!
Photo Courtesy of Insomniac Events
Each set was zoom zoom zoom, and each DJ was supernova. I was able to catch every set I wanted to, but I had to brace the wind from stage to stage. Insomniac added plenty of space heaters to help but unfortunately, the wind swept the heat away. Regardless, everyone appreciated the help with the cold. The Solar Flare Garden was also created as an area to warm up and the flare part was a cool touch.
Also the outstanding food options, my friends kept, and my fluffies kept me warm. So many beautiful people had fluffies on and I was loving it! I'm starting a petition to #BringFluffiesBack2019.
Get the Look: Side-stripe Windbreaker, Black & Silver Leg Wraps, Cross Faded Mesh Top, Disco Micro Booty Shorts, Alien Pasties, Fluffies
Insomniac added so many picture-taking areas for Countdown and for future events they’ll be doing, (*Cough* Beyond Wonderland *Cough*) It definitely got me pumped for 2019 festival season.
Before Countdown, I wrote an article about 5 sets Not to Miss at Countdown and I was able to see every artist on my list - it was out of this galaxy! GG Mcgree came out onto the stage actually screaming into the mic. If that isn’t the easiest way to get me hyped for a set then I am not sure what could top that. Andrew Rayel was beautiful as always. I had to split Shiba San & RL Grime but it was worth it. The Prototypes were something else though, I have never seen so many people hyped for a drum and bass set like I did at Countdown. Even at Friction the crowd was wildly energetic (bonus: dancing definitely keeps you warm!)
Photo Courtesy of Insomniac Events
The stages were another world of amazing. Although the entire theme was aliens, each stage still looked different and brought a unique vibe to the event. During the countdown they had aliens abducting whoever was playing and then they displayed the aliens taking over our screens and us. It was an amazing experience to be with everyone counting into the new year. This was my first Countdown experience and I have to say I’d love to do it again!
Hopefully 2019 brings you all the stars and planets you dream of! New events to go to and maybe I’ll catch you at a show this year, always come say hi! To infinity and beyond, fellow ravers!!!
Cover photo courtesy of Insomniac Events
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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 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!
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 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:
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.
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I hoped for the weather this year to be better than the cold last year but was not expecting it to be so hot and humid, but I loved it! I even got a little butt tan line from my bottoms ;) Unfortunately, not everyone enjoyed the heat as much as me. I saw a lot of sunburns and sweat during the day sets, but thankfully, Fancy Unicorns & Scummy Bears were selling their BIG FANS at their booth. If you were lucky enough to find them, you were the savior to the tribe! (or you were like me and told my gypsy tribe & Snapchat, I GOT A BIG B**CH FAN) What also didn’t sit well with everyone was the rain that showed up late and canceled sound camps for Sunday. That bummed me out as I was ready to rage until 4 am but for SAFETY reasons LL decided it was best to make sure everyone got out safe before it started. That way no one would be stuck in the mud at 2 am, trying to dig out their cars or campsites. I think Excision and his Team did a great job at handling the wrench that Mother Nature threw at them. After all, we can only blame Mother Nature for this and we sure hope she is nicer next year.
CAVE PAINTING FLASHBACK: I was a part of my first savormeditation Unicorn Crew at Tomorrowworld in 2015 in Atlanta Georgia. Unfortunately, the festival got rained on so badly that they had to shut the festival down on the last day to campers only. We luckily were camping but everything was soaked in rainwater or covered in mud. The second day of the festival had been rained on all day and night. The mud was so dangerous that shuttle buses, taxis, even cars in the parking lots for the day, Ubers, and Lyfts weren’t able to come to get people out. Most cars were already stuck or falling into the mud worse every minute. Festival-goers who weren’t camping were stuck in finding a way home or they had to walk miles in the rain to a different road. Lost Lands made the right decision to avoid that tragedy I had suffered in.
One thing I loved about this year's Lost Lands was MORE WATER for the dinos! Making two more wells for more water stations this year to have a total of three water stations was incredible. Last year there was one water station and two bathroom sites in the festival which weren’t convenient at all. LL put more bathrooms which were closer to the stages and kept nicely clean. Staying hydrated is the number one priority at a festival, especially since this year was way hotter. There were plenty of more cavemen and cavewomen this year which was awesome for the festival but a little more chaotic and crowded but that just shows how much the festival grew!! Totems are the best way to find your tribe without needing phone service but this year they were all awesome. I saw some incredibly creative totems this year. This one pictured above is my favorite.
