Category - Events

Imagine Music Festival 2019: An Aquatic Inferno

Imagine Music Festival 2019 Oceania Stage

Imagine Music Festival celebrated its sixth year with an explosive lineup at Atlanta Motor Speedway. From its inception at as a two-day festival at Masquerade Music Park in 2014, the festival has nearly tripled its audience, now boasting an attendance of nearly 45,000 music lovers and festival fanatics spanning four days. Founded and produced by IRIS Presents, Imagine 2019 has grown both its music and production to a standard that sets the bar for EDM festivals across the United States. From candy-coated shufflers, to cross-eyed headbangers, this festival once again proved it can live up to its reputation.

Continuing the theme of fire and water for this year’s production of Imagine Music Festival, the artist roster exemplified the staggering differences between the two elements. The musical talent brought forth by the event included some of the biggest names in the game, including: Above & Beyond, Alison Wonderland, Zeds Dead, Claude Von Stroke, Tipper, and more. Spanning the gambit of electronic music genres and catering to the tastes of every fun-loving attendee. This massive lineup would not have been possible without the expert stage production and sound engineering that rivals any major music event in the nation.

Six unique stages shone bright throughout the interior of the event, with stage design playing an important role in the experience. Oceania, the largest stage at the event, hosted EDM moguls like Zeds Dead, Alison Wonderland, Matoma, and a surprise appearance by Shaquille O’Neal a.k.a. DJ Diesel. Oceania had physical characteristics that towered over the stage, supplemented by lights, lasers, and high-pressure fog machines. An enormous crown sat over the DJ booth and gave even more purpose to every artist’s spot on the main stage.

Amazonia, the second largest stage at the event, focused its production on visual art, with performances by artists like Detox Unit (visuals by Cullen Hassel), Jade Cicada (visuals by Steven Haman), Tipper (visuals by Fractaled Visions), G Jones, and Louis the Child. It was clear that Music Matters Productions affirmed their presence with incredible sound delivery and dramatic lighting.

Disco Inferno, designed by Algorythm Designs, is aptly named for its pyrotechnics; in front of the stage stood a spire that shot fire more than thirty feet above the crowd. Just behind the stage was a sort of disassembled disco ball that shot smaller bursts of flames. Rusko, Lane 8, Space Jesus, and Dirtybird artists such as Claude Von Stroke, Justin Martin, and J.Phlip put on shows that highlighted their individual talents that took them down the road of fame.

Two stages punctuated the space between the aforementioned three. Six Feathers featuring Darude, among many others, and the Techyes stage, a new addition featuring local underground bass artists, which provided continual entertainment as attendees ventured throughout the grounds.

A particularly welcome part of this year’s festival was the organization of its stages. Sound pollution from other surrounding stages was unheard and almost forgotten. Stage presence was maximized through orientation and spacing, while genre also played a large part in the lineup.

Sunday came to a beautiful crescendo with fireworks over Marshmello at Oceania, while Tipper continued with an array of incredibly detailed and artistic projections beside him at the Amazonia stage. When the music subsided, there was only laughter and talk of unprecedented joy, nostalgia, and absolute satisfaction.

From Imagine Music Festival’s beginnings at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the musical talent in attendance has continued to speak for itself. When Imagine found its new home at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2016, they featured a lineup that consisted of the best of the best of Dubstep, with names like NERO, Caspa, Rusko, Borgore, Champagne Drip, and Delta Heavy. As the years progressed, they have continued to add to their list of stars across the map for EDM: Bassnectar, GRiZ, Galantis, The Glitch Mob, Armin Van Buuren, RL Grime, Alesso, Kaskade, Zhu, Lotus, and Green Velvet are among the many greats that have graced Imagine with their presence. The unique styles of electronic music these artists have brought to the table help define Imagine as the all-encompassing event it is today. Needless to say, year 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (year 6 overall) brought in a delightfully rich variety of music perpetuating its reputation as an event that covers the expanse of music available for today’s avid music lovers.

For our full photo album from the event, check our Facebook page. Article and photos by Dylan Essi and Victor Tranfield.

