Last week, we attended Moonrise Festival and we have to say it was probably the best year yet. We have covered this festival the past 5 years but something about this year’s improvements just made it stand out to us compared to previous years. It may have been the enlarged Solar Tent that always features the best bass music or maybe it was the ridiculously stacked lineup but we can honestly say, Moonrise Festival keeps their promise when they say they are always making major improvements to top previous experiences.
Breaking It All Down
Weather: I figured talking about the AMAZING weather would be a good place to start. For the past four years, we’ve been cursed with muddy outfits and rain cancellations – but not this year! The Moon gods must have heard our prayers and blessed the weekend with sunshine. It might have been hot during the day but the sun beaming down on us did not bother us one bit. When it came to night time, it cooled down for a comfortable party experience.
Marketing: Moonrise does a good job in terms of offering contests to win free tickets or meet and greets with artists. For fans who complain about money being an issue, the fest does want everyone to be there as seen from the numerous ticket giveaways. One of the meet and greets in particular was with San Holo. Select winners were offered a chance to have boba with him. How unique is that?
Food: Often times, festival food tastes pretty awful. The worst part is that there’s nothing we can do about it if we’re hungry from hours of dancing. What surprised me about the festival was how many different types of food trucks there were. There were a ton of options to select from whether it be scrumptious burgers to heat-chilling desserts.
Water: I know getting camelbaks and water bottles refilled with water can be quite annoying at some festivals. Luckily, Moonrise had four water stations situated throughout the grounds. Each station was very organized and attendees lined up single file in an orderly fashion. I don’t think i ever waited more than 10-15 minutes for a water refill. There were also plenty of stations to buy water so it was never an issue to stay hydrated.
Star Team: I honestly do not know of any festival with such a dedicated volunteer team. They were all over the grounds cleaning up trash and helping people out with any questions. They were all super friendly to communicate with and were looking out for everyone’s safety. The crew would also walk around spraying people with water and handing out free water. I also remember seeing them keeping people fresh by offering free deodorant.
VIP: If it comes to attending festivals in the most comfortable manner, then VIP is probably for you. The VIP areas situated throughout the festival featured an elevated viewing deck as well as fully stocked, premium bars. It was very spacious throughout the weekend and allowed for the best viewing experience of each stage. VIP ticket holders also had access to premium restrooms that were clean and provided air conditioning.
Production: Seeing how Moonrise is not a mainstream festival like Ultra or EDC, they really set the bar high for themselves. Every year their production gets better and better. The main highlight of this year’s edition would definitely be the solar tent. It saw a 60% size improvement compared to last years since we’ve seen the tent overly packed in the past. Everyone was bouncing and headbanging their hearts out throughout the two days. In addition to upgraded lights, they also brought out CO2 cannons to add on to the festivities.
Crowd Vibes:Â The crowd vibe at Moonrise is always amazing. Sure there are always some bros, but that is to be expected. People travel from all across the country to party and have fun. It would honestly be extremely hard to not make a few friends from the weekend. People are generally all smiles and don’t hesitate to give you a high five or fist bump as you maneuver through the crowd. I personally did not see many people shoving others to get the crowd which is always a plus.
The first day of the festival featured some of the biggest acts in the industry but they were mindful and provided a little of everything to ensure everyone was satisfied. Hip-hop fans got to see Desiigner. Trap music fans were blessed by Party Favor and Yellow Claw, and if you wanted to headbang, ILLENIUM and Gud Vibrations never disappoint. Illenium closed off the mainstage with his usual head cranking bangers and even debuted a few tracks off his brand new album such as ‘Gorgeous’. Alan Walker also took the stage Saturday night and had attendees pack up the Stellar Stage like no one else. Playing his anthems like ‘Faded’, the crowd was in unity when they sang to the iconic track. Sunday saw a few bumps along the road due to unforeseen cancellations by Seven Lions and R3HAB, but that definitely didn’t get in the way of all the other impressive talents. One highlight in particular was a mindblowing B8B. Yes, that is eight DJs going off on stage together! Wooli x Brondo x Calcium x Hekler x Mastadon x Decadon x Vampa x Whipped Cream threw down an insane set in place for Seven Lions. Huge props to the Moonrise team to be able to organize something for the fans on such short notice. Meanwhile, San Holo, KSHMR, and Tiesto were the main stars of Sunday’s lineup for EDM fans where as 21 Savage performed to a delighted hip-hop crowd. Tiesto closed out the weekend of festivities the only way he knows how and that’s by throwing down banger after banger to make sure everyone went home happy.
In summary, Steez Promo and Club Glow delivered another successful Moonrise. Their dedication towards the festival truly shows as it gets better year after year. They actually listen to people’s feedback on the fest with an open mind and take it in as ways to improve the festival. We at EDMTunes honestly can’t wait for next year’s edition of Moonrise and to see how it’s even better. With all that being said, see you next year Moonfam!