As far as the production goes, let me tell you, I felt every wattage of the 1,000,000 Watts of bass for every second of the weekend. It took me getting back to the hotel for my ribcage to stop rattling. It was intense but worth it all. The sets I caught were indescribable because they were just all amazing. Every single artist put every bit of them into their sets and killed them. Wompy Woods was a major upgrade from the Cave of Souls last year and it was money well spent. The giant herbivore made the stage that much spectacular. They made it an open stage instead of a hanger-like stage which gave so much more room and air, THANK YOU. It was like a second main stage but still kicked just as hard as Prehistoric Paradox. The nights of added sound camps at the end of the festival were pretty far to walk to but worth it. It felt as if you walked from the main festival to a mini hidden one in the camping area. They were hard to figure out which one was which besides the Rockstar one but that is only a suggestion for next year!
I was fortunate to see all the sets I wanted to and the ones I suggested to in my “5 artists to not miss at Lost Lands” article. SADLY, I can’t pick a favorite but I can ask for LL to POST ALL THE SETS, I need to relive them, thank you. I hope everyone got to see who they wanted! What I can’t get over is the SECRET SPECIAL GUEST, DJ DIESEL AKA SHAQ AKA SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, retired NBA legend. He was the easiest DJ to spot on any stage because him towering at 7’ 1” isn’t hard to miss. Not to mention his awesome headbanging moves or the fact he put Excision on his shoulders! Kazaam, you got us! He threw the hell down and it was legendary, but his graphics were my favorite part. DJ Diesel used highlights from his NBA career while dunking on players but placed a T-rex head over his face. I was so happy to be able to witness that incredible performance!
Photo Credit: Julian Bajsel
CAVEWOMAN HEARTBREAK: I am only upset over one thing! I was really looking forward to eating Gator Bites that I mentioned in my previous blog post. Now, these might not seem like much to normal LL fans, but to me, these hurt my heart to not have this year. I even asked Excision on Twitter what happened to the Gator Bites, but sadly, he didn’t have an answer. Aside from the lack of Gator Bites, there was plenty of other amazing food there. The Asian sensation left its fossil in everyone’s stomach with great chicken as well as my other favorite, SPACE FRUIT. Space Fruit was absolutely refreshing and delicious - basically a healthy all natural Dippin Dots. Please bring back the Gator Bites next year!
I loved rocking this savormeditation 'fit! Get the Look: Liquid Leather Bottoms and Checkered Side Tie Crop Top, Clear Cat Eye Sunglasses
Lost Lands, my home, my tribe, you were incredible for Year Two. Thank you! It is amazing to be a part of something so big and to see the changes from one year to the next was perfection.
See you in 2019!
]]>Everyday bass music is changing. Yet we still should appreciate the old songs as much as the new ones because without all these songs we wouldn’t have the music we do now. Constant change is a good thing and your taste in music might have shifted like mine did a little with every rave I go to. I say to always remember the songs that got you into EDM. Happy raving and appreciate all music.
Check out this super awesome playlist featuring the tracks listed above!
[Disclaimer Note: There is more than one genre of bass and some of your favorites might not be on here. That doesn’t mean they aren’t the best of all time to you! There are a few remixes and to some bassheads those are better than the original but everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. If I missed your favorite track, drop it in the comments below! Also, some would be considered more popular than better bass drops.]
Photo Cover Credit: INTO THE AM. Buy the design on a flag, bodysuit, or tank top.
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Svdden Death blasted on the scene with his hit Take Ya Head Off and his many remixes. His remix of Biterz by Zomboy is one I always go crazy for! Being on Never Say Die Label and Never Say Die’s Black label, he has become one of my top favorites. He has caught my ear and many others by the sounds he creates. His Junkworld EP is still making moves along with the songs that put him on the scene. Svdden Death & AFK murdered their EDC set and everyone who was at it, but I am hoping for a Svdden Death solo set at Lost Lands. Either way DO NOT MISS HIM.
Oldies but still goodies. Since 2010, Modestep has paved the way for some new artists and old. Their popular hits, Feel Good, Another Day, Sunlight (my favorite), and many others have millions of views, likes, and listens so they are one group you have to catch. They even sing their own vocals with a live band. I have never seen them and will be making sure not to miss them. They dropped new music within the last few months, in case you need to catch up on remembering how good they are!
