How Infrasound Festival Sustains Its Unique Culture

Infrasound Festival has remained one of the few evergreen independent events with a decade-plus history that survived the pandemic.

Infrasound, the blueprint of US sound-system festivals. From returning local stars to coveted international performances, Infrasound does it all while sticking true to its roots year after year. The community thrives with Midwest locals and attendees who travel nationwide to hear some of the best sound systems in the country among some of the most genuine music fans.

This year undoubtedly lived up to the hype of every past edition, bringing fans new and old and selling out by the start of the weekend. It blessed attendees with near-perfect weather and, as always, brought some of the best dubstep and sound you can catch in the US. We’d also argue that Infrasound is known for bringing some of the best music fans in the country, which has largely contributed to its decade-plus success.

As an independent event, Infrasound just celebrated its 13th edition this June. It was another bi-yearly reminder that the festival continues solidifying its deep-rooted place in the US dubstep scene and clearly has no plans to lose its signature spark anytime soon. With that in mind, let’s explore some of the reasons why they have seen such great success!

Photo Credit: Joe Create

Infrasound implements just the right amount of newness versus returning artists, themes, and traditions that fans look forward to seeing at each edition.

Major events spend time and money to ensure things never go stale after passing editions. This is where Infrasound has a knack for perfect balance amongst the festival’s incredible art, production, and vibes. Returning artists like Shane Huss, Aaron Brooks, Neural Patterns, and Stephen Kruse help Harmony Park come to life each year with their signature art styles. An amazing aspect of the artwork at Infrasound is that you can always expect to see old murals and projects from past years somewhere on the property, so all of the art continues to grow with each edition as new is born.

Infrasound is never the same without returning musicians either, with sets that have become tradition like kLL smTH‘s grLL smTH cookout or multiple appearances from hometown heroes Ternion Sound and DJ Necromancer. Despite the must-have traditions, they always bring never-before-seen acts at Infrasound, from huge international faces to next season’s up-and-comers.

At this year’s edition, fans were treated to not one but two sets from both Joker and J:Kenzo, UK dubstep legends who are extremely rare to catch Stateside, let alone twice each, as well as a historic set from Sister Nancy. The Infrasound spirit was truly alive when Chief Kaya gave up his set upon learning that Sister Nancy overslept through the start of her set time, as this was not a common opportunity to see such an inspiration to the genre.

Getting to witness Joker on the Infrasound mainstage after hearing other artists rinse his classics like “Boat” and “3K Lane” at past Infrasounds for years was unreal. The sun set as he took the stage on night one and played a set full of classic dubstep nostalgia. Joker’s MC offered just the right amount of hype energy and humor that the crowd was eating up, and his set at the Pyramid later in the weekend rightfully packed out the little stage.

Photo Credit: Infrasound

A comfortable, stunning, and simply charming home at Harmony Park Music Garden.

Few venues I’ve ever experienced in years of festival camping have compared to the current home of Infrasound. Formerly founded at a small Highbridge, Wisconsin venue, the festival moved to Harmony Park Music Garden in 2019. Not only does this location in Clarks Grove, Minnesota, offer fantastic weather for the early summer and fall editions, but the venue’s layout always works wonderfully in favor of festival campers and weather.

Shaded by stunning oak trees throughout the main festival loop, Harmony Park offers a camping experience incomparable to your typical car camp cooking in a sunny field at many festivals. The surrounding farmland is typically windy, with this year’s first day being windier than most. The venue’s trees act like a perfect guard to some of the harshest weather, especially in the protected clearing of the Pyramid Stage.

While some fans might not prefer the venue’s strict sound ordinance, I’d argue it’s one of my favorite parts of the event. I love to get true rest without missing huge acts in the early morning, especially at a venue where it is so comfortable to wake up among the oaks. Plus, you can always walk to any stage, campsite, or car lot in 5-15 minutes with ease from anywhere in this quaint park.

Photo Credit: Infrasound

The community of respectful and like-minded fans.

Infrasound’s family-oriented aesthetic could never be overstated and only continues to flourish yearly. The community of like-minded fans is a major part of what makes the event so special and one of a kind. This tight-knit group of enthusiasts, all united by their shared love of bass music and sound system culture, creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and camaraderie at Infrasound.

When the same fans return year after year, the bonds and connections within the community only become stronger. And if they’re anything like me, they bring a few of their coolest friends to Infrasound, and the beautiful cycle continues.

This year I got to spend sets with countless friends I consider my Infrasound family of course, but I also made new ones bonding over merch, connected with artists in the crowd, and ran into neighbors from two years past.

Photo Credit: Infrasound

The attention to detail for all of the things that matter.

From its comfortable and accessible venue to the detail in the sound and art, Infrasound has concocted a formula to keep its event thriving and attendees returning. After attending Infrasound six times, I can say it’s remained the cleanest event I’ve ever attended, from the trash crews working hard to keep the stages clean to every porta potty being cleaned multiple times per day. I even saw the trash folks this year going out of their way to check if cups and cans in abandoned chairs were empty and cleaning up entire living rooms on the lawn while bopping around to the bass.

This year, Infrasound listened to fans after years of them begging to sit on the lawn outside the hangar for the after-hours silent discos. In past years, you had no option but to stand in the gravel of the Portal Stage structure to receive your headphones when many would rather set up chairs in the back at that time of night. They even added a mini vendor row to the perimeter of this area to help close the lawn space for that very reason, which was a perfect touch that made it seem like it belonged there all along.

The art, sound, music, and family at Infrasound never cease to amaze and fill me with a sense of home with each passing edition.

I always feel incredibly lucky that my favorite event happens twice a year, with the return of Infrasound Equinox revealed for September 12-15. If you thought the summer editions were incredible, bundle up for a fall Infrasound and use those firepits. The perfect aesthetics are just the same, and the Equinox-exclusive 360 stage is one not to miss. Tickets are on sale now via The Ticketing Co.