HARD Summer Music Festival returns in 2021 with Future, DJ Snake B2B Malaa enlisted as headliners

HARD Summer Music Festival - 2021 lineup

HARD Summer Music Festival //
NOS Events Center – San Bernardino, CA
July 31st-August 1st, 2021 //

Four months.

With so many of us forced to spend the past year at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it might be hard to believe that live music is slowly returning in the U.S. Yet, that’s exactly how much longer it will be before California hosts its first large-scale music festival again when HARD Summer returns this July and August.

The annual two-day event, which has long leaned in the electronic direction but has incorporated more and more hip-hop acts since 2015, has moved around the greater Los Angeles area over the last several years, occupying Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in South El Monte and the Fairplex in Pomona before eventually migrating to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for the last four editions, but HARD founder and CEO Gary Richards has found a new home less than 20 miles away.

Employing the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino for its 13th installment, HARD Summer 2021 will not only see Atlanta rapper Future headline for the first time but also a rare B2B set by DJ Snake and Malaa. Plus, the fest’s undercard offers enough of its own star power with Rezz, Dillon Francis, Kaytranada, RL Grime B2B Baauer, 2 Chainz, Don Toliver, Skream, Jauz, Kayzo, Ekali, Iann Dior, Lil Durk, Hulk Gang (Valentino Khan + 4B), Maya Jane Coles, Slushii, G Jones B2B Eprom, JOYRYDE, A-Trak, SAYMYNAME, Wax Motif, Solardo and more all scheduled to perform. Check out the poster above for the rest of the lineup.

GA and VIP passes are on sale this Friday, April 2nd at 10 a.m. PT here for fans ages 18 and over, with payment plans also available for one-day or two-day tickets after a $9.95 or $19.99 deposit.

So, who’s ready to go HARD this summer?

UPDATE (May 5th): Well, it sure sounds like plenty of people are ready to get down this summer as two-day and Saturday single-day passes are now sold out! Tickets to Sunday’s festivities are still available here so make sure to grab them before it’s too late.

Lightning in a Bottle 2019 boasts Disclosure (DJ set), Big Gigantic, Flying Lotus & more at a new location

Lightning in a Bottle - 2019 lineup

Lightning in a Bottle //
Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area – Bakersfield, CA
May 8th-13th, 2019 //

After a longer-than-expected wait, Lightning in a Bottle has finally given us the goods.

The “transformational festival,” which has become an excellent hangover cure for West Coast music fans shortly after Coachella, usually drops its lineup sometime in mid-January, but with new dates and a new location in Kern County holding things up, it took an extra month before we could learn more about who will be performing in 2019.

And boy, did The Do LaB go big for the 16th edition of its signature event, booking Disclosure (DJ set), Big Gigantic, Flying Lotus (3D) and Santigold to lead another outstanding lineup that comes to Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area in Bakersfield this May.

Let’s just hope leaving on Monday morning doesn’t take a mind-numbing five hours like it did once at San Antonio Recreation Area, the festival’s previous site in Bradley from 2014-18.

Now a staple in California’s expansive music festival scene, LIB took some more steps toward the mainstream a year ago after securing Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Zhu, Griz and Fever Ray to play its 2018 installlment, and it appears to have continued down that same path with Gramatik, Toro y Moi and Khruangbin on board for this go-around, which will not occur over Memorial Day weekend as has been the tradition.

Lightning in a Bottle 2019 - Phase 2 lineup

Other acts earning a spot on the Phase 1 roster include Rising Appalachia, Masego, ELOHIM, Cautious Clay, Jan Bloomqvist & Band, Channel Tres, Framworks, ÌFÉ, LUM, Mobley, Lane 8, DJ Koze, Damian Lazarus, Shiba San, Bedouin, Recondite (Live), Escapade (Walker & Royce + Ardalan), G Jones, The Polish Ambassador, OPIUO, CloZee, Shades, 1788-L and more.

UPDATE (March 5th): The Do LaB has announced the Phase 2 lineup for LIB 2019 with Ozomatli, Rising Appalachia, My Baby, Swingrowers, Próxima Parada, The Fungineers, Frameworks, Vokab Company, Balkan Bump and more all slated to perform across four stages. Check out the poster above for the rest of the bill.

LIB has received praise as one of the nation’s premier boutique festivals over the years, but that label has been called into question as sold-out crowds have become more of the norm. Meanwhile, prior mainstays like Lucent Dossier Experience and William Close & The Earth Harp Collective have also been recently absent as the fest’s organizers look to branch out.

