Lightning in a Bottle //
Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area – Bakersfield, CA
May 21st-25th, 2025 //
Is it still 2024?
The ball hasn’t dropped quite on a New Year quite yet, but two weeks have already passed since Paul Tollett and his team surprised many of us by revealing next year’s Coachella lineup earlier than usual.
And while the timing of Goldenvoice’s announcement last month makes us think such a change was primarily intended to drive up ticket sales before the holidays arrive rather than after folks have spent their money on gifts for family and friends, another Southern California music festival is following suit.
Lightning in a Bottle, the “transformational” event organized by the Do LaB for more than two decades, has also made its 2025 plans known ahead of schedule and there’s a newcomer at the top of its latest roster whom Rolling Stone named this year’s “hottest name in dance music.”
Coming off a couple of career-defining sets in the Sahara Tent at Coachella this past April, 30-year-old DJ, producer and remixer John Summit will make his LIB debut over Memorial Day weekend alongside some returning acts in Khruangbin, Jamie xx and Four Tet that make up the three remaining headliners booked for the 22nd edition of North America’s original boutique festival.
Beyond that, the undercard delivers its own share of highlights with Subtronics, Underworld, Sammy Virji, Monolink, TroyBoi, The Blessed Madonna, Shygirl (presents Club Shy), Channel Tres, Amaarae, Magdalena Bay, Tinlicker, Hamdi, Tape B, PEEKABOO, Francis Mercier, Sultan + Shepard, Eli & Fur, Salute, Bou, Hybrid Minds, Interplanetary Criminal, Flowdan, Joy Orbison and a lot more talent further down the bill — including the return of Claude VonStroke and a special guest appearance from Jade Cicada that will likely scintillate the senses (you can see what we mean here).
For those seeking more festival fun after Coachella’s two weekends, LIB has always been a great way to get back out there shortly after leaving the desert and it’s worth mentioning that plenty of artists have crossed over to play both. Of course, the Do LaB has made an imprint in Indio for quite some time with its own stage on the polo fields, but its signature event that has called Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area home since 2019 is more than just a laid-back version of what you might experience out in Indio. That’s in part due to the design and production company, which has specialized in creating interactive environments for fans, always giving as much attention to the ideals of sustainability, social cohesion, personal health and creative expression through art, yoga, workshops and speakers as the music that draws the majority of the headlines each year like Skrillex, Labrinth and others did a year ago.
GA passes to LIB 2025 can be purchased here for $435 (three-day) and $475 (five-day), with VIP tickets going for $789 (three-day) and $879 (five-day), beginning this Friday, December 6th at 12 p.m. PT. Car camping and RV passes, group campsites, bed tents, family camp passes and hotel packages are also available, but make sure to register here first to ensure Tier 3 pricing all day (while supplies last) and a chance to win a VIP upgrade. Good luck!
UPDATE (May 1st): As the calendar flips from April to May, daily lineups have been released for LIB 2025 with The Blessed Madonna on the decks Thursday to kick the party off before Four Tet, Sammy Virji and TroyBoi lead Friday’s bill. Saturday will boast a superb trifecta with Khruangbin, Jamie xx and Underworld on the top line, while John Summit, Subtronics and Monolink get ready to close things out on Sunday. See the poster above for more details, and tickets are still available here for the time being.
UPDATE (May 9th): Set times have arrived for LIB 2025 with less than two weeks to go before the fest begins. The music bumps until 4 a.m. on Thursday-Sunday — and even until 2 a.m. on Wednesday — so make sure to pace yourself and conserve some energy for a long weekend of fun! See more details above, and tickets are still available here!