Papa Planet Purge - talk about someone who is in their prime. Although he's only 25, Midnight T kills it every time he drops something new. His Midnight Snacks mixes were what caught people’s attention. Him using video game samples brought a new sound to his tracks. If my friends and I had to describe Midnight T in a few words, it would be dark, scary, and absolutely disgusting. He makes the perfect bassface noises and is only getting better. He's been around since 2011 but took off strong recently when he sampled Rick and Morty for Planet Purge with EH!DE. His most recent flithy mix is definitely one to check out on the way to Lost Lands, if you haven’t already.
HE$HMANE came in hot from Dallas, Texas with his Burner Posse. He has made noise with his hits Pull up and Bout My Guap. He's currently touring with Blunts & Blondes (another LL artist) and Bommer. His new track Beam on Da Hip is the flame emoji in my phone, used one thousand times. It is only a clip for now so I can only imagine what the full track is going to be like. His track art is also one thing I really hope to see him incorporate into his visuals. If this is how he is starting out I can’t wait to see what more is to come from him.
This Canadian space mom will be back for round two of Lost Lands and I strongly suggest to not miss her. She captivated everyone last year and every set I have seen her play, she has kept growing as an artist. Besides her out of this world visuals she works so hard on, her music also makes a big statement. Purple Gusher has over 1 million plays on Soundcloud and Relax is almost to 1 million plays, sitting at a nice, 997.9K. Only five years ago, was she discovered by Skrillex and she’s been dropping killer tracks ever since, her most recent one Witching Hour is one of my new favorites. When mom tells you to relax, you do it. Let’s get weird.
One of the pioneers of Dubstep has come back stronger than ever. Taking about a year off due to being diagnosed with Gastric Lymphoma (a type of stomach cancer), he is all clear now and we couldn’t be happier for him! Been killing the game since 2006 with songs like Cockney Thug, Woo Boost, and Hold On ft. Amber Coffman, Rusko had always caught my attention and I bet yours, too. If he hasn’t, well here is your chance to see his electric energy stage presence along with his bouncy wubs. As he would probably say “Wake The Fuck Up” and don’t miss one of the greats set!
Every artist on the LL lineup is amazing and you should see as many as you can but if you don’t have at least one of these artists on your list to watch, I would reconsider!! I can’t wait for round two of LL! Come find me with dinosaurs and let’s rage!
Cover Image provided by Lost Lands & Rukes Photography
]]>Held at one of the most beautiful venues, The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA, Paradiso is Seattle’s #1 summer festival! Put on by USC Events on June 15-16, 2018 this festival is all about #themessage! This festival brings in some of the best headliners in EDM! The ravers come for each other, the music, and to escape into the unforgettable scenery. It is definitely #1 on Kellie, our editor-in-chief's list!
Lost Lands is my #1 absolute favorite festival on this list. Creating the scene of a real-life Jurassic Park with dinosaurs in the trees and grass for all to headbang with is simply magical. Lost Lands held in Legend Valley, Thornville, OH is Excision’s very own creation with over 1,000,000 watts of bass. On Sept 14-16, 2018 if you love rib-cage rattling bass, you need to get your tickets! Don’t miss the Dinos. Come find me for my round two, I want to headbang with you!!
Located in my city of Las Vegas, NV, Electric Daisy Carnival is held on May 18-20th. Normally held in June, the founder of EDC and CEO of Insomniac Events, Pasquale Rotella, made it his mission to help with the heat by giving new dates to EDC. EDC 2018 has definitely built up the hype with a stacked lineup and new amenities (including camping for the very first time) for an even better experience at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Trust me with over 400,000 attendees last year, 2018 is sure to break that number. Remember when going to EDC it is still hot at night! Stay Hydrated!
For 20 years now Miami, Florida has held one of the hottest outdoor events to kick off festival season right! March 29-31, 2019 Ultra will once again bring out the best partygoers like only Miami knows how to. Now a global enterprise, Ultra has reached multiple countries and sure to add more with every year they grow. If you need some fun in the sun to start your season right, go down to Miami!
