Albums | Cascade Equinox Festival unveils multi-genre initial lineup for its second edition
Posted by VMan on April 23, 2024
Building upon the triumph of its debut edition in 2023, seasoned event organizers Gem & Jam and 4 Peaks Presents have just announced the eagerly anticipated lineup of Cascade Equinox‘s 2024 edition. Set amidst the tranquil landscapes of the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon, the cross-genre festival will once again captivate attendees from Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22, 2024.
Cascade Equinox has revealed a remarkable initial lineup for its sophomore year, showcasing a diverse array of acts that mirror both the vibrant community and stunning surroundings of the festival’s Central Oregon location. With a mission to connect with music lovers from all walks of life, the event seamlessly blends jam, electronic, funk, soul, and bluegrass genres, promising a rich and varied musical experience.
Earlier this month, the festival began to release a wide array of headliners via social media, starting with French trailblazer CloZee, and continuing with additional headliners such as fan-favorite psychedelic band STS9, UK dance duo Jungle, electronic musician and YouTuber Marc Rebillet, Wakaan label boss Liquid Stranger, and Portland-based musicians John Craigie & The Shook Twins.
Now, the festival reveals a handful of exciting support acts including hip-hop supergroup Deltron3030, alternative pop music duo NEIL FRANCES, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Poolside, genre-melding bass maestro Barclay Crenshaw, versatile electro-soul artist Daily Bread, electro-twang outfit Dirtwire, electro-funk duo The Floozies, folk-infused bluegrass quartet Kitchen Dwellers, and Denver-based jamtronica trio SunSquabi. Additional acts gracing the Cascade Equinox lineup are experimental bass producer Ravenscoon, Los Angeles-based house act Justin Jay, American hip-hop virtuoso Sol, funk five-piece The Motet, and queer DJ and rapper Wreckno.
Cascade Equinox will also welcome additional support acts including Assembly of Dust, Cliche, Cytrus, Dizgo, Free Creatures, Goodnight Texas, Goopsteppa, Häana, High Step Society, Karina Rykman, Late Night Radio, Living Roots, Noetik the Alchemist, Madeline Hawthorne, parkbreezy, Ryan Montbleau Band, Spunj, Sugarbeats, Talking Dead, Willdabeast, Wolfchild, Zach Darling, Billy & The Box Kid, Blackstrap Bluegrass, Call Down Thunder, DJPK, Feathered Indians, Fractal, Gonzofuze, Heaven Zest, Joel Chadd, Leadbetter Band, Majitope, Smokestack Lightning, Quattelbaum, Skillethead, Smokovich, Stealhead, Sunsei, Takimba, TEB, The Flying Skulls, The Hasbens, Tony Inorbit, and Tyler Spencer.
The first-ever Cascade Equinox boasted more than 50 acts that spanned the genre spectrum, such as Pretty Lights (marking his first music festival after his 5-year hiatus), Big Wild, Goose, Phantogram, Trevor Hall & The Great In Between, Of The Trees, Emancipator, and many more.
In a show of unity with its local community, Cascade Equinox is teaming up with the Pacific Northwest’s renowned Summer Meltdown Festival, in an exciting grassroots collaboration known as the “Melty Migration.” Following a hiatus in 2023 to secure a new venue, both festivals have decided to join forces to create an even more spectacular experience that will be showcased at Cascade Equinox.
The festival is gearing up for an even bigger second year with a wide variety of experiential programming and activations throughout the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, in addition to its star-studded lineup.
Cascade Equinox Festival will offer a bevy of activities and programming, including a vendor marketplace, workshops, kids zones, a roller rink, carnival rides, culinary commons, a healing sanctuary, yoga, beer and wine tastings, interactive art installations and live art. It will also have wellness experiences such as the Oasis Bath House that includes luxurious boutique showers, and options for enjoying a sauna and cold plunge.
Deschutes County Fairgrounds is the Pacific Northwest’s premier event facility and venue. With sweeping panoramic views of snow-capped mountain peaks, trees, and a creek running through its 340-acre space, Cascade Equinox promises a vast, naturalistic music festival unlike any other.
The festival will offer various camping options, including glamping in the Alpenglow Campground. The centrally-located, boutique campground is just a stone’s throw away from the festival’s epicenter, making it the perfect basecamp for festival-goers who want to immerse themselves in the excitement while also enjoying the comfort and convenience of premium accommodations.
The Alpenglow Campground will offer amenities such as sponsor-activated happy hours, phone charging stations, yard games, dressing room and private areas to get ready, a lounge with music, premium bathrooms, concierge services, a separate private check-in, and a premium parking pass for one vehicle. This campground area will be fenced off with security guards and will have a prime location on grass.
Cascade Equinox Festival will also offer Expo Center RV Park for RV hookups, as well as areas for dry RVs, car camping, walk-in camping, and basic camping packages. All onsite accommodation packages, as well as off-site hotel packages, are available here.