Tipper & Big Gigantic to Headline Gem & Jam 2020

Gem & Jam 2020 Phase 1

Tucson, Arizona – After taking a year hiatus for 2019, fan-favorite festival Gem & Jam Festival is excited to announce its return and with it the phase one lineup. The three-day music, art, performance, and gem & mineral festival will be returning to the beautiful, desert setting of Pima County Fairgrounds, January 31 through February 2, 2020. This past Spring Gem & Jam announced that it indeed would be returning and that planning was well underway. The news continued last week when Tipper, Big Gigantic, The Floozies, and Twiddle were announced and would be joined by over 30 additional artists as part of phase one.

Gem & Jam’s 13th annual performer lineup includes: Billy Strings; Desert Hearts Takeover, featuring Mikey Lion, Marbs, RYBO and Lubelski; TH3, featuring Michael Travis, Jason Hann and Kyle Hollingsworth (String Cheese Incident) and Matt Hill (The Floozies); Manic Focus; Dirtwire; Desert Dwellers; Thriftworks; Bluetech; Buku; Christian Martin (Dirtybird, TAT); Kyle Hollingsworth Band; Marvel Years; Mersiv; SoDown; Ana Sia; Balken Bump; Cofresi; Cycles; Daily Bread; Eminence Ensemble; Kitchen Dwellers; Late Night Radio; Megan Hamilton; Mystic Grizzly; Nobide; Saqi; Supertask; Tenth Mountain Division; Adem Joel; Autonomix; The Bennu; Dollarsine; Endoplasmic; The Flying Skulls; Funkstatik; Glass Cannon; Gonzofuze; M-Q; Party People; Safi’s Lab; Scott Nice; Since Juleye, and Smokovish. The lineup will continue to grow as we enter 2020, hosting a flurry of talent across 3 stages, plus special late night sets, gem and mineral exhibits, art galleries, painters, dancers, daytime workshops, and much more.

“We are beyond excited to be able to bring Gem & Jam back for an epic three nights in the desert,” says festival co-producer Josh Pollack. “We have the best fans out there and cannot wait to share all we have planned for 2020.”

Located on 640 acres and just 20 miles south of downtown Tucson, the Pima County Fairgrounds is surrounded by nature and resides in a desert environment, creating an expansive setting perfect for Gem & Jam. The multi-stage music and arts festival will be offering increased capacity and camping options, including onsite RV camping with hookups, car camping, and walk-in camping. Additionally, Gem & Jam will be expanding on its experience with world-class visuals, unique stage designs, artist galleries, live paintings, experiential installations, daytime workshops, gem and mineral vendors, and much more. General Admission tickets are on sale now for $159, plus fees. Camping options are available starting at free walk-in camping with a $20 parking fee, car camping and RV options with hook ups. Hotel and ticketing options, and payment plans are available. For all ticket options visit, www.gemandjam.com. Gem & Jam Festival is an all ages event.

Gem & Jam is produced by Fog City Productions, Legion of Bloom Music, and Mammoth Music Group. Visit www.gemandjam.com for the most up-to-date information. Stay connected on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GemAndJam, Twitter at www.twitter.com/GemJamFestival and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/GemAndJamFestival.

Dillon Francis, Diplo, Skrillex Round Out Decadence AZ 2019

Decadence Arizona 2019 Phase 1

Phoenix, AZ – After recent news of the return of “Arizona’s Biggest New Year’s Eve Celebration” – Decadence AZ lives up to its moniker, with Dillion Francis; Diplo; Illenium: Ascend Live; Skrillex and Tchami x Malaa: No Redemption announced as headliners. Presented by Relentless Beats and Global Dance, the sixth annual festival will take place on December 30 and 31, 2019, at Rawhide Event Center in Chandler. Last year’s festival featured epic performances by the likes of Above & Beyond; Alison Wonderland; DJ Diesel; Drezo; Dr Fresch; Eric Prydz; Ghastly; Marshmello; NGHTMRE; Porter Robinson; REZZ; San Holo; Skrillex, and more to ring in 2019. The lineup will continue to grow in the coming weeks, as will continued news about the Decadence AZ experience.