Electric Forest is one of Mama Unicorn’s favorite festivals - located in gorgeous Sherwood Forest in Rothbury, Michigan. Spending 4 days immersed in the magic the forest brings is one still on my to-do list. The forest is alive in the day time and night with music and art to explore. E. Forest has given life to Sherwood and attendees since 2011. Held on two different weekends June 21-24 & June 28-July 1, each with the same great vibes for your mind, body, and soul. Channel your inner hippy to take a trip to E. Forest!
The one and only Coachella have two weekends for good reason. The weekends of April 12-14 & April 19-21, 2019 are perfectly placed with major artists from every genre of music. 2018 brought out Eminem, Zomboy, and Beyonce who also brought out Destiny’s Child. It is one of the many festivals people suggest to check out at least one in your lifetime, if not for the music then for the food and art.
Another mixed genre music festival is held in my backyard in Downtown Las Vegas! It is more than just a music festival it is also an art festival. 2017 they had comedians, speakers, and artists all creating the best experience for you. Held Sept 21-23 this festival has been growing bigger with each year since its start in 2013. Locals and visitors mix together for three days full of experience. Come walk 18 blocks in DTLV to see another side of vegas.
Dirty Birds unite! This festival is beautifully placed at Lake San Antonio in Bradley, CA. More than just a music festival it is a family festival. All ages welcome to come May 23-28, for music, talks, discussions, workshops for body and mind, cultural offerings, food and wellness session, art, yoga, etc. to name a few things. Since 1998 this festival as added so much for it to be more than just a music festival. Meet you at the Grand Artique Marketplace.
Your trance destination awaits for those who are seeking it! Dreamstate is held annually in both Northern and Southern California. This August 17-18, 2018 will be Dreamstate San Francisco, CA. Dreamstate SoCal, which is normally held at the NOS Center in San Bernardino, CA is yet to have dates - hopefully, they announce it soon. Quite a lot of ravers are dying to go back to the event that never has trash on the floor and is full of P.L.U.R. If it is your time to escape into a state of trance then get your tickets now.
Both created by Pasquale to be more than meets the eye kind of festivals. Both fests are full of performers and attendees in amazing wonderland-inspired outfits, prancing through the festival for you to meet. Beyond is usually held in March to kick off the festival season and Nocturnal is held in September to end the season off on a good note. Nocturnal is the longest running festival for Insomniac. I have yet to go to either of these festivals but am dying too! Don’t be late to take me to Wonderland!
Other honorably mentioned festivals, while I was writing this article, were Escape, Holy Ship, and Groove Cruise. These festivals aren’t to be overlooked. They all have their unique edge for those seeking the adventure they find while attending. I have only experienced a few of these festivals myself and I am dying to experience a few others I have yet to. It seems as if there is a new festival added every other day. There are plenty to fill your top 10 differently than what is above but just remember what you like ina festival and to always be open to experience new adventures, you might find you like them!
If your favorite isn’t on this list that doesn’t mean it's not a great festival. Tell us in the comments below if we missed one of your favorite festivals and why!
Have a safe and happy festival season!
]]>For the festival’s inaugural year of success, they sold out Lost Lands and I have no doubt they will sell out again for year two.
Here are four things I’m looking forward to most about my second year of Lost Lands:
Excision dropped the lineup today and it’s EPIC. He’s done it again, putting the most amazing BASS lineup together. There are some new names I’m stoked to finally be able to see on a big festival lineup. I’m so excited #1 for Svdden Death, Nghtmre, Riot Ten,Blunts & Blondes, Xaebor, and Zomboy. This epic lineup makes round two worth every penny for me and definitely making it worth it for the first timers. I know that will be going crazy!
Last year, Legend Valley had so many dinosaurs I thought I was in a real life Jurassic park, especially when Excision started his set with the theme song. This year Excision promised more and he is delivering, “3X MORE GIANT F#%KING DINOSAURS” to be exact.
Excision asked all his fans that attended Lost Lands 2017 to tell him what went right and what went wrong about the festival to take in consideration for the new year to come. He was very vocal with everything fans had wrote to him and I hope to see him and his team deliver another great festival. LL has posted on their website the few things they have added new so far,
This year Lost Lands is moved to the third weekend of September 14th-16th as opposed to the last weekend in September, which falls before Fall Term starts for those of you college kids who are on a quarter system!
Hopefully, it will also mean that it'll be a little warmer than last year. While it was gorgeous last year in Legend Valley during the day, it did get a bit chilly at night. While that doesn’t mean it guarantees better weather, it definitely increases our chances. Regardless, there are still tons of ways to look cute with clothes from savormeditation outerwear section if the weather gets chilly!