Four- and five-day passes to LIB can be purchased here for $335 and $395, respectively, this Saturday, February 16th at 10 a.m. PT. As attendees have come to expect over the years, The Do LaB will also continue to promote the ideals of sustainability, social cohesion, personal health and creative expression through art, yoga, workshops and speakers.

Itching to attend LIB? Take a peek at our past coverage here.

Dirtybird Campout 2017: Here’s why you don’t want to miss this year’s festival

Dirtybird Campout 2017Photo courtesy of Daniel Zetterstrom // Written by Lindsay Alamillo //

Dirtybird Campout //
San Antonio Recreation Area – Bradley, CA
October 6th-8th, 2017 //

Festival season is coming to an end, but we can’t think of a better way to close out 2017 on a high note than with a trip to Dirtybird Campout. If you need a heavy dose of house, techno or bass, look no further — this camping party is getting a whole lot bigger and better.

One of the best things about Dirtybird events is the San Francisco record label’s loyalty to their fans. The artists always take time to hang out with fans and connect with those who bring the heat to the dance floor.

This year, don’t miss Brooklyn house duo Walker & Royce as they do their best to provide all the answers to life’s questions. You can also visit the Dough Lab to catch the pizza godfather himself, Justin Martin, and take a chance spinning the Wheel of Pizza (no dough needed).

There have been several special performances over the last couple of years, including an annual late late night/early morning drum ‘n’ bass set by the Martin brothers (Justin and Christian), and 2017’s lineup is bigger and better than ever before with some great b2bs.

For instance, don’t miss Dirtybird favorites Kill Frenzy and Will Clarke b2b or Ardalan and Worthy b2b on Friday night. On Saturday, there will be a special Soulection showcase at the Bass Lodge where the Los Angeles-based collective is sure to play its silky-smooth and sexy house sounds. And then on Sunday night, don’t miss the festival’s final performance as the entire Dirtybird family takes the stage.

But don’t worry — when you need a break from the action and want to entertain yourself with something different, there are a number of alternatives to choose from. The campout crew has amped up the activities this year just in case they hadn’t done enough already. Yoga, lectures and open archery will all be offered, and there will be a special science lab from BrainScratch where festivalgoers can dive into discussions about inter-connectivity and the complexities of nature. Pretty heady, right?

Also, when you need a break from the dance floor at night, head over to the great late-night Bingo Revival. It’s a 70’s-themed game show, so come dressed to impress or ready to win (or just come hang out). None of these tickle your fancy? There’s more, including timeless camp activities like tie dyeing, potato sack racing, water balloon tossing, volleyball, kickball and Simon Says.

If you need a little more convincing or another reason to sway your decision on a last-minute ticket purchase, listen up. On Saturday, different teams of our favorite artists will compete in Giant Jenga games to raise money for a cause. Proceeds from the games will go to Give a Beat in hopes of building a bigger bridge between the dance community and those who have been impacted by incarceration. The non-profit organization is aiming to provide education to the community, DJ workshops for youth and mentor programs. Be sure to stop by and check out the games, which will take place on Saturday between 2-6 p.m.

Let’s also not forget to mention that Claude VonStroke was crowned “America’s Best DJ” last year, and this year, Dirtybird was named the decade’s No. 1 label by Mixmag. So, to state the obvious, it has been a great few years for the Dirtybird crew and we honestly can’t wait to see what they have in store for us this October. Passes to Dirtybird Campout are still available to purchase here, but don’t wait because this is one party you don’t want to miss.

Dirtybird Campout - 2017 lineup

Dirtybird BBQ celebrates summer in its return to SF

Dirtybird BBQ 2017Photos by Lisette Worster // Written by EJ Bernardo //

Dirtybird BBQ //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
June 4th, 2017 //

After what seemed to be a long winter filled with a mixture of rain from El Niño and the nearly endless rolling fog that blankets SF, a strong taste of summer finally hit the Bay Area just days after Memorial Day weekend.

On this early June afternoon, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and a certain dirty flock of birds landed on Treasure Island with a purpose. Upon landing, these birds brought with them their speakers, headphones, massive amounts of BBQ fare and hundreds of people who were ready to get down and dirty.

Dirtybird BBQ 2017 - Claude VonStroke


Claude VonStroke

The annual Dirtybird BBQ, a new SF tradition for the city’s EDM community, was back in the Bay where it all started. Much like last year’s event (read our review here), the BBQ was held on the island’s more spacious east side and featured specialty cocktail vendors, a variety of food trucks, contests/games and of course, BBQ.