Relentless Beats also tapped its fans to assist with the overall experience by opening up a survey to have their voices heard. Receiving an overwhelming response, much of which was a continuation of conversations with fans since the close of 2018, Relentless Beats has begun utilizing the feedback to create the best Decadence yet. Features already being implemented to improve on the guest experience include increased flooring and dedicated walkways at and between the stages, additional entry and exits gates at the main stage, as well as a reconfigured and improved VIP experience, that will create better flow and shorter wait times, and increased chill stations and staffed water resources.

“As a company, it has always been our intent to improve Decadence year after year,” says Relentless Beats founder Thomas Turner. “I have read each comment, and I hear the fans loud and clear. Decadence will continue to grow, as will my team to make sure the fan experience is what people have come to expect from us.”

General Admission passes for Decadence Arizona are on sale now for $169, before fees. VIP passes are available at two levels: Standard VIP, including everything that a GA ticket provides plus express VIP entrance, a commemorative lanyard, access to VIP lounge, access to VIP front row viewing, premium restrooms and passed desserts in the VIP areas. Platinum VIP includes everything that the Standard VIP pass includes, plus: complimentary drinks, side stage viewing, access to artist hospitality lounge, steakhouse quality dinner, exclusive festival gift bag, and festival concierge. You must be age 21 and up to purchase Platinum VIP passes. For full details and all ticket options, visit www.decadencearizona.com. Decadence Arizona is an 18+ event.

Decadence Arizona is produced by Relentless Beats and Global Dance. Visit www.relentlessbeats.com for the most up-to-date information on all Relentless Beats events. Stay connected on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RelentlessBeats and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RelentlessBeats.

ARISE Claims Title of ‘Largest Camping Festival in Colorado’

MC Apollo Sevant at ARISE Music Festival 2019, photo by Carlie Bradley

ARISE Music Festival returned to Loveland, Colorado for their seventh year of music, art, yoga, workshops and locally sourced food and produce. Held on Sunrise Ranch, a holistically managed ranch based on the pillars of community, enlightenment and sustainability, the entire event was geared toward creating a space that helped maintain the grounds’ pristine conditions.

Sunset at ARISE 2019
Sunset at ARISE 2019

This year, the event grew substantially, awarding ARISE the title of ‘largest camping festival in Colorado’ (surpassing Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Sonic Bloom). Festival planners say that the reason for this year’s success is ultimately due to the lineup, which included fan favorites such as Tipper, CloZee, Beats Antique, Sunsquabi, Defunk, and Rising Appalachia.

Dave Tipper gave two incredible performances, each displaying the artist’s widely popular blend of ambient bass music and glitchy trip-hop. His famed sound, combined with captivating visuals created by industry-favorite Steven Haman created two completely unique sets that highlighted the mountainous surroundings.

Tipper with visuals by Steven Haman at ARISE 2019
Tipper with visuals by Steven Haman at ARISE 2019

CloZee, a little bit newer to the main stage, followed Tipper’s set with a worldly instrumental bass set that kept the entire crowd on their feet. She played a mix of fan-favorites and crunchy edits of Sumthin’ Sumthin’ and Ratatat. Hailing from France and catching like wildfire over the United States, her music is quickly becoming a household name for music-lovers of all genres.

Sunsquabi gave a high-energy performance to their devoted fanbase. Walking through the crowd, there were tons of families and children having a blast dancing to their upbeat blend of improvisational jamming and electronic funk. If one Sunsquabi set wasn’t enough for fans, the electronic funk band also stepped on stage with Autonomix, a Denver-based electronica jam band. The members had a blast on stage and even ended with some unreleased music that will leave fans refreshing their music platforms for weeks to come.

Oddly enough, my favorite set of the weekend wasn’t from an artist on the lineup. On Sunday, ARISE put on an official Children’s Talent Show, which featured break dancers, singer/songwriters, hoopers and more! The turnout was huge and the cheers were loud for every performer that came out on stage. There aren’t many music festivals that are safe (or frankly, even fun) for kids to attend, but ARISE absolutely made a tremendous effort to make sure that the weekend was fun for fans of all ages.

A mural at ARISE 2019
A mural at ARISE 2019

I think that inclusivity is my favorite part of going to music festivals; it doesn’t matter what you wear, or what you do for a living. The only thing that matters is that you show up in your truest form and that you accept others for doing the same. I can’t imagine a better place to really find yourself than Sunrise Ranch. With the festivals’ impressive turnout this year, I’m hoping that next year the ARISE team works on increasing security staff for quicker entry into the grounds, as well as more elaborate stage designs. Much like the name of the event, I truly think that ARISE is on the rise.