With all that being said, I am going to say this loud and proud: I AM NOT PREPARED for my second round of lost lands!! How can I be when round one was absolutely unforgettable?
Check out Lost Lands website for more information and to grab tickets ASAP (they haven’t sold out yet, but I would definitely act fast). Find me walking with the dinosaurs again in September!
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Let me start by giving a HUGE thank you to Excision and every single person on his team who helped bring Lost Lands to life. The festival was hands down the best one I have ever attended. It was planned in the best way possible and you could tell the team did extensive research on how to organize a good festival to ensure everyone had a great time. Even at the end, Excision wanted everyone’s feedback to make sure they make Lost Lands 2018 even better. HUGE round of applause goes to Excision and the team! Also, GIANT congratulations for selling out the first-time festival! Which, by the way, also had ZERO drug-related medical transports. Great Job!
The venue was absolutely beautiful and quite functional for a bass-heavy two-staged festival. This outdoor venue was one that was made to handle the 750k watts of bass they promised. And with temperatures in the high 70’s with some humidity, it was the perfect weekend weather. The venue had trees, grass, and hills that made for the perfect landscape for prehistoric headbanging. They even set up hammocks throughout for those needing a little break during their cavemen journey. The hilly walk from one stage to the next was a little much if you didn’t wear proper shoes or if you were struggling on the third day, like myself. Fellow headbangers got their calf workout for the weekend after the first day if they had traveled from one end to the other to discover over 40 life-sized dinosaurs scattered across the venue!
There were only two bathroom areas. One was between both stages an the other was at the top of the hill by the Cave of Souls, but the trek was worth it. The Lost Lands team kept the bathrooms clean, there was barely any wait and there were plenty of stalls for all festival goers to use. They even had giant boxes of toilet paper to make sure the bathrooms were fully stocked all weekend. The porta potties even had air filtration as well as a light that automatically turned on when you opened the door to make sure you could see how great these bathrooms were compared to other festival bathrooms. And if you were unable to attend this bass filled weekend, well there was no shortage of social media post from everyone that was there, but Excision made an incredible Facebook Live stream for everyone to watch and enjoy! I know plenty of friends who watched it and were amazed at how well it went all three days! What ideas doesn’t Excision have, he thinks of everything!
You could tell, the team put a lot of thought into the production and visuals of both rib cage rattling and head spinning stages. Each stage brought high watts of bass you could feel the closer you got. I personally like having a hard time breathing because there’s that much bass (bass is supposed to be felt rather than heard). No matter which stage you were at, whether you were breaking your neck on the rail or in the back with flow arts you could feel the bass. Prehistoric Paradox was built for you to feel the bass as soon as you walked through the trees. The stage included two life-sized dinosaurs between two GIANT volcanos and was made to be stared at for hours. There was so much going on I couldn't keep up. One minute the volcanos were spewing fire, then lasers, and then projected visuals would make them look as if there was real lava flowing. Then one caught fire. Most people would be surprised, but as a loyal Excision fan, I am not. I was next to the part of Basspod that caught fire during EDCLV 2016 and I was also at his set in 2017 when he set an electrical surge through Circut Grounds. It's alright though, this was Excision's festival. If he wants to set a part of his stage on fire, well he can with a little help from Destroid!
During the fire, security and Lost Lands staff, did an amazing job with getting everyone at a safe distance, letting people know what was happening, and handling the situation in the best possible way. It took about 20-30 minutes to get everything up and running again. The volcano didn’t have too much damage as far as the fans could tell so that seems to be a bonus!
The Cave of Souls was different than what I had imagined. It was described to be a 360-degree experience enclosed stage with a lot of visuals, but I felt it could’ve utilized the space with more projections and lights. It made you feel so small being all the way in the front as well as all the way in the back, but I felt they should have utilized the cave drawings and dinosaurs like they had outdoors. Both stages were absolutely amazing in their own way and they each brought so much to Lost Lands.