And although the venue provided a large number of locations to sit and eat a plate of food on a bail of hay, the best place to be on the island was definitely on the dance floor with a lineup that included Justin Martin, Worthy, Christian Martin, J.Phlip, Ardalan and Claude VonStroke.

Dirtybird BBQ 2017: Get ready for the SF edition with our Spotify playlist

Dirtybird BBQ San Francisco 2017Written by Lisette Worster //

Dirtybird BBQ //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
June 4th, 2017 //

The Birds are heading back to their home base where it all started this weekend as Dirtybird’s BBQ series returns to SF on Sunday with performances from Justin Martin, Worthy, Christian Martin, J.Phlip, Ardalan and of course, the godfather of it all, Claude VonStroke.

There’s sure to be plenty of house music mixed with hip-hop, techno and funk being played throughout the day on Treasure Island, and to get you ready for the big party, we’ve curated our own playlist below.

In addition to some saucy sets, Dirtybird will be firing up the grills once again in 2017 and providing another tasty food lineup. The SF record label is also bringing back its “Best In Show” contest, so get those costumes and totems ready and don’t forget to purchase your ticket to the 21-and-over event here before it’s too late.

Getting excited for all the festivities? Make sure to check out our coverage from last year’s Dirtybird BBQ in SF here.

Dirtybird BBQ 2017

Dirtybird BBQ bumps the bass on Treasure Island

Dirtybird BBQ 2016Photos by Lisette Worster // Written by EJ Bernardo //

Dirtybird BBQ //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
August 13th, 2016 //

It was that time of the year again last weekend as BBQ season was in full effect on Treasure Island — and it definitely got dirty.

A tradition for SF’s native DJ’s since 2002, the Dirtybird BBQ never fails to deliver. Venturing to the east side of the island where the event was being held proved to be quite a trek for those who drove, as only Lyft and Uber drivers were allowed to drop off passengers directly in front. With this venue well-known for hosting the annual Treasure Island Music Festival, it was a bit of a homecoming of sorts for the legendary BBQ party.

The crowd, meanwhile, was diverse to say the least. A crowd full of weirdos. A crowd full of ratchets. A crowd full of hungry mouths and hungry ears. And everyone ate it up!

Slaying on the decks was a cast of Dirtybird All-Stars that included Ardalan, Worthy, Christian Martin, J.Phlip, Claude VonStroke and lastly Justin Martin, who closed out the festivities with hot fire. With no disrespect to the prior performances, the bass really got the crowd bumping during J.Phlip’s set. Some may recall people getting down so low that people were literally on the ground wiggling to the beat. A man was also seen earlier in the day patiently dancing with a large birthday cake that he was ready throw in the air as soon as VonStroke’s track “Make a Cake” came through the speakers. It was a memorable thing to do to get others as dirty as the tunes that were being dropped onstage.

Dirtybird BBQ 2016 - Claude VonStroke


Claude VonStroke

As Justin Martin finished up a day full of music, the sun slowly faded in and out behind the evening fog. The Dirtybird co-founder’s signature style, which mixes trap beats with more traditional house music, brought the crowd closer together for warmth as well as an epic dance experience.

Being that this was the second year attendees couldn’t bring their own coolers filled with booze into the venue, there were plenty of food and beverage options to satisfy the masses. And though the lines may have been a bit long as expected, they were organized enough to keep things moving along at a decent pace. Plus, the ability to socialize with strangers was something one may not get the chance to do as easily at a club or concert. Whether you were waiting for the ever-crowded porta potties or hitting the jam-packed dance floor, the Dirtybird BBQ once again brought friends and family together.

Along with the familiar sounds from the Dirtybird crew, this year’s BBQ took on the theme of a county fair with old-fashioned activities that included ring tosses, balloon tossing and various opportunities to score a blue ribbon. As many did their best to occupy their inner child for the day, the continuous bump of the bass kept the crowd’s energy level high.

On the whole, the party consisted of reuniting with familiar faces, connecting with new souls, booty shaking to bass music, cake dodging, reminiscing with Jesus Christ in the flesh and the constant search for the lost pink-haired princess named Olive.

CRSSD kicks off festival season on the West Coast

CRSSD Festival 2016Photos by Felicia Garcia, Skyler Greene, Glenn Silva & Gabe Tiano // Written by Josh Herwitt //

CRSSD Festival //
Waterfront Park – San Diego
March 5th-6th, 2016 //

This past weekend officially signaled the beginning of festival season as several major music festivals across the country hit the ground running, including both Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival and AURA Music Festival in Florida.

