CRSSD Festival Fall Brought Stellar Sets and Endless Sunshine

CRSSD Festival Fall brought some of the best names in house and techno all the way to San Diego for a perfect weekend.

CRSSD Festival has built a reputation as a reliable biannual destination for dance music fans in Southern California seeking something distinct from the typical dance music scene. This fall’s edition marked my first trip to San Diego for the waterfront event, and it quickly became clear why so many people go.

While the festival has its quirks and limitations, the most recent iteration of CRSSD Festival Fall delivered a well-curated lineup, featuring headliners such as John Summit, Empire Of The Sun, Jamie Jones b2b Adam Ten, Cloonee, Brutalismus 3000, and more. All in an intimate, niche setting that feels both accessible and distinctive.

CRSSD Festival’s biggest asset is its location. Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego creates an atmosphere that immediately feels special. With the sun setting over the ocean, the palm trees swaying in the breeze, and the downtown skyline, it is hard not to imagine a better spot for a weekend of house, techno, and everything in between. The weather was ideal, and the organizers provided shade structures at each stage, which made daytime sets far more comfortable.

The venue layout is less than perfect, but the production at CRSSD Festival Fall was ideal.

CRSSD Festival’s footprint is long and narrow, which leads to occasional sound bleed when one stage hits a quiet moment and another nearby stage is blasting. Crowd flow can also feel constrained at times. Still, the overall vibe made up for it. Compared to other Southern California festivals, the atmosphere was calmer and more respectful. People were clearly there for the music rather than only the party.

Stage-wise, there were no overblown pyrotechnics or giant screens, just fog machines and well-decorated stages. The focus is squarely on the music, which I appreciate. That said, sound quality was inconsistent. The smaller stages often felt overwhelmed by the size of the crowds, and the bass could have been louder during many sets.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Keiki Knudsen — @imkeiki

The lineup featured a mix of established artists and rising talent.

Beltran was the clear highlight of my weekend. His two-hour set drew the largest and most energetic crowd I saw, and the combination of stage presence and track selection was perfect. I wished his set had merged into a back-to-back with ChaseWest for a marathon run, but even on his own, he proved why he has become one of the underground’s fastest rising names.

Empire of the Sun closed the main stage on Saturday with a visually striking and high-energy performance that surprised me. I only knew their biggest hits going into it, but their stage presence made for one of the most memorable moments of the festival.

Other highlights included Chris Stussy, who delivered the kind of deep grooves that have cemented his reputation on the European circuit, and who also recently had a sold-out show in Los Angeles. Elderbrook, whose melodic approach offered a refreshing change of pace. The Jamie Jones b2b Adam Ten set created one of the best vibes of the weekend. Ending that set with Hot Natured’s hit “Benediction” was the perfect way to close the festival.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Felicia Garcia — @fixationphotography

One of CRSSD Festival’s underrated strengths is its ability to seamlessly integrate smaller activations into the overall experience.

The Chapter One Records booth provided a low-traffic area where you could browse vinyl, rest, and discover something new. They also had local DJs spinning vinyl all weekend, the perfect way to introduce people to the true essence of house music. Roland had a hands-on installation with drum machines and keyboards. It was cool to see festivalgoers experimenting with various gear and discovering how much fun making music can be. These touches gave CRSSD Festival a grassroots flavor that set it apart from more corporate or cookie-cutter feeling festivals.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Miguel Flores — @miguelmonad

On the practical side, the festival largely delivered on logistics.

Entry was smooth, and I never waited more than a couple of minutes, even at peak times. Food and drink options were good, with wait times topping out at around twenty minutes for some of the popular vendors. Prices were high, but not wildly out of step with other major festivals in California. Bathrooms were acceptable early in the day but predictably grimy by the end. More hand-washing stations or wipes would go a long way toward improving that experience. Seating was another issue. Shaded spots near the main stage were mostly blocked by the front-of-house structure, unfortunately.

The festival is thankfully capped at around fifteen thousand people per day, which keeps the experience manageable and avoids the overwhelming amount you’d find at bigger events. Safety and crowd control felt solid throughout. I felt safe the whole time. With that said, the price for CRSSD can reach a high price due to demand, especially once it’s sold out on resale. Tickets sat at nearly $600 on official resale platforms. While the festival’s value lies in its unique curation and waterfront setting, but cost is becoming a harder pill to swallow.

Courtesy of CRSSD Festival // Daniela Bercerra — @itskinderella

The recent edition of CRSSD Festival Fall reinforced why it is so important to both San Diego and the broader Southern California region.

Its strengths are clear, with a beautiful location, thoughtful lineups, and an atmosphere centered on music rather than grandiose production. The downsides are real but relatively minor when weighed against the positives. I appreciate that CRSSD Festival caters to the masses, attracting fans excited for a John Summit or Cloonee set, while also giving attendees the chance to discover lesser-known or niche artists. Hopefully, everyone walked away with a new favorite artist.

If you are a fan of house, techno, or just want to have a fun weekend with friends, and want a Southern California festival that avoids the mainstream EDM rinse and repeat cycle, CRSSD Festival is worth the trip. For me, the defining moment was standing in the crowd during Beltran’s set, surrounded by thousands of people who were just as locked in as I was. It captured what makes this festival special, an intimate yet expansive celebration of dance music in one of the best festival settings on the West Coast.

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