For additional photos from the event, check out the photo album on Facebook.

The Return of Decadence Arizona 2019

Decadence AZ 2019 Announcement

Phoenix, AZ – Relentless Beats has announced the return of “Arizona’s Biggest New Year’s Eve Experience”, Decadence AZ. Presented by Relentless Beats and Global Dance, the sixth annual festival takes place at Rawhide Event Center in Chandler, on December 30 and 31, 2019. Last year’s festival featured epic performances by the likes of Above & Beyond; Alison Wonderland; DJ Diesel; Drezo; Dr Fresch; Eric Prydz; Ghastly; Marshmello; NGHTMRE; Porter Robinson; REZZ; San Holo; Skrillex, and more to ring in 2019. A massive lineup is already in the works for this year.

And while the lineup certainly is the flash appeal of most festivals, Relentless Beats has decided to tap its fans to assist with the overall experience by opening up a survey to have their voices heard. Receiving an overwhelming response, much of which was a continuation of conversations with fans since the close of 2018, Relentless Beats will be utilizing this to help create the best Decadence yet. Features already being implemented to improve on the guest experience include increased flooring and dedicated walkways at and between the stages, additional entry and exits gates at main stage, as well as a reconfigured and improved VIP experience, that will create better flow and shorter wait times, and increased chill stations and staffed water resources.

Public Pre-Sale General Admission passes for Decadence Arizona go on sale Friday, August 9th for $129, before fees. Public Pre-Sale VIP passes will be available at two levels: Standard VIP, including everything that a GA ticket provides plus express VIP entrance, a commemorative lanyard, access to VIP lounge, access to VIP front row viewing, premium restrooms and passed desserts in the VIP areas. Platinum VIP includes everything that the Standard VIP pass includes, plus: complimentary drinks, side stage viewing, access to artist hospitality lounge, steakhouse quality dinner, exclusive festival gift bag, and festival concierge. You must be age 21 and up to purchase Platinum VIP passes. For full details and all ticket options, visit www.decadencearizona.com. Decadence Arizona is an 18+ event.

Decadence Arizona is produced by Relentless Beats and Global Dance. Visit www.relentlessbeats.com for the most up-to-date information on all Relentless Beats events. Stay connected on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RelentlessBeats and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RelentlessBeats.

Dusk Music Festival Drops Diverse 2019 Lineup

DUSK Music Festival 2019

Tucson, AZ – After an incredibly successful 2018 which saw a record number of fans, DUSK Music Festival has announced it will be returning to Armory Park in Tucson, AZ on November 9th and 10th. Partnering with Relentless Beats for the fourth annual, two-day, music, food and art festival, DUSK has also announced its lineup, which includes: Kaskade; REZZ; Two Door Cinema Club; A R I Z O N A; Broncho; Cray; Malaa, and Tokimonsta, with more artists to be announced in the coming weeks. Previous performers have included: Dillon Francis; Big Sean; Louis the Child; Vince Staples; Phantogram; Steve Aoki; Elohim; Big Gigantic; Cold War Kids; Matt & Kim; RL Grime; Jai Wolf; A-Trak, and Cherub, amongst others.

“This partnership is a great opportunity to work with an amazing festival and introduce Relentless Beats to a broader fanbase,” says Relentless Beats founder Thomas Turner. “We are excited to help create an amazing experience for all of Tucson.”

Beginning in 2016, DUSK has worked feverishly to create an unforgettable experience combining a variety of music genres, the best food and beverage Arizona has to offer and an interactive art experience on the grandest of scale, for its fans. While plans for this year’s event are still underway, past incarnations have seen a partnership with regional favorite the Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) which curated a custom culinary program showcasing the dynamic food scene southern Arizona has to offer. A continued partnership with Tucson’ Monsoon Collective is expected to include live art, larger than life sculptures and interactive digital video and lighting exhibits.

“We are excited going into our fourth year and our all-volunteer staff is looking forward to working with the Relentless Beats team to improve many aspects of the festival” says DUSK Festival Director Page Repp. “Support from the Tucson community Rio Nuevo and the downtown businesses has been incredible and we can’t wait bring this special community event back to downtown Tucson.”

