Photo by Gabe Tiano
The sun, the sound, the craft beers! CRSSD Festival returned to Waterfront Park in San Diego on March 5-6 for the Spring edition of their 2-day, 21+ techno-heavy music festival, and it was a great way to start the season off.
I arrived a bit late on Saturday, caught a couple sets, and met some great people. I could see the main stage clearing out and everyone was taking their place on the rails. ODEZSA was about to take the stage. This, surprisingly, was the first time I had seen them live, and now I see what all the hype is about. They absolutely crushed a live set, even integrating some brass instruments later in the set.
Photo by Gabe Tiano
While the lineup was amazing, I was expecting more of a mainstream EDC or Ultra crowd. I was wrong. The crowd was there for the music. CRSSD Festival was geared towards the music, a vibe I am very used to. The stages and production value were very well done, simple, but obviously not made to overshadow the artists on stage. With a lineup that stacked, it’s no surprise that music is the main focus of this festival. There isn’t too much to do, not a lot of art to see– this festival is about the music, which is actually a nice change of pace. It felt like I was at a really cool, outdoor nightclub all weekend. The main stage featured a wide array of awesome, big-name electronic acts, while the other two stages were stacked to the brim with some of the best house & techno artists in the game. If you like house & techno, CRSSD is like a dream come true. To see these artists on the beautiful San Diego waterfront only enhances the experience.
Photo by Skyler Greene
Where CRSSD went above and beyond was in the beer selection. I think I might have tried every craft beer they had to offer, and they were honestly all amazing. You really don’t see that every day at a festival, where the beer is curated just as well as the music.
Sunday was absolutely packed. It was about a 45-minute wait to have IDs checked and get into the event. Everyone clearly wanted a second round, even if they had been partying until all hours of the night at any one of several official late-night after-parties across San Diego the previous night. The second day of CRSSD was ready to go. I never really checked the schedule but always ended up at great sets. This was obviously because the lineup was so stacked. I was glued in one spot for 3 hours during Skream, Green Velvet, and another Skream set.
Photo by Felicia Garcia
All in all, CRSSD was everything I hoped and more, and an overall great music festival. The focus on music, simple yet effective production, and great crowd make this festival well-worth attending, especially if you’re a house & techno fan.
Photo by Felicia Garcia
Photo by Felicia Garcia
