Throwing two festivals in a year is a daunting task for any promoter but for San Diegoโs FNGRS CRSSD, the second installment of CRSSD Fest came only seven months after their first foray. After the success of their initial event in March, CRSSD Fest once again boasted a huge lineup that melded indieโs top live acts with some of underground musicโs heavyweights. With headliners that included Maya Jane Coles, Jamie XX, The Flaming Lips, and late addition Kygo, CRSSD guaranteed a strong attendance by both the casual fan and the avid music enthusiast.
Located in the heart of downtown, beautiful Waterfront Park was again selected as the destination for thousands of party seekers from across Southern California. 90-degree weather may seem odd for October but it is beginning to become tradition as festival goers were graced with picturesque conditions and scantily clad bodies. Bringing back all three stages, CRSSD did well to spread the crowd out with great bookings and set conflicts could easily be maneuvered through the venueโs straightforward layout. Each stage centered around a common vibe giving attendants diversity and choice at the same time. The City Steps stage appeased the house and techno appetite with up and coming and well-known international acts. Artists such as Bonobo, Bob Moses, Ben Klock, and DJ Tennis introduced a darker side of dance music to a very willing crowd.
The Palms Stage also hosted a mix of DJโs and live bands with Saturdayโs back to back sets as some of the weekendโs best. Goldroom b2b Le Youth and Cashmere Cat b2b Trippy Turtle both garnered huge crowds and Jamie XXโs set proved roots reggae could follow hip-hop any day. The Ocean View Live stage was the festivalโs biggest and provided residence to CRSSDโs live performers and the more popular electronic acts.
With AlunaGeorge, Panda Bear, Banks, and TV On the Radio, festival attendants had more than enough reason to walk to the end of Waterfront Park to get a break from a continuous kick drum.ย With that said, discovering new music was a stress-free feat as CRSSD fest hasnโt quite blown up just yet so it’s manageable size and intimate design allowed for easy access to all stages. Another CRSSD advantage would be the 21+ door policy which allowed for multiple bars and the absence of โbeer jailsโ because who doesnโt like a little cocktail with their techno?
You can have as many great bookings as youโd like but a festival would not be complete without its faithful and CRSSD is beginning to garner a loyal following of beautiful, open-minded people. One of the weekendโs highlights was certainly the crowd. Not only were they good-looking but their energy at every stage was infectious. Constant dancing and smiles were on everyone’s agenda. Aside from Coachella, I have not seen a crowd wear so much newly-purchased merchandise, which is a sign that they wanted to commemorate their experience even before it was over.
Creating an inviting environment for everyone is hard to accomplish especially with the number of varied tastes that arrive at a festival. However, with Octoberโs edition of CRSSD Fest, FNGRS CRSSD were able to avoid the usual sophomore slump and successfully hold an event that truly had something for everyone.
(All Images Courtesy : CRSSD/FACEBOOK)