Cover photo credits: Christopher Lazzaro
This past weekend, Insomniac’s Moonrise Festival returned to the Baltimore Pimlico Race Course for its 8th edition. The festival took place on 8/12-8/13 and featured more than 50 artists, with major headliners including Excision, Above and Beyond, John Summit, Kaskade Redux, Louis the Child, Slander, and many more.
The Experience
Every year, there is always a question on whether or not it will rain prior to the festival or during, which leads to the race course being extremely muddy. Luckily, mother nature shined upon the ravers as the weather was sunny and warm, with blue skies hovering above our heads all weekend long.
This year featured the Stellar, Lunar, Satellite, and Solar stage where an eclectic mix of dance music including bass, dubstep, trance, house and electronica were thrown down all weeklong long. Stellar Stage and Lunar stage always look great and fit in with the theme and design, boasting impressive displays of CO2, pyrotechnics, and lasers, While the Solar tent stage is always the place to get rowdy under the shaded tent during peak sun hours. Like every year, there is always plenty of art installations where you can capture cool photo ops with astronauts and moons with your friends.
Day 1 featured a very impressive and diverse lineup at the Stellar stage with a mix of trance from Cosmic Gate and Above & Beyond. ARMNHMR provided a mix of dubstep, house, and melodic bass, and Big Gigantic provided a mix of dubstep infused with their soulful saxophone sounds. Earlier on in the day, headbangers would rejoice at the Solar Tent with ISOXO, and special B2Bs from Getter & Space Laces and Riot Ten with Jessica Audiffred. Lunar Stage was also headbanger central with Kai Wachi, Zomboy, Ganja White Knight and a special B2B from Sullivan King and Wooli.
Day 2 was just as spectacular with highlight sets from Sam Feldt, Alan Walker, Elephante, and Alok who threw in a great mix of progressive house at Stellar. Rising newcomer Ray Volpe threw down a massive set at Solar Stage where tons of people headbanged and got rowdy with mosh pits. To close out the Solar Stage, thousands got to watch Kaskade play his special redux set. And meanwhile, Slander closed out the lunar stage with an endless display of pyrotechnics and a grand finale of fireworks. The energy was on another level here with everyone screaming and headbanging in unison.
As the final beats echoed through the festival grounds, attendees departed Moonrise Festival 2023 with hearts full of memories and spirits lifted by the weekend of memories and magical moments made with strangers, friends, and new friends. Another job well done from the organizers to hold another successful year of Moonrise. Until next time!