Additionally, DUSK Charities 501(c)(3) will be renewing its efforts to develop educational training and career programming to introduce high school and college-aged students to the wide variety of careers and vocations in the music festival industry. Proceeds from this year’s event will go to the Children’s Museum Tucson, the Armory Park Neighborhood Association, The Rialto Theatre, and several other local foundations and organizations yet to be named.

Two-Day General Admission tickets will go on sale for $99, before fees on Friday, August 2, at 10 a.m. MST. VIP passes, complete with express entry lanes, comfortable seating, air-conditioned premium bathrooms, and main stage private viewing area are available starting at $179, before fees. Returning this year, the Platinum includes everything that the Standard VIP pass includes, plus: access to an all-inclusive, elevated stage-height viewing platform, complimentary wine, beer, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, starting at $399. All ticket types are available online at www.DUSKmusicfestival.com. DUSK is an all-ages event.

Visit www.DUSKmusicfestival.com for the most up-to-date information on DUSK Music Festival. Stay connected on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DUSKmusicfest, on Instagram at @DUSKmusicfestival, and Twitter at @DUSKtucson.

Goldrush 2019 Announces Artist-by-Day Lineup

Gold Rush 2019 Single Day Lineup

Phoenix, AZ – With the final touches to Goldrush’s massive lineup just about finished, Relentless Beats is pleased to announce its artist-by-day schedule. Returning to Rawhide Western Town in Chandler, Arizona, this September 27 and 28, the fully immersive two-day festival continues to build on its theme inviting electronic dance music and hip-hop fans from across the country to take a journey into the Wild, Wild West.
Artists by day are as follows:

Saturday
Adventure Club; BIJOU; Blossom; Boogie T; DJ Scheme; Don Diablo; Getter; Green Velvet; Lil Skies; PAZ; Pouya; Shlump; Troyboi; Will Clarke; Woof Logik; Zhu, and Zomboy.

Sunday
Alison Wonderland; Barely Alive; Blunts & Blondes; Destructo; Dr Fresch; Funtcase; Ghastly; Hermitude; Jayceeoh; Killy; Kyle Watson; Lil Texas; Lucati; Oliver Heldens; Sheck Wes; Trippie Redd; Umek, and VNSSA.

Artists-by-Stage, along with some to-be-announced surprises, will be released in the coming weeks.

Fueling the rush to the third annual festival, Relentless Beats has been hosting a series of Goldrush Expeditions starting with Dr Fresch (July 27). The series continues this weekend with Ghastly, Blossom, Rampant, Austin Feldman and Housekneckt at BLK Live on August 2, followed by Gareth Emery at Shady Park on August 16. Additionally, the Goldrush DJ Competition returns, with the winner receiving an opening slot at this year’s event. Entrants are encouraged to submit their 30+ minute demo set to their SoundCloud or MixCloud account, featuring their style of music. For full rules and submission details, visit RelentlessBeats.com.

General admission passes are now available, starting at $159 for a two-day pass, plus fees. VIP passes will be available at two levels: Standard VIP, including everything that a GA ticket provides plus express VIP entrance, a commemorative lanyard, access to VIP lounge, access to VIP front row viewing area, premium restrooms and passed desserts in the VIP areas. Platinum VIP includes everything that the Standard VIP pass includes, plus: complimentary drinks, side stage viewing at the Golden Gorge stage, access to artist hospitality lounge, steakhouse quality dinner, exclusive festival gift bag, and festival concierge. VIP options are available starting at $259 for a two-day pass, and you must be 18 for Standard VIP and 21 and up for Platinum VIP to purchase. Table service will be available at the Golden Gorge stage. Single-day passes are available Friday, August 2, at 10 a.m. MST for $89 (GA) and $159 (VIP), before fees All ticket types are available online at www.relentlessbeats.com. Goldrush is an 18+ event.

Goldrush is produced by Relentless Beats, Universatile Music and Global Dance. Visit www.goldrushfestaz.com for the most up-to-date information. Stay connected on Twitter and Instagram at @GoldrushFestAZ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldrushFestAZ.