The lineup curated for the weekend did not disappoint in ANY WAY! The only thing I request is more hours of bass! No day was better than the last, each brought something different that was incomparable. Day 1 gave us a TWO HOUR Excision set that was absolutely outstanding, largely because he started it with the perfect Jurassic intro taking us into full Lost Lands mode. He also finally played Robokitty and that was the one thing I NEEDED to have a perfect festival. Day 1 also gave us AFK, LAXX, Seven Lions and just an overall great start to the festival. Day 2 gave us a heavy stacked day including Kai Wachi, Sullivan King, Spag Heddy, Trollphace, and DESTROID! I had never seen Destroid before and all I have to say is WOW. They were amazing, it was insane to see. They completely added to the whole festival in such an unbelievable way. They even played Excision’s Robokitty before they set the stage on fire and I couldn’t have asked for a better set. Day 3 my entire body was struggling to power through, but it was worth it! Excision gave us a detox set, Space Jesus made us laugh, Dubloadz killed his set, Illenium was incredible, Rezz blew our minds and Excision B2B Datsik was perfect. Come on, talk about an amazing last day!
An unforgettable festival for the books and definitely more to come from the team behind Lost Lands. They did so much in three days that can’t be topped until Lost Lands 2018! WOMP. The only negative feedback I have for Lost Lands is minimal; I asked a few friends in camping their thoughts since usually that is where most issues come up.
Bathrooms: The two spots for bathrooms were good for those spots but anyone that was on the left side of Prehistoric Paradox or even far front of that stage would've liked to have bathrooms to the left of the stage.
Water Station: This is singular because there was only one. It was great for those coming in early, but in the middle of the fest that line was so long there you were left with only one option of buying a $2 water bottle unless you wanted to miss an entire set. There were multiple ones set up in the camping grounds, but just ONE more inside the festival would’ve been awesome. The $2 water was very much appreciated though.
ATMs: There were a few ATMs around the festival grounds but they seemed to run out of money or were malfunctioning.
Camping: The showers in Dino Den ran out of water every day. The lines were almost 2 hours long as soon as they opened. People weren’t considering how long of showers they were taking and no one stopped them till they ran out. They need more hot water as well. They also needed after festival hours for people to shower between maybe 1-4 am so they could shorten the lines and not have everyone waiting to shower in the morning. There were not enough food options in Dino Den, many had to walk to GA for food. And lastly, the bathrooms were absolutely disgustingly gross. Always clogged, not taken care of and need to be kept up with to be functional. Quite the opposite of the bathrooms inside the venue.
After a long recovery, I finally have my mind back together after having had it blown to pieces from this festival and my entire body is finally healing from all the headbanging I did. It is a full body workout and Lost Lands had me breaking every part in my body. Thanks again to Excision for creating such an amazing festival. It connected so many beautiful basshead fans and a community together that is hopefully set for many years to come! Thank you to the whole Lost Lands team, security, medical, everyone involved to make this festival perfect! Thank you for great vendors, $2 waters, beautiful weekend, great venue, unforgettable sets and free earplugs I should’ve worn! My number one feedback opinion for you, Excision and your team of 1500+ people making Lost Lands possible is PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS AS PERFECT AGAIN NEXT YEAR (also save me a ticket)! It was the best festival I have ever attended. I know Excision is as excited as we all are, he has kept the Lost Lands website up for 2018 info. He even dropped a hint that info should be coming next month! Make sure to sign up for their newsletters and keep up with his social media accounts!
Come get lost with me in 2018!
(From left to right, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday sets)
Who would want to miss this event!? If you can’t make it, don’t worry Lost Lands will be wildly covered on social media between all the Snapchats, Instagram posts, and Tweets. Excision has even set up for Lost Lands to be streamed LIVE for all those who can’t make it. Follow the other cavemen to the Lost Lands Festival Facebook Page.
Friday at 3:00 pm, follow your fellow cavemen to the Prehistoric Paradox stage to see AFK! AFK has been making bangers for a little while now but he hit it off getting the attention of Datsik who welcomed him to FirePower Records. “Killionaire” EP dropped in 2013 is what has set him apart. I, like most, didn’t realize how many songs he personally contributed to until now, many I am sure you’ve heard of. One of his most popular songs was made alongside fellow lineup artist, Wooli “WDGAF ft. Jay Fresh” AFK was also a part of Excision’s Virus Remixes dropping his personal twist to “Neck Brace ft. Messinian” I haven’t seen him yet and I won’t be missing this set to start the festival off right!
