Author: Ricardo Arriaga

Posted: Apr 11, 2025

The CRSSD Festival hit a milestone—10 years in San Diego. The Waterfront Park is a splendid sight with the ocean breeze, palm trees, and delightful festival goers. It was the perfect backdrop for a weekend of house, techno and live musicians.

From the music to the vibes, and like a charm, it was another CRSSD Fest to remember.

SATURDAY: Energy, Legends & the Dynamic D.A.N.C.E Duo

Saturday I kicked it off at The Palms stage with a DJ set from Villager, a new DJ project from Alex Young. His set was a mix of different electronic styles and rap beats, and it got the crowd moving early on.

Over at the Ocean View Stage, Joy (Anonymous), a London-based duo, brought an uplifting, rave-inspired energy. The crowd was loving it, the atmosphere felt super friendly and inclusive. A real Joy indeed.

Then it was time for A-Trak b2b Melé at The Palms. The Canadian DJ legend A-Trak showed off his turntable skills while Melé added in his signature house beats. The combination was blissful and the dance floor was feeling it.

Back to Ocean View, Braxe + Falcon b2b Busy P kept the vibe fun and funky. Busy P, the legend who managed Daft Punk and the Ed Banger label signing Justice, brought his mix of hip-hop electro nostalgia. They kept the crowd energized and hopeful. I just learned Braxe was a member of Stardust alongside Benjamin Diamond and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter. The French invasion was at this festival in full gear.

Next up at The Palms was a DJ set from Cassius, who brought that classic French touch. Even though Zdar is with us in spirit, Bombass’ set still hits hard with that iconic groove. Busy P joined them on stage for a special cameo and added his French touch.

SG Lewis kept it going with his smooth mix of house and disco at The Palms. His style made the perfect transition into the evening sunset. Couldn’t have picked a better artist for that time slot.

Jungle (DJ Set) was up next at Ocean View, Josh and Lydia brought their love for neo-soul and funk with electronic beats. They created an energetic and soul-stirring dance floor. It felt fresh, fun, and easy to get lost in. Aiming to catch their live band performance next in the near future.

But then came Justice. Wow. The air buzzed with an atmosphere that you can actually feel. As soon as Genesis dropped, the crowd went wild. The iconic cross behind the duo beamed upwards and so began their slick mash up set list of their own catalogue. But one song notably woke up the entire city of San Diego “Stress”. The hellish red lighting was circling the skies and their mix was pushing to a higher frequency from the studio version. Cannot stress this enough, the lighting setup must be included in the entry for the eighth new wonder of the world, it was a force to behold. 

The rigs moved and altered shapes throughout their set, perfectly syncing with their progression. Honestly, it was one of the most exciting sets I’ve ever seen. CRSSD went above and beyond to deliver this to the Ocean View Stage. Worth all the trouble for this set, I extend my highest praise to the Justice crew.

SUNDAY: Sunshine, Big Beats, a Rain Break & Stadium Pulse

Sunday kicked off with Poolside at Ocean View, and their chillwave vibes were just what the crowd needed to start the day. Their smooth beats were perfect for the sunny, laid-back atmosphere. This was the first performance back since co-founder Jeffrey Paradise lost their home and gear during the L.A fires in Altadena. His hometown delivered a warm welcome and Jeffrey shared the praise with the band and the people responsible for donating new gear.

Hayden James followed up with a set of dreamy pop-house tracks that hit all the right notes. His emotional music made everyone feel connected to the moment. The crowd was receptive and vibrant for this set as I got to dance with the people in my surroundings and get to know them. They were happy enough to let me take their picture and capture their excitement.

Then, I checked out ARTBAT at City Steps—a spot I hadn’t visited much all weekend. The Ukrainian duo delivered a deep, punching techno set that had the crowd locked in. They brought intensity and passion, and it was clear they’re still at the top of their game. This is the stage for all your driving techno cravings.

Then came FISHER at Ocean View. Even though it rained right before his set, the rain quickly passed, and he brought the fun back. His energy and huge house sounds had the crowd going crazy like a stadium performance—just like you’d expect from the Australian DJ.

Finally, Kavinsky wrapped things up at The Palms with his signature synthwave sound. It was the perfect way to end the weekend, with retro vibes and plenty of cool energy. His setlist included Justice, Rage Against the Machine, The Who and AC/DC remixes. The people were howling for more until the final howl of the festival, Nightcall ignites and everyone is illuminated within and without.

Overall, this CRSSD 10th Anniversary was one for the books. The crowd was friendly, the weather was fair to San Diego, and the music was refreshing. It truly felt as if the whole weekend was one big celebration of good vibes, great music, and wonderful people.

There were many standout moments, but Justice’s set was especially memorable. The performance left a lasting impression—with the mixing, the tight production team, and the crowd’s energy. It all comes together to create a truly immersive live experience. If Woman Worldwide earned Grammy-level recognition, then their current tour could easily be seen as worthy of the same. It feels tailor-made for a live video production on a cinematic scale.

Happy 10th CRSSD. You made it a weekend to remember.

📸/✍️: Ricardo Arriaga @aurorealis64