San Diegans Danced Through the Rain at CRSSD Festival Spring

Despite weather challenges, this year’s edition of CRSSD Festival Spring shone with an eclectic lineup and electric atmosphere.

If you’re a Southern California resident and haven’t heard of CRSSD Festival, it’s time to discover San Diego’s finest semi-annual music festival. Known for hosting world-class talent such as Empire of the Sun, ODESZA, Billie Eilish, Peggy Gou, and Kaytranada, the FNGRS CRSSD team kicked it up a notch this year. CRSSD Festival Spring‘s eclectic mix of electronic and live performances would give any music lover fear of missing out.

CRSSD Festival Spring was hosted at the beautiful Waterfront Park, offering views of San Diego Harbor, the iconic Star of India, and the gorgeous skyline of Downtown San Diego. Despite its reputation for good weather, the city endured heavy rain throughout Saturday and the former half of Sunday. Let’s explore how the weather impacted the event as a whole and analyze crowd preferences between the three stages, emphasizing comparing the live performances to largely electronic sets.

Saturday saw heavy rainfall that had most San Diegans ready to throw on their sweats and call it a day.

While CRSSD weekend typically boasts a full day of festivities building up to the event and beyond, the overwhelming majority of partygoers appeared apprehensive in the wake of all the unwanted precipitation. Pre-parties were canceled, outfits were changed, and sunshine was nowhere in sight. Frankly, I couldn’t blame them. All that came to mind was mud… and lots of it.

Fleeting fits of sunshine in the later afternoon meant long lines all around as people hurried to get in and experience the CRSSD magic. Nearing 5pm, however, inclement weather befell the crowd, corralling them under the safety of the bar and stage awnings.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Photo Credit: @fixationphotography / Felicia Garcia

People were cold, and outfits were soaked, but the music went on, and so did we.

The Palms stage saw the most consistent turnout with talent like Nic Fanciulli, The Martinez Brothers, Sammy Virji, and Armand Van Helden. Once partygoers arrived at The Palms, they typically stayed there except for bathroom and drink breaks. Even then, holding down space was difficult as fans were eager to take their shot at the front for an experience of a lifetime.

The City Steps stage saw highs and lows of crowd engagement, with big turnouts for DJ Heartstring, KiNK b2b Partiboi69, and TRYM. The sound was clean and, perhaps, the loudest of all three stages.

The Ocean View stage enjoyed high engagement for its live performances, including by Vandelux and WhoMadeWho. Unlike previous years where crowds were jam-packed with little room for dancing, this Saturday installment saw a crowd that remained spaced out and easy to navigate. The first day closed out with a remarkable set from Tale Of Us, showcasing exceptional visuals for an eager crowd.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Photo Credit: @imkeiki / Keiki-Lani Knudsen

Sunday saw improvements in weather amid less-than-ideal afternoon conditions.

Like the day preceding it, afternoon acts were robbed of their much-deserved crowds. Fortunately, true fans braved the weather to show support for standout artists Roosevelt, Ky William, Sofia Kourtesis, and Nils Hoffmann. By 3pm, the weather began to clear, and CRSSD fanatics began rolling in. The Sunday lineup was ostensibly more diversified, with pockets of partygoers frequenting all three stages.

Call me a house head, but Beltran, by far, gave the best performance at The Palms stage, if not CRSSD as a whole. If you weren’t there at 4pm to witness his sheer musical prowess, I pray that someone, somewhere recorded it. Second-hand sets aren’t the best, I’ll admit, but they’re better than nothing.

Toman carried on the Latin and Afro house vibes from 5-6pm, building a crowd that was in a state of frenzy for booty-shaking beats. Around 5:15pm, we decided to check out the Disco Lines hype at Ocean View and were more than disappointed by the music selection and technical skill behind the “Baby Girl” gone viral star. Besides the man in the booth being ruggedly good-looking and playing a few mediocre pop remix tracks, there wasn’t much reason to be there, so we left.

Shortly thereafter, City Steps was graced by none other than Amsterdam’s finest: Joris Voorn. In a close competition for best in festival, Voorn’s no-headphones set showcased his skin in the game, and for good reason. With masterful mixing, outstanding stage presence, and impeccable song selection, this set was one for the books and another I truly hope everyone had the chance to experience. During the performance, fans were buzzing about how it all felt very much like an authentic techno experience from the heart of Amsterdam itself.

Live performances suffered on Sunday, with pockets of attendees showing face for SBTRKT and Little Dragon despite their massive streaming numbers. Even Lane 8 faltered in the wake of Brazilian powerhouse Mochakk, who rocked The Palms with viral tracks like “Jealous” and the Marco Lys remix of “Brighter Days.” The young star showed off his superb mixing ability, frequenting his go-to dub echo effect for an otherworldly crowd experience.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Photo Credit: @imkeiki / Keiki-Lani Knudsen

CRSSD Festival Spring offered a unique experience, defying expectations despite the weather challenges and delivering a lineup catering to diverse musical tastes.

From the packed performances at The Palms stage to the immersive techno experience at City Steps, each day brought its own highlights and surprises. Even the rain proved to be an enjoyable experience at times, allowing attendees to feel the power of Mother Nature amid the thumping music.

As an attendee, I immersed myself in the buzzing atmosphere, bouncing between stages and discovering new favorites. Despite the inevitable challenges, the CRSSD team demonstrated resilience and commitment to providing an unforgettable experience. It’s easy to see how CRSSD has solidified itself as San Diego’s premier music festival, promising even more exceptional talent and blissful moments in years to come.

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