Countdown provided an otherworldly experience filled with jaw-dropping production elements and memorable sets for dance music lovers on the final night of 2024.
New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights for electronic music lovers looking to move and groove during the year’s final moments. This jam-packed holiday features a bevy of events that range in size, and one of the largest gatherings in Southern California continues to be Countdown NYE. This alien-fueled experience from Insomniac returned to the NOS Events Center for another round of fun, and it was the perfect way to close out 2024.
While some of my friends opted for Forever Midnight or PROPER NYE/NYD, I made my way back to San Bernardino to experience the magic of Countdown NYE instead. I was drawn in by the dynamic lineup – which featured everything from house and techno to drum and bass and mainstream EDM – and knew the production would whisk me away to another planet. The only twinge of sadness I had was that this year saw Countdown NYE reduce its experience from two days to one, but considering New Year’s Eve was midweek, that decision from Insomniac made sense.
The first aspect of Countdown NYE that stood out was the change in the venue’s layout.
We arrived as early as possible to avoid any entry congestion, and surprisingly, it had been shifted to a different location from last year. That led to other changes throughout the venue with stage placements and more, but none caused any confusion. We arrived as early as possible to avoid any security congestion and catch Clawz’s opening set, and we were inside within minutes of getting into the line.
The newly revamped layout for Countdown NYE made the venue easy to navigate. You could quickly jump between the Mothership, Nebula, and Twilight Zone stages, while the Galactik Gate and Area 51 stages were a bit further out of the way. The placements led to no sound bleed and plenty of space to meander around while inside, which was great because Insomniac packed the rest of the venue full of art installations, arcades, vendors, and the Alien Red Light District.
The “20% larger” Mothership stage felt huge, which was fitting considering the most prominent artists were playing on that stage. Yet outside of that stage, it never felt like Countdown NYE was “too packed.” Perhaps it was due to the chilly temperatures or the fact that New Year’s Eve had other festivals going on throughout Southern California, but it was refreshing not to feel like I was packed in a sardine can throughout the night.
The dynamic range of artists performing at Countdown NYE made for a music discovery lover’s dream.
Clawz kicked off the harder side of the spectrum at the Twilight Zone stage, leading the way for other artists like Carv, GRAVEDGR, Lilly Palmer, and Shlomo later on. I was absolutely delighted by Ghost In Real Life’s set because she brought plenty of drum and bass energy to Area 51, while later sets featured a range of dubstep, midtempo, and more.
Galactik Gate was the place to be for househeads looking to groove it out. The two standouts I caught there were Ky William and Girl Math (VNSSA b2b Nala), who brought different sounds to the festival while keeping the dancefloor moving. Sadly I only experienced one set at the stunning Nebula stage, which was Zeds Dead’s closing performance, but others on the EDM Identity team had the time of their lives dancing away to Joyryde, Jauz, and others.
Where I spent most of my time was The Mothership.
The run of W&W into Chris Lake, and then Knock2 into Zedd, was impossible for me to miss. Knock2, who replaced Alesso, brought pure energy to the stage and had the crowd wrapped around his finger for every drop. Zedd took the reins after him to help guide everyone into the early moments of 2025, and it was incredible to hear everyone belting out the lyrics to his biggest hits like “Clarity” and more.
The best part of Countdown NYE was the alien theme.
I almost wish Insomniac had chosen a different, perhaps warmer, festival for the alien theme because I love it so much. Alien performers ran amok throughout the grounds at stages, by the Lunar Lagoon, or on Warp Drive and Abduction Alley. Other themed areas like the Alien Landing Zone, Launch Pad, Black Hole Bazaar, Earth Arcade, and more provided additional immersion to Countdown NYE. My favorite of them all was the Alien Red Light District, a cosmic strip club that featured its own DJs, a bar with little to no line, and, of course, alien exotic dancers who tantalized those inside.
If you want to end your year with an otherworldly trip this year, mark this festival on your list.
Countdown NYE is a polished experience from Insomniac that I highly recommend checking out for yourself. If you like to bounce between stages, not bump shoulders in a packed space, and have more than just music to explore as the hours tick away until the new year, this is the festival for you. I had a great time dancing with the aliens at this year’s edition, and I can’t wait to see what Insomniac and their extraterrestrial friends bring along with them to close out 2025.
