5 sights and sounds to experience at Moonrise Festival
This year’s Moonrise Festival lineup boasts an eclectically diverse milieu of genres like trance, hardstyle, hip hop, future bass, jazz house and even unique transcendental acts. Past artists such as Kaskade, GTA, ASAP Ferg and Lotus left behind some incredible and unforgettable performances that seem to top each other year after year. As the imagination and artistry of talents like Above & Beyond, Bassnectar, Pierce Fulton, Glitch Mob and Big Gigantic unfold at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland this weekend, here is a multi-sensory guide of sights and sounds you should be sure not to miss.
1. See Bassnectar’s “808” closing set
Date: Saturday, August 8; Stage: Lunar stage at 9:30pm
The basshead demigod is undeniably a force to be reckoned with in the electronic realm as his abstract musical prowess and earth-trembling productions continue to melt minds everywhere. His highly-anticipated Moonrise set on August 8 (hence “808,” referring to the sound of bass from stereos) will be a performance no livestream or Snapchat can do justice, it must be felt live and direct. With his recent album – scratch that – mixtape Into The Sun released about a month ago, here’s hoping Lorin will drop new music from the record (“Chasing Heaven and “Generate” anyone?) as well as his classic remixes of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” and Zion I’s “Human.”
2. Hear Myon & Shane 54’s “Wicked Game”
Date: Sunday, August 9; Stage: Stellar stage at 6pm
Hungarian trance duo Myon & Shane 54 are probably one of the few acts on the lineup whose genre can be a bit more easily defined. After being voted by fans into the ASOT 400 broadcast and subsequently given trance lord Armin van Buuren’s blessing, Mario and Elod have swiftly become in-demand household names with three compilation albums under their belt and countless hits like 2011’s “International Departures” and “Strangers” alongside Seven Lions and Tove Lo. Their current free track release “Wicked Game” was supposed to be released in 2008 but never made the cut until now, and we’re glad it did.
3. Hear Jauz & Ephwurd’s “Rock The Party”
Touted as a major record to be played at Moonrise, expect to hear Jauz and Ephwurd’s supercharged banger “Rock The Party” that is sure to do more than that. Jauz, the Mad Decent master of “future wub,” gained recognition with his remixes of artists like Childish Gambino and Ed Sheeran attracting support from heavyweights Skrillex, Zedd and Diplo. At last weekend’s HARD Summer, the 21-year-old told his fans just one year ago he was just another average kid with a dream standing in the crowd.
4. See Brillz’s Twonk stage at Celestial Garden
Date: Sunday, August 9; Stage: Celestial Garden, all day
Since Brillz’s remix of Kill The Noise’s “Roots” and a follow-up EP alongside Diplo, he’s caused nothing but musical mayhem starting with his bass-heavy iTunes Top 10 album Twonk becoming synonymous with his brand. Described as a celebration of weirdos, for the first time ever the Twonk stage will undoubtedly disturb the peace with acts like Party Favor, NGHTMRE, Alex English and Louis Futon scheduled to perform.
5. See Die Antwoord’s visually-stunning performance
Date: Sunday, August 9; Stage: Lunar stage at 6:30pm
Hailing from Cape Town, South African, experimental rap-rave group Die Antwoord, led by Ninja and Yolandi with DJ Hi-Tek on the decks, bring one hell of a multi-sensory psychedelic experience. With their Mad Max fashion, hyperactive attitude, Yolandi’s distorted baby voice and trippy screen visuals, this performance art trip is a sight to behold. Check out a clip of their performance from Ultra Music Festival Miami in March:
Categories: Music