Out here on the West Coast, CRSSD Festival returned to San Diego’s picturesque Waterfront Park, serving as the perfect warm-up for Coachella with the renowned desert festival only six weeks away. CRSSD, which was started by Southern California promoters FNGRS CRSSD and Goldenvoice last March, originally presented itself as an indie-electronic music festival with Empire of the Sun and Chromeo leading the way as headliners (read our review here). But last October for its second edition, CRSSD turned its attention toward more rock-centric acts like The Flaming Lips and TV on the Radio for top billing while targeting a number of electropop bands, including St. Lucia, AlunaGeorge and Big Data, to also play over two days.

Boasting a more electronic-focused lineup this spring, CRSSD welcomed back Seattle duo ODESZA, who climbed to headliner status in leading a Saturday bill that featured sets from Cirez D (aka Eric Prydz), Gesaffelstein, John Hopkins, Ryan Hemsworth, Ben UFO, Poolside and Damian Lazarus. While 2016 marked the second straight year that Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight performed on the festival’s main stage, Sunday’s card saw two sets (DJ and live) from North London garage duo Gorgon City as well as the CRSSD debuts of Claude Von Stroke, Hi-Lo, Tycho and headliner Chet Faker. After returning to its indie-electronic roots for this latest installment, it will be interesting to see if CRSSD continues down the same path it’s on after two sold-out days or once again tries to bring more rock-based bands into the fold.

CRSSD shares second phase of Spring 2016 lineup

CRSSD Festival Spring 2016 lineup

CRSSD Festival //
Waterfront Park – San Diego
March 5th-6th, 2016 //

After releasing the first phase of its 2016 lineup in late December, CRSSD Festival in San Diego has added the remaining artists to the bill.

Among the new artist additions for CRSSD are Swedish DJ/producer Eric Prydz (aka Cirez D, one of his two stage names that the festival refers to him as), English electronic music duo Bondax, London-based house/techno DJ Damian Lazarus, English producer/musician Jon Hopkins, Swiss techno/house duo Adriatique, Canadian DJ/producer Ryan Hemsworth and Los Angeles “Daytime Disco” duo Poolside. Other acts named as part of the festival’s Phase II lineup include Tom Trago, Lane 8, Walker & Royce, Kidnap Kid and REZZ.

CRSSD Festival 2016 - Phase II lineup

CRSSD made a big splash in its debut last spring and followed it up with another go-around this past October. Now, it will return to Waterfront Park this March for its third edition with a lineup that leans even more heavily toward electronic music than before.

Check out the poster above for the entire Phase II lineup. The 21-and-over event has GA tickets available here for $135 before increasing to $145 and then $155.

CRSSD shares first phase of Spring 2016 lineup

CRSSD Festival Spring 2016

CRSSD Festival //
Waterfront Park – San Diego
March 5th-6th, 2016 //

CRSSD Festival in San Diego made a big splash in its debut last spring and followed it up with another go-around at Waterfront Park this past October.

Now, the two-day, electronic-leaning music festival put on by promoters Goldenvoice and FNGRS CRSSD will return this March for its third edition after announcing its initial lineup, which includes ODESZA and Chet Faker as headliners along with Gorgon City (Live and DJ set), Tycho, Gesaffelstein (DJ set), Hi-Lo, Jamie Jones, Claude VonStroke and many more.

CRSSD Festival - Spring 2016 lineup

Check out the poster above for the rest of the lineup. The 21-and-over event has advanced tickets available here for $125 before increasing to $135 during the general sale.

WIN TICKETS: Pete Tong at Public Works 5/2 (FRI)

Pete-Tong_post

Pete Tong with Tim Green, Ardalan //
Public Works – San Francisco
May 2nd, 2014 //

The legendary Pete Tong is coming to town and you need to see him at Public Works. You may know him from putting in over twenty years at BBC Radio 1 where he hosts “The Pete Tong Show”, and “The Essential Mix Show”, which has helped to jump start the career of many amazing producers and DJs. You may know him from his most recent three new compilations, which were mixed alongside Riva Starr, Booka Shade, and Felix Da Housecat. You may know him as part of the history of acid house and electronic dance music. Maybe you know him from his Ibizian residency, headlining festivals, or music production. However you know him, make sure your Friday night is a legendary dance party by going to see Pete Tong at Public Works. Tong will be joined by Tim Green (Cocoon), Ardalan (Dirtybird), and more, plus visuals by allofitnow. -KRYSTAL BEEZ

Buy tickets if you want to go!


Win-2-Tickets

Enter to win if you can attend this show Friday, May 2nd at Public Works in San Francisco.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Friday, May 2nd at Noon. Winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private – we will share your email with no one. 21+ Only

CONTEST CLOSED

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