Finding an Appreciation for Curation at CRSSD Festival Spring

CRSSD Festival Spring offered unique experiences across all three stages to celebrate their tenth anniversary, curating unforgettable vibes for fans.

Celebrating its highly-anticipated tenth anniversary, FNGRS CRSSD’s CRSSD Festival returned to San Diego’s Waterfront Park March 1-2 for another edition that won’t soon be forgotten. A CRSSD connoisseur myself, I attended for my sixth time, reflecting on cherished memories and newfound experiences across each iteration. Whether fans enjoy the world-class lineups stocked full of house and techno behemoths, the live bands gracing the Ocean View stage, or the blissful bay and city atmosphere among downtown San Diego, the list of reasons to return to CRSSD Festival is long and valid.

With CRSSD Festival Spring being notoriously known for colder weather and outbursts of showers, this year fell slightly in alignment with a bit of rain toward the end of both nights. Spirits were not dampened, though, as festivalgoers bundled up and braved the chilly temperatures. I especially looked forward to this edition as I had quite a few friends attending, and only a handful of other festivals come close to the convenient experience of dancing with my besties in my hometown.

This CRSSD Festival Spring, I found myself with a new appreciation for the curated atmosphere at each stage.

With some of my past CRSSD memories blending into each other over the years, I set out for this edition intending to make standalone memories and be more mindful of my surroundings. Considering the different types of people and vibes at each of CRSSD Festival’s three stages, I began my weekend at City Steps for Hannah Laing, a Scottish producer I’ve been dying to catch. Her hard-hitting techno woke up the afternoon crowd as she infused a variety of heavy hardstyle and trance-leaning sounds.

City Steps during the day is starkly different from the same stage at night. Aside from techno, attendees can also enjoy a variety of progressive acts here during the early hours of CRSSD, with artists like &friends, EMBRZ, and Marsh offering pristine daytime chill vibes. The beats hit harder as the hours flow on, and by the time night rolls around, attendees are getting lost in the sights and sounds of the stage.

Whether you’re standing under the canopy and gazing into the flashing lights or becoming transfixed by the DJ from the outskirts, every vantage point is optimal as techno typically reigns supreme here at night. My top set at City Steps had to be ARTBAT; the Ukrainian duo absolutely demolished the stage, playing a slew of IDs where I will be anxiously awaiting their release.

Photo Credit: Daniela Becerra — @itskinderella

While The Palms served up dancefloor-ready tunes set among palm fronds and San Diego’s skyline, the music was often drowned out by yappers in the crowd.

The Palms is known for dishing out hefty doses of house music, and fans often pack this stage to the brim. Gone are the days when nearby fountains were on and attendees were dancing in them; however, the extra space not occupied by water allows more people to experience The Palms. While the views and music are pleasing here, I found The Palms extremely crowded throughout the weekend, with my friends and I unofficially dubbing it “Yap City.”

Nevertheless, I did appreciate my time at The Palms, and my friends and I learned to live with excessive talking in the crowd. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, dancing their hearts out to Folamour, Riordan, Sosa, Claptone, and Chris Lorenzo. SG Lewis took home the gold in my eyes; I couldn’t stop moving to his set, and he surprised the crowd with classics like Calvin Harris’ “Thinking About You” and deadmau5’s “Strobe.” The Palms was where I reunited with many friends throughout the weekend, and seeing a familiar face was always a pleasure.

Photo Credit: Daniela Becerra — @itskinderella

For attendees looking to hear live music, uncover new bands, or bask in big names, Ocean View had you covered.

CRSSD Festival’s biggest stage, Ocean View, welcomed all who ventured to the North side of Waterfront Park. An eclectic mix of live bands, DJs incorporating live instruments, and heavy hitters performed here. Although I didn’t spend too much time at Ocean View this edition, I quickly embraced the awe-inspiring backdrop of palm trees and airplanes zooming behind the stage to land at the nearby airport. The sunset performances were sublime here, with Hayden James bringing a real treat of a set to usher day into night on Sunday.

Food and drink options were the most plentiful near Ocean View, with plenty of stands ready to assist. I opted to try a very tasty grilled cheese before Hayden James, while other members of my group eagerly enjoyed their Asian noodles and sushi. If you hung out near the back of the crowd, there was easy access to slip away for drinks, sit down at picnic tables, or use the nearby restrooms.

I’ve heard the crowd can be hit or miss at Ocean View, but I had nothing but solid experiences here throughout the weekend. Attendees were respectful at the performances I attended and minded each other’s space. Saturday night’s lineup was a chef’s kiss as my friend and I washed all our worries away from Jungle into Justice. The French duo brought all their iconic lights for an electrifying display the Ocean View has never seen before. Getting to hear their beloved releases and mashups live once again, and being able to expose my friend to their music, is something I know I’ll always look back on fondly.

Photo Credit: Keiki Lani-Knudsen — @imkeiki

CRSSD Festival Spring delivered a satisfying tenth-edition experience for fans, with plenty to take in throughout the weekend.

Each area of the festival offered a different atmosphere for attendees. Each stage had a curated vibe for every house and techno connoisseur. Whether you explored live music at Ocean View, got down to hard techno at City Steps, or shuffled to tech house at The Palms, every crevice of CRSSD Festival Spring was carefully crafted for your enjoyment.

FNGRS CRSSD even brought a new perk for early bird fans this year—a happy hour from 12pm to 2pm each day, featuring $5 drink specials, discounted food options, and complimentary tote bags. While I wasn’t able to hurry to Waterfront Park in time to experience this new perk, my friends who took part said it was well worth the early arrival. They snagged $150.00 worth of drinks and food for only $45.00.

Hopefully, FNGRS CRSSD will continue to level up experiences for fans and incorporate more offerings like this happy hour at the next edition. As we can always anticipate a highly coveted lineup, I look forward to exploring the sights and sounds of CRSSD Festival at the next edition with my revived appreciation for the event.

Follow CRSSD Festival:

Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | SoundCloud | YouTube