Gryffin Leads San Francisco into the New Year in Style

Gryffin returned to his hometown of San Francisco to throw down another epic set at Eye Heart NYE.

Dance music icon Gryffin is currently sitting at the top of the dance music industry thanks to an extensive catalog of unforgettable records and live performances like no other. 2024 treated the artist well with the release of his third studio album, PULSE, followed by a North American tour of the same name and sets at EDC Las Vegas, Coachella, Tomorrowland, and more.

Even after a massive year filled with touring and an album release, Gryffin made the time to return to his hometown of San Francisco to close out the year and kick off 2025 in style at Eye Heart NYE. The event was thrown in collaboration with EyeHeart and Northern Nights Music Festival. This event has been around for 16 years and is regarded as one of the best NYE events in town, which caught my eye as a relatively new resident of the Bay Area.

Massive headliners such as Steve Aoki, A-Trak, Galantis, and more have graced Eye Heart NYE in the past, and this year had no shortage of star power thanks to Gryffin. After catching him play a surprise set at Coachella, I was curious to see him in a headline slot. Before I knew it, it was New Year’s Eve, and I was in line to experience an artist I wouldn’t typically seek out on my own at a venue I’d never been to before.

Upon entry, ravers were immediately thrown into an immersive atmosphere backed by great tracks.

I took some time to explore the venue, which didn’t take long given that it was a one-off event. A massive pavilion area hosted the 360-degree stage, and a tent outside was home to the silent disco where three DJs on different channels threw down at the same time. The venue also included some fun installations like an NYE photo station.

There were plenty of bars with short waits. The open bar didn’t come with any real catch, either, and there wasn’t a drink limit (unless you overdid it, of course). What surprised me was that the VIP bar lines got especially crowded about 30 minutes before Gryffin came on. Needless to say, I spent the rest of my time in the GA section, which is where the real party was anyway.

As expected, Gryffin threw down an epic set that made for the perfect entry into 2025.

When it came time for Gryffin, I was unsure of what was coming. I’ve always known his music to be very melodic and mellow. I saw him at Coachella earlier in 2024 where he brought the heat, but I didn’t know if that was due to the circumstance of being a surprise guest. I wasn’t sure what his headline show would consist of, but I had no reason to worry.

Gryffin immediately hooked fans with some of his biggest hits while surprising them with the occasional heavy bass track. He cranked up the energy at points with some electro house, bass house, and more. He rang in the New Year with a nice edit of “Woke Up In Love,” which made for a wholesome entry into 2025.

After reflecting on the event, I realized that it wasn’t catered to diehard dance music fans, and that’s completely okay.

Sure, a huge EDM headliner arrived. Of course, proud fans showed up to support him. The majority of this crowd was nonetheless made up by people who were simply looking for a great NYE party. Admittedly, the price of this event initially turned me off as GA tickets started at a whopping $200+. I couldn’t wrap my head around why a party with Gryffin had such a high entry point.

Then it hit me. This event isn’t a normal rave or dance music show. It’s a New Year’s Eve experience tailored to casual people who want a fun night out guaranteed. It’s an open bar event filled with DJs who play digestible, sometimes cheesy, singalong dance music alongside one main headliner who can draw a crowd and throw a party.

Ultimately, I believe that if you’re a dance music fan looking for a rave, there are hundreds of other events happening in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve that you can attend without breaking the bank. As an experienced raver, it’s hard for me to justify Gryffin of all artists costing as much as seeing your favorite pop star on their stadium tour.

On the other hand, if you’re searching for a guaranteed party where you can make cool social media content and don’t mind dropping some money, Eye Heart NYE is worth checking out. It may seem steep, but you’ll have a great time no matter what as this is an easy, fun, and memorable NYE experience.