For the third time in less than a year, San Diego promoters FNGRS CRSSD will again meld the worlds of indie music and underground dance. Renewing its love affair with sunsets and great tunes, the festival takes place at downtown San Diego’s Waterfront Park, a venue that is only a hop, skip and a jump from the blues of the Pacific Ocean. A festival that is warmly referred to as Coachella’s little sister for its attractiveness towards sunny weather, girls with floppy hats, and parasols, CRSSD will serve as the perfect pregame to April’s two-weekend excursion. Taking place on March 5th and 6th, Crssd Fest continues to find a balance between commercial viability and cutting-edge tastes.
1. Gryffin
Relative newcomer Gryffin will make his Crssd debut this March to much fanfare. The multi-instrumentalist hails from New York and has been wowing crowds recently with his live shows complete with original productions and live instrumentation. His up-beat take on electronic music will set the perfect soundtrack for a sun-scorched day. Fans of Kygo and Odesza will feel right at home with his sing-along melodies.
2. Tale of Us
In the world of DJ/producer duos, few have had as much recent success as Karm and Matteo Milleri, better known as Tale of Us. With a partnership formed in Milan, their current home of Berlin has fostered a creative growth which has seen their productions and remixes released by the biggest underground labels such as Richie Hawtin’s M-Nus and Life and Death. Not to be outdone by their prowess in the studio, their chemistry behind the decks has truly set them apart. Drawing from influences ranging from techno to rock, their DJsets showcase their ability to draw audiences in and always leave you wanting more.
3. Ben UFO
As one of the founders of Hessel Audio and resident DJ for renowned RINSE FM, Ben UFO has been responsible for introducing more experimental and cutting-edge electronic music. Although rooted in the UK bass scene of the mid 2000s, his taste has varied into various genres including garage and house. He is one of few to have carved his career without the help of any productions and relies strictly on his skills as a selector. Ben’s recent ascension to the top five of Resident Advisor’s 2015 DJ poll shows just how talented this man is. Trust us when we say, he is not one to be missed!
4. Skream
When dubstep was beginning to take shape in London, Skream was one of the genre’s forefathers by helping it define its sound and popularizing the genre in America. However since 2013, after claiming to have played his last dubstep show, Skream is similarly making a name for himself in the world of house and techno. Quickly gaining the respect of his peers, his recent outings as part of the super group J.E.S.U.S highlights his versatility and top-notch DJ skills. Come March, do yourself a favor and get up and close to watch this professional in action.
5. Chet Faker
What can be said about this Australian that hasn’t been said already? His hit track “Gold” has almost 35 million views on Youtube and his cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” introduced millennials to one of their all-time favourite 90’s R&B tracks. However this type of popularity is not one of coincidence as Chet’s ability in the studio and his captivating live shows have given him the notoriety to help him tour theΒ world. With a proven reputation as both a performer and musician, Crssd could not have done much better in picking this headliner.