San Francisco Promoter Bass Vault Reflects on its First Anniversary

Ahead of Bass Vault Weekender, we caught up with Bass Vault to reflect on the outfit’s biggest event yet, their first anniversary, and more!

For years, Southern California has been the US hotspot for hard dance music. A thriving scene propped up by hard dance giant Basscon and kept afloat by tons of underground collectives — such as Hardstyle Arena in the past and Hard Havoc in recent memory — has helped Southern California remain at the top of hard dance music in the States. The sound continues to spread, and the bubble is ready to pop.

One place that has consistently flown under the radar, though, is none other than San Francisco. For years, the Bay Area has produced a plethora of talented artists who are passionate about music and ahead of their time. In recent memory, the Bay Area hard dance scene has been increasing its visibility with the entry of Basscon in San Francisco and current promoters like 2HARD stepping up their game through unique events.

One promoter who recently emerged from the shadows and made a strong statement is none other than Bass Vault. In just one year since its inception, the event brand has helped bring international headliners such as The Purge, Gunz For Hire, Frontliner, Wasted Penguinz, and more to the bustling city of San Francisco. While the headliners are the main event, Bass Vault has also consistently provided a place for local talent to shine at its gathering.

This weekend, Bass Vault is throwing the biggest hard dance event that San Francisco has ever seen with Bass Vault Weekender. Over two days, the city is being treated to mainstage acts like KELTEK, Devin Wild, Audiofreq, and Code Black alongside Bay Area heavyweights like Brizzy, J. Slai, DRO, and NRGetics. Before the madness ensues, we caught up with Bass Vault to discuss everything from their origins, this massive weekender event, the future of the brand, and so much more.

Make sure to snag the final tickets to Bass Vault Weekender on the promoter’s official website, and read on for our full conversation with the minds behind Bass Vault!

Congratulations on the first anniversary of Bass Vault! The brand seemingly came out of nowhere last year, looking to prove itself in the scene. Can you share the story behind Bass Vault’s inception and the team behind it?

We launched Bass Vault after feeling a real shift in SF. The harder styles were pulling in the dubstep crowd, and the city was ready. We had been throwing shows like Acid Rain on Labor Day but decided to pivot into a bass-forward hardstyle vision. We pulled together a small crew: Fazer, Rugby, Damian, and Bon Bon, and we set our sights on the Hibernia Bank Vault.

Our first party literally happened inside a vault, so the Bass Vault name stuck. From there, we focused on leveling up production and lineups, and we’re proud of how far the core team has taken it. Everyone is putting in 110%.

Bass Vault has been bringing stellar lineups to the Bay Area, one after another. Why is it so important for you to set a high bar when it comes to curating hard dance lineups in the Bay Area?

The Bay brings world-class talent every week. To represent hardstyle the right way, we pair international headliners with local standouts so that newcomers get “best of the best” first impressions and locals get true elevation and bigger rooms. It’s about showing the strongest face of hardstyle while building our homegrown scene at the same time.

How does the team gauge fan interest and decide on the next headliner for events?

Simple — we ask. We poll on Instagram, read our DMs, and cross-check with who’s crushing globally. We’re not the ones buying tickets; the community is. Fans guide our targets, and we book what’s actually possible to land.

Speaking of stellar lineups, every event has featured some of the best talent in the Bay Area. For other artists looking to join, can you share more about how you scout local talent?

We attend many hardstyle shows, pay attention to lineups, and listen to mixes that people send. Honestly, one clean transition tells us a lot about their style, control, and fit. Then, we try to meet in person. That connection matters. Skills grow and people evolve, and we like to give promising DJs an opening slot to prove themselves. If someone won’t meet or engage, that usually tells us enough, too.

What can artists do to get on your radar?

Come to hardstyle events, introduce yourself, or DM us your mix. Then, let’s grab coffee and talk. We love booking people we actually know because we make friends quickly. Genuine connections and friendship are what this is really about at the end of the day. Passion, effort, and a real connection go a long way.

Photo Credit: @emeraldn_

This weekend, Bass Vault is putting on its most ambitious event to date, Bass Vault Weekender. How is the team feeling heading into arguably the most important party in the short but explosive history of Bass Vault?

Pumped and in the weeds! The team is all in on details across three events in two days. NRGetics built cinematic bumpers that tie the whole heist story together. The first time we heard them, we genuinely got emotional. The artists are pushing their best promo yet, riders are dialed, and the excitement is real, even if the preparation is intense.

What was the mission behind pulling off an event of Bass Vault Weekender’s magnitude, the likes of which the city of San Francisco has never seen before?

To put San Francisco on the map as the home of hardstyle in America. We want to let the world know who and where we are, and that we’re not going anywhere. It’s a statement that independent promoters can thrive here, and hardstyle belongs in San Francisco at the highest level. We love this genre, and we’re building a true hub for hard dance.

After Bass Vault Weekender, how are you planning to carry its momentum into the rest of 2025 and beyond?

We’re keeping the pressure on with more shows — the next is in December. The cinematic story format is now core to Bass Vault, too. We want every event to feel bigger than a night out. We want it to be emotional, immersive, and memorable. 2025 is already wild, and we’re excited to bring new fans into hardstyle while giving longtime fans something to be proud of.

Of course, all eyes are on Bass Vault Weekender, but can you give the readers and ravers of the Bay Area any exclusive scoops, like unannounced headliners heading to San Francisco soon?

We’re keeping the surprises close. Let’s just say that a few letters might be floating around: R, G, D, D, A, M, D, and Z, and an uptempo beatboxer might land. The real headline, though, is the locals becoming headliners. We’re talking about The Buckness, Dayinknight, J. Slai, Brizzy, Chilman Gun, Barricade, and NRGetics. These are artists who have been building this scene and are ready to top the bill. And yes, we’ve got headliners from A to Z lined up.

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