Attendees who have already bought a 3-Day GA pass to the festival have the opportunity to purchase the The Inner Circle upgrade ($249 per person), which will give VIP access to:
- Express check-in at the box office
- Inner Circle parking on festival grounds
- Express entry into the festival, with dedicated Inner Circle – only entrances
- Full time hosts in lounges
- Beautiful lounge area with comfortable seating & shade
- Complimentary snacks and beverages in the lounges
- A designated viewing area at the main stage, with unobstructed views of the performers
- Inner Circle Private Bars in viewing areas and lounge
- Pop-up experiences
- Access to private restrooms
- A gift bag with festival merchandise and other surprises
- Phone charging stations
Cascade Equinox aims to redefine the festival experience, seamlessly merging tradition with innovation. With a commitment to inclusivity and dynamism, this pioneering event caters to the diverse tastes and evolving expectations of its attendees. The festival is driven to showcase the best of the Pacific Northwest region by featuring local artists, food and craft vendors, performers, and more. Going beyond the usual crowd, it seeks to connect with individuals who share its mission, inviting them to be part of an extraordinary and transformative celebration for their second annual edition.
Early Bird GA passes for Cascade Equinox are now sold out. Additional ticketing tiers and payment plans are currently available for all festival passes via https://cascadeequinox.com/tickets/
Albums | ZUSO drops new single “Crystal Lights”
Posted by VMan on April 20, 2024
Australian producer Gabriel Cuenca aka ZUSO returns on the scene with his new single “Crystal Lights” that infuses elements of both progressive house and drum n bass. Read a quote from him on the release below now and listen to the track above!
“‘Crystal Lights’ was an idea that came about pretty naturally. I wrote the song pretty quickly andfeel it represents the ZUSO sound quite well. I actually took a bit of inspiration from one of my past ep’s ‘Lost In Time’ with this one and wanted to bring those feelings of escapism and vivid imagery back. It’s definitely a song you can get lost in and let go of all worries too, and I hope it has the same effect for everyone who listens.”~ ZUSO
Albums | Zel? Shares New Single “PULL UP!”
Posted by VMan on April 20, 2024
Maryland-based recording artist Zel? continues to make waves in the music industry with his latest release, “PULL UP!” The up-and-coming artist, known for his infectious tunes and relatable narratives, brings forth a dynamic fusion of alternative hip-hop with a hint of rage, featuring UK rapper Len.
Zel? has crafted a distinctive sound that resonates with audiences on a profound level. His meticulous attention to detail in beats and music production ensures a captivating experience for listeners, regardless of their musical preferences. Zel? effortlessly traverses multiple genres, including hip-hop, indie rock, R&B, punk and pop, all while maintaining a cohesive brand identity.
“PULL UP!” is a high-energy anthem fuelled by guitar loops, 808s and synths, designed to incite exhilaration and excitement in its listeners. Collaborating with Len, Zel? delivers a track that is bound to captivate audiences worldwide.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind “PULL UP!”, Zel? shares, “It means time to syke out, have fun to an extent of really letting go. This is music for shows. I had spoken to Len about him getting on a song for my album, but timing didn’t match up. It ended up getting done after that, where I wanted something hard-hitting, attention-grabbing, something crowds could go crazy to and chant, and that’s the motivation behind it.”
Albums | Kaelin Ellis taps in with TOBi & Anomalie on new track “Celebration”
Posted by VMan on April 19, 2024
One of the more mellow songs I’ve heard in the past week. Florida based multi-instrumentalist and producer Kaelin Ellis taps in with Juno-winning Canadian rapper/singer TOBi and pianist Anomalie for “Celebration”. The song feels like one big win, and I hope it gets the success it deserves which than makes us all the real champions and alludes to more music by the trio!
Albums | PRYZMS Returns To FUXWITHIT With Massive Trap Anthem “OG”
Posted by VMan on April 18, 2024
“OG” is some of PRYZMS’ best work to date, mixing OG trap influences with forward-thinking bass for an incredible anthem. If you are in to the mood for a high energy banger, look no further! This one is super hype.
Albums | helloworld Unveils Captivating Music Video for “Heartpiece”
Posted by VMan on April 18, 2024
LA-based singer-songwriter helloworld debuted “Heartpiece” and its accompanying music video by Stumbling Productions, and it’s quite the treat. With a penchant for blending forward-thinking pop and 8-bit instrumentation, helloworld’s sound is best described as future nostalgia. In his first single of the calendar year, “Heartpiece” sees the creative wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“Lyrically, the song came together so easily,” explained helloworld. “We loved the idea of taking inspiration from Tears of the Kingdom and Legend of Zelda – where Link is constantly looking for Zelda to save her, comparing it to something that is totally unattainable that we all try to find in our own lives. For me, it was ‘the perfect girl’ or fame, money. I wanted to shape this song to be a ballad about constantly looking for this thing in the sky that you can’t reach, and you know you can’t reach it, but you find yourself waking up every day, treading oceans and climbing mountains for it. Something that doesn’t exist. Perfect doesn’t exist. This, to me, is the beginning of a journey – the start of a quest.”
Watch the “Heartpiece” music video below and check out the track on Spotify here.
Albums | Arizona-based band Big Yard returns with new single “State of Mind”
Posted by VMan on April 17, 2024
In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary music, finding a sound that seamlessly melds the past with the present is a rare gem. Enter Big Yard, a collective born from the union of seasoned producers and a veteran singer-songwriter, who are rewriting the rules of genre with their latest release, ‘State of Mind’.
Following their debut single ‘Proof’, which introduced audiences to Big Yard’s fresh take on country rock ‘n’ roll, the Arizona-based outfit returns with ‘State of Mind’, a sultry jazz-pop number that oozes sophistication and charm. Led by the incomparable Darryl Scotti, whose storied career includes stints with legends like Ray Charles and Billy Joe Royal, Big Yard transports listeners to a bygone era with this latest offering.