Saturday at 3:30 pm, take your soul for a walk to the Cave of Souls stage to catch Sullivan King. Sullivan King has suddenly established himself mixing metal and dubstep and it’s the greatest thing. He mashed my two favorite genres in one, obviously, I cannot wait to see him live. He has done a few big features on songs with Excision and Riot Ten. He also has currently blessed us with his new “House of Wolves” EP that dropped on Sept 19th. Sullivan King also dropped a Lost Lands mix with another fellow Lost Lands Artist, KJ Sawka. They made a mix for our roundtripping travels which is not only hilarious but filthy.S
Sunday at 11:30 pm, don’t forget to grab your dino’s for UM..’s set at the Prehistoric Paradox stage. UM.. has I think one of the best names on the lineup to start off. They are building their success and one topping move was playing at Shambhala Festival this year in British Columbia, Canada. They announced in August they’ll be touring “The Fifth Pupil” with Bleep Bloop and other great names. Their short flip of Awe’s “Griffin” is what set them in motion and their own “Don’t Copy Us” kept everyone’s attention. You won’t want to miss this set.
Spotlight Set
Sunday at 6:15pm, take a few minutes to enjoy Space Jesus at the Prehistoric Paradox stage. In August I saw him opening up for Zomboy on the Riot n’ Roll tour along with BTSM and Riot. I personally wanted to shout him out because he is absolutely hilarious along with having great music. I normally don’t like dj’s on the mic at all but he is one I actually like hearing. He doesn’t get on the mic a lot but when he does it is really funny. Trust me if you can catch his set I suggest you take your earplugs out for this one because “You’ll want to meditate to this s***”.
Can’t wait to see all your headbangers there! Come get lost with me!
]]>Simple Answer: You don’t at all or don’t know how to. I think don’t know how to is more appropriate.
Preparing for this much bass is ultimately impossible. It isn’t a festival anyone is ready for. I, myself am a huge headbanger, and I definitely am not prepared for this weekend to come. WHAT DO YOU EVEN EXPECT? (Hold on while I catch my breath) This whole festival is going to amazing. There are over 50+ DJ/producers to make this one unforgettable bass festival.
Long Answer: Here are a few things I can suggest to help my fellow headbangers attending Lost Lands!
Helpful tips from @LostLandsFestival
I can't wait to see all my fellow headbangers at Lost Lands and experience this one of a kind festival! I wish I knew how to prepare but you just can't when there is so much unknown! The best way to prepare is to expect the unexpected with so many artists and it being a brand new festival who knows what will happen. I hope that it is well organized, safe and fun, as it seems they have that so far covered. Lets "prepare" but not really prepare for Lost Lands! If you still need tickets or more information check out their website or Excision's! See you there!!
]]>Legs on legs on legs, my favorite part of finishing the outfit! There are plenty of options savormeditation has for you to try! You could like their thigh highs, garters, leg wraps, or hosiery, which are all in different colors, patterns and sizes for everyone to enjoy.
Two different X wraps. Left: starts from the back of thigh. Right: starts in the front of thigh.
At EDCLV 2016 rocking leg wraps with the beautiful butterfly @redrubeie!
My favorite panda @alibeaaar and I love mixing & matching our leg wraps at EDCLV 2015.
Left Leg: Crossing X patterns & colors. Right Leg: Following the same X pattern.
There are so many color combinations you can create with this look! savormeditation has many types of pantyhose and fishnets that you can add leg wraps too. On the left: I put red leg wraps on top of white pantyhose. On the right: I wrapped orange leg wraps under the black pantyhose. For another look, I added fluffies because who doesn’t love fluffies!! (Side Note: I prefer to put my leg wraps over the top of my white pantyhose compared to putting my leg wraps underneath my black pantyhose. I feel it helps the colors stand out more when you do it that way.)
Backseam Lace – Left Leg: Leg wrap on top of thigh high. Right Leg: Leg wrap under thigh high.
Fence Net – Left: Leg wrap under thigh high. Right: Leg wrap on top of thigh high.
Jumbo net thigh highs with leg wraps over the top.
Rocking my favorite back bow tie thigh highs at Global Dance 2015 with savormeditation Unicorn Crew.
The lovely unicorn crew at Nocturnal 2016 in Neon Striped Athletic Socks.
For any stubborn thigh highs or hosiery that won’t stay up, try double stick tape! I just use Scotch double-stick tape, you can get it at any store usually that carries tape. Trust me it works for me! (It even worked at Tomorrow World 2015 in all the mud)