Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, and 1991 offer fans a behind-the-scenes look into their mission to bring drum and bass into mainstream popularity in the States.
Drum and bass has become more widely popular in the US recently, but for years, many American ravers overlooked the 174bpm genre in favor of other forms of bass music. Although DnB has been deeply ingrained in the fabric of the rave culture of places like the UK and Australia, DnB struggled to find its footing in the States, often being relegated to intimate club venues.
All that has changed within the last couple of years, with DnB and non-DnB producers, along with promoters alike, pushing the genre into prominence in America. Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, and 1991, who form the DnB collective WORSHIP, are four who have been at the forefront of this movement.
WORSHIP’s 2024 North American tour drew in 24,000 attendees across eight major cities, packing out venues and captivating audiences with their electrifying sets. The foursome headlined Electric Forest this past June, and in 2024, they brought their b4b to EDC Las Vegas and made history as the first drum and bass act to play EDC Orlando‘s mainstage. Now, the WORSHIP boys are set to be the first drum and bass artists to ever headline Red Rocks this fall.
When WORSHIP embarked on their North American tour last year, they had one mission: to bring positive recognition of the genre to the States. It is safe to say that they have succeeded, and to celebrate the direction DnB has taken in the States, WORSHIP released their brand new documentary WORSHIP: MISSION AMERICA, which premiered on YouTube on August 22.
The 39-minute documentary, directed by Sam Taplin and Bailey Hyatt, offers fans an intimate look behind the scenes of their groundbreaking tour. The documentary is a raw and honest accounting of the supergroup’s trek across San Jose, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Miami, Toronto, Denver, and Los Angeles in March 2024, and is a testament to the genre’s explosive growth in the US.
The documentary opens and ends with their legendary performance at EDC Orlando before taking viewers on a chronological journey through their three-week run of North American shows. It presents the highs and lows of tour life, from the adrenaline rush of walking onstage to massive crowds who are singing their songs to mid-tour exhaustion and the stress that comes with an unexpected storm threatening their solo Ultra Miami appearances. It strikes the perfect balance between showcasing the exciting energy of each tour stop with candid glimpses of risk and anxiety behind such an ambitious push to bring DnB stateside.
Anyone who attended the WORSHIP North American tour can attest to how special this tour was. From the energy of the crowds to the moment it became clear that drum and bass had really broken through in the States, the experience felt like witnessing music history in the making. Whether you want to reminisce about the tour or are curious about the massive DnB movement in the US, it is a documentary worth watching.
Want to relive the magic of WORSHIP? Tickets for WORSHIP Rocks are officially sold out, although tickets remain for the WORSHIP after party at Mission Ballroom on October 30. There is still a chance to catch Sub Focus or Dimension individually, with Sub Focus bringing his Circular Sound live show to Los Angeles and New York this October, while Dimension is hitting eight North American cities throughout the rest of the year.
Watch WORSHIP: MISSION AMERICA – Official Documentary on YouTube:
Follow WORSHIP:
Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | SoundCloud