This Weekend: Autonomix w/ Special Guests at ARISE

Autonomix at Arise Music Festival 2019

Just over a year old as a band, Autonomix has taken the Denver music scene by storm, providing a sound that combines jazz, funk, psychedelic rock and modern electronica. The band consists of Jeff Pfannenstiel (Drums), Zack Smith (Guitar), Danny Littler (Bass), and Josh Nermon (Keyboard). Their debut album Counter Balance (released earlier this month) was a huge leap forward for the band, locking them into even more prestigious opportunities like being direct support for Papadosio at Summit Music Hall on October 18th. Autonomix will be performing at ARISE Music Festival this Saturday, August 3, during sunset, 8:00pm – 9:15pm at the Starwater Stage. With the festival fast approaching, the Autonomix extended an invite to their band practice where I got an exclusive look at their creative process, listened to some unreleased material, and sat down for an interview during their break.

Thanks so much for having me over! How did you guys get started as a band?

Josh: Well, these three started without me at first…

Zack: Danny and I had just come out of playing with Telemetry. Some friends connected us with Jeff and we ended up putting together a sort of casual jam. We had another keyboard player. We ended up “vibe”ing really well together. We got about three weeks into the band before the keyboard player quit. We all freaked out for about five minutes, I called Josh and had him in the band about 5 minutes after that.

Josh: And I had just quit my other band the week before. Me and Zack had been trying to play music together for over a year so it kind of worked out perfectly.

Was the vision for Autonomix always to be a psychedelic jam band?

Zack: I’ve always wanted to make music like this. I went to my first STS9 show as a metal-head and was like “wow, this kind of music can have this kind of effect on people?” So when the four of us started jamming—Jeff’s favorite band is Lotus, Danny’s into Disco Biscuits, Josh and I both love STS9—that was kind of the natural direction we went in.

Josh: It was all super natural. The first time we all played together it was like a 15-minute improv.

Jeff: We pretty much record each practice, which helps a lot in the writing process. Our song off the new album Harmonomix came out of an improv jam.

That’s actually my favorite song on the album.

Zach: That song came out of an improv at our second practice as a band. The improv we did isn’t far off at all from how the song ended up getting recorded.

Do you guys come up with a set list for all of your shows, or is it mostly improv?

Danny: We come up with set lists.

Josh: [laughing] Well, except for that one time…

Danny: As we’re getting better at this, we’re trying to learn to read the room a little bit; the crowd we’re playing to, the location, whether it’s a nighttime Cervantes set versus a daytime festival set and kind of fit those factors into a solid set that tells a story.

Alright, I’m curious… What’s the story of the show where you guys didn’t have a setlist?

Josh: We played this STS9 after party at this mansion and the whole night got pretty wild.

Zack: So we had wrote a setlist and we played our first set… then for some reason we decided to tear the setlist in half and just went for it in our second set… [laughing] things got crazy that night!

It was so cool watching you guys in rehearsal and I think I noticed it at Sonic Bloom too, but do guys sign to each other while you’re playing?

Zach: We have our own sign language. The saxophone player that sits up with us, Carl Cox, him and I used to play in a band together and we wrote our own signs for communicating key changes on stage. Then Danny here expanded on it an came up with even more signs for the rhythm parts of songs. So when you see me on stage making weird signs, I’m prepping the band for a key change, and if you see Danny making them, he’s prepping us for a rhythm change.

Autonomix at Sonic Bloom 2019
Autonomix Performing at Sonic Bloom 2019

Danny: Each of our sets are about 40 to 50 percent improv so communicating is really important.

Autonomix has only been around for a little over a year but I still feel like I’ve seen your name everywhere. Can you tell me a little bit about how you’ve grown so quickly and successfully?

Josh: The great thing about this band is that we’ve all really played to our strengths and have taken the right opportunities to keep the momentum going. We all know that in this industry, losing momentum is detrimental to expanding as an artist. It’s always going through the front of our heads, “what can we be doing to take steps forward?”

Zack: A huge advantage that we have is the fact that we practice here at Jeff’s place for free. We’ve been lucky to be able to methodically pick and choose which shows we want to play and not have to worry about making $400 a month to cover rent space. We’ve only played about 13 big shows in the last year. We really don’t play for money. We all have jobs outside of this band, so any money we make with music gets invested right back into Autonomix.

