For 2 nights out of the yr, the grounds of the NOS Occasions Middle come alive as a part of essentially the most immersive Halloween digital music pageant arguably wherever. Produced by Insomniac Occasions, Escape Halloween fully envelops attendees with all issues creepy alongside head-spinning bangers from among the largest names within the recreation.
The pageant, which has referred to as the San Bernardino venue house for over a decade, has morphed and advanced all through the years. Having began as an Alice In Wonderland-themed rave as Escape from Wonderland, the occasion is now a full-fledged pageant coupling eletro beats with a number of haunting settings.
Working with an expanded footprint, the location now presents 5 levels together with two extremely themed areas and detailed strolling paths that create a novel sense of place. From the larger-than-life skeletons flanking the Boulevard of Bones to the intricate fire-laden set items inside Loopy City, Escape Halloween looks like Insomniac’s spooky reply to Disneyland.
And when you suppose Insomniac’s lavish designs ended there, you would be lifeless incorrect. Issues bought much more extravagant for these fortunate sufficient to don VIP wristbands, notably on the most important VIP space adjoining The Grimm stage.
It was right here the place a ghostly lady perched atop her balcony would welcome friends into her house. From Dia de Los Muertos curios to Haunted Mansion-themed bars, your entire expanse might simply rival Disney or Common with its meticulous theming.
Stealing the scene have been the myriad of costumed performers discovered all through the venue. Whether or not they be fortune tellers, pyro dancers, skeletal stilt-walkers, blackjack sellers, creepy clowns or deranged butchers, these characters gave life to the pageant, permitting for a story to be instructed round every nook of the occasion house.
After all, it would not be an Insomniac pageant with out a stellar lineup of artists guiding the symphonic journey. Over the course of its two-day run, practically all the genres that make up the digital spectrum have been represented between the 5 distinct levels.
On the Feeding Grounds, the bass was heavy because the Bassrush-hosted stage took over Friday evening. Zomboy, ATLiens, HEKLER and SVDDEN DEATH have been among the artists melting faces and inflicting heads to bang. Come Saturday, sounds shifted on the arachnid compound as Three 6 Mafia, William Black, MALAA and Rezz carried out to various crowds.
The sounds of the underground seeped from the manholes and enraptured partygoers on the Sewer District stage. Surrounded by big containers on all sides, the Factory93 Expertise gifted us to 2 days of techno and home music. Lilly Palmer, Jamie Jones, Sizzling Since 82, Inexperienced Velvet, Patrick Topping, Loco Cube, Charles D, and Reinier Zonneveld have been among the names that graced the stage all through the weekender.
As the latest addition to the Escape footprint, Depraved Woods was the one indoor stage and took full benefit of its setting. On this scary backwoods setting, a wide selection of performances may very well be discovered. From a drum and bass set by Nitepunk to a throwback set from okay?d, the enclosed house was a beehive of exercise each days of the occasion.
In the meantime, on the hard-to-miss Saintarium, two distinct soundscapes encircled the air. Hardstyle dominated Friday evening, with acts like Ben Nicky, LNY TNZ, Girl Religion, Darren Types, Code Black,and DJ Isaac b2b SayMyName. The BPM dropped drastically by Saturday, when the rhythmic sounds of home music have been offered by the likes of Max Styler, Wade, MK and Matroda b2b San Pancho.
The grimacing skeleton identified merely as The Grimm is the place the vast majority of the motion was to be discovered. It was right here the place 1000’s of revelers gathered to bop alongside to the beats unleashed by a few of EDM’s titans. Above & Past, Zedd, Kaskade, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, DJ Snake, SLANDER and Tchami have been among the many many heavyweights that created monster-sized crowds on the principle stage.
As an digital dance music pageant, Escape Halloween delivers with its multi-genre strategy dispersed all through its 5 distinct levels. Nevertheless, it’s in its immersive theming the place Escape leaves the realm of pageant and enters a world of sinister storytelling.
The atmospheric characters, the freakshow discovered contained in the Psycho Circus, the gargoyle fountain, the jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows lining the Haunted Hay Row, and the creepy image frames lining the VIP lounge all assist elevate Escape right into a bonafide Halloween haven.
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