Forever Midnight Took Us to Church

Forever Midnight in Los Angeles was the perfect end to the year with delicious music, jaw-dropping production, and a stellar vibe, the holy trinity of rave.

We’re almost two weeks into 2025, and oh my, has it already been a long year. With a collective “off to the races” vibe hanging in the air, it’s hard not to reminisce on the love and celebration felt during the holiday season.

One evening in particular that exemplified these holiday feelings was New Year’s Eve and, more specifically, Forever Midnight in Los Angeles. The Insomniac-hosted event returned to the Los Angeles Convention Center for its sophomore edition, and it was truly one of the best ways for a raver to end the year. From music to vibe to production, Forever Midnight did not disappoint.

To start, the Los Angeles Convention Center is a massive indoor location. It’s one of those spaces where the room feels so vast that it instantly creates a desire to run around. The kind of space where a pair of Heelys feels like the only appropriate footwear. A rave in a venue of this size can either go “so wrong” or “so right,” and Forever Midnight erred on the side of the latter. It was filled with the perfect stage-to-production ratio.

Photo Credit: Jamal Eid for Insomniac Events

Forever Midnight featured three stages hosted by prominent house and techno brands.

The Take It Outside stage was the first that attendees could see upon entering the venue. A quick glimpse to the left is where the main stage physically could not be overlooked. A scan to the right would catapult you to Miami via the Club Space x Factory 93 stage. All three stages were drenched in an assortment of colors that can be described as edgy, quirky, or perhaps even groovy.

Club Space featured a menacing display of neon green, cobalt blue, and gold lasers. Take It Outside was dipped in reds, pinks, and purples. The main stage was a spectacle of all the aforementioned colors but with large LED screens and a floating sky cube to match, giving the space a “digital future” feel. Forever Midnight’s production was unique. It was sexy. It was a cute and quirky crown fit for a queen who prefers to go by the phrase “house and techno.”

Photo Credit: Priscilla Anna for Insomniac Events

Music is the most important factor of a rave.

That should go without saying, but unfortunately, sometimes the unspoken is exactly what needs to be said. Forever Midnight was very aware of this rave principle. Insomniac invited quite a selection of rising and established house and techno artists, and they all delivered.

The main stage hosted globally recognized veteran talents such as Tiesto, Duke Dumont, and Chris Lake. These mainstream boys have been in the game for a long time. Their Forever Midnight sets can best be described as confidently executed snapshots of each artist’s individual sonic brand. This is a very “IYKYK” type of description, but it’s the best way to articulate it. Standout acts from the Club Space x Factory 93 stage would definitely include Adam Ten and ChaseWest.

The Take It Outside stage was where the real music magic was happening. It featured mostly female artists and was a friendly reminder that, contrary to a man, a woman never disappoints. Baby Weight delivered a pop house vibe that acted as a magnet for the dancefloor. Heidi Lawden x Masha Mar followed with an assortment of sultry house and club music. DJ Minx x Cinthie gave us Detroit meets Berlin, and Floorplan delivered house music at its finest. Cherry Lee closed out the stage and gave us a relentless 140+ BPM nightcap.

Photo Credit: Kristina Bakrevski for Insomniac Events

Great music usually leads to a great vibe, which was certainly the case at Forever Midnight.

Crowds at Insomniac events can really be hit or miss. Sometimes, they’re great; sometimes, they’re Brads/Chads. With Forever Midnight’s lineup, it’s more than fair for one to assume the latter would dictate the vibe. This was not the case this time. The event attracted the most lovely gathering of ravers. The energy was electric, the people were beautiful, and the looks were incredible. It was truly a joyous evening.

Forever Midnight has quickly become a can’t-miss NYE event.

The case could even be made that it’s the perfect transition event for a mainstream raver looking to graduate to the underworld of house and techno. It’s a step away from the behemoth New Year’s events like Countdown, yet it maintains the essence of a well-executed Insomniac production.

It doesn’t take much to throw a good party. The holy trinity of rave is music, vibe, and production. Any event that balances all three to a perfect ratio is a success, no matter the scale. Forever Midnight certainly achieved this. It was a magical way to start 2025 and will surely be the perfect way to end it as well.