What’s your favorite show or festival that you guys have played so far?

[all laughing]: Album release at Cervantes!

Josh: But ARISE this year is going to be really special because we actually won a contest to get to play there last year.

Can you tell me more about that?

Josh: So every year, ARISE holds a Rock the Fest contest where fans vote in a list of their top 10 artists and then a panel of judges choose their three favorites. Our fans really came through for us and got us a TON of votes. We had only been a band for about four months so ARISE ended up being like, our third-ever show. It was epic.

This is actually my first ARISE. What can I expect to see?

Zack: ARISE is definitely a lot more family-oriented. I’d say it’s half about the music and half about the workshops and the yoga and the art-installations. It’s all-encompassing.

Josh: It’s one of my favorite festivals… the grounds are absolutely beautiful, it’s right on a lake. The people who put it on put a ton of focus in keeping the event sustainable, not using single-use plastic, that type of vibe.

Zack: I’d say environmentalism, safety, and fun are the three pillars of ARISE Music Festival.

Jeff: The very first thing I did when I moved to Denver a few years ago was go to ARISE. It’s really cool to get to be on the bill.

Josh: Not quite ready to announce this yet, but we will have some very special guests on stage with us. People are going to lose their minds when they see what we have planned.

Can we have any hints?

Josh: The people or persons sitting on stage with us are also on the ARISE lineup… and it’s definitely someone big.

As a band, how do you like being based in Denver?

Josh: The music community is something like I’ve never seen before. We help other bands, they help us, it’s really a symbiotic relationship.

The music industry in Denver, to me, definitely highlights collaboration rather than competition.

Josh: Right! And it’s not like that anywhere else. I moved from California. Out there, it’s cutthroat… the fanbases are divided… I knew I wasn’t going to make it as a musician out there. Danny and Zack are actually the guys who convinced me to move out here…

Zack: To join a totally different band!

Josh: But they’re some of my best friends. They knew that being a musician is what I wanted to do and they helped pull me to where I needed to be to become successful.

Zack: The competition that does exist in Denver is healthy. There are a million different shows happening every night, so if you want to stand out, you constantly have to be working really hard to put on a good show. So while we aren’t necessarily competing with other people, we see our peers stepping up their performances and it pushes us to do the same.

Your fanbase is clearly really supportive of your music and your message, do you have anything you’d like to say to them?

Zack: We worked really hard over the past year on this album and learned a ton. The final product is something we’re really proud of. We have so many friends who have been with us since we started the band, and they have totally shown up for us. They’ve been patient with us during the last 6 months of trying to get this album out there and while we haven’t been able to personally thank each and every one of them, none of that goes unnoticed.

Josh: We have so much gratitude for every single person who’s ever shown up to a set, bought a tee shirt, or even just pressed play on a song. We’ve got some amazing friends in our corner.

Autonomix Backstage at Sonic Bloom 2019
Autonomix Backstage at Sonic Bloom 2019

What is it like being a part of this band?

Zack: [laughing] It’s like dating three other dudes except you don’t get any sex out of it and you spend a lot of money.

* Be sure to check out Autonomix at ARISE Music Festival; Saturday 8:00 – 9:15 at the StarWater Stage

Hulaween Announces 2019 Phase 1 Lineup

Hulaween 2019 Phase 1

After surviving some financial troubles in 2018, including the bankruptcy of Silver Wrapper Productions (the original producer of Hulaween), Hulaween is due to return to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida this October 24-27, 2019. The 4-day event has announced their phase 1 lineup, including artists like The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Anderson .Paak, Jason Isbell, Big Wild, Flying Lotus, Greensky Bluegrass, Jai Wolf, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Manic Focus, The Funk Hunters, CloZee, and many more.

A variety of ticket options, including 3 and 4 day General Admission, VIP, RV, and car camping are all available from the ticketing website.

Imagine 2019 Announces Full Lineup

Imagine Music Festival 2019 Final

Atlanta, GA – Going to great depths to ensure that this is the most immersive Imagine Festival yet, Iris Presents has announced that Imagine will be expanding to four days, which will be accompanied by full music programming on the Disco Inferno stage, early arrival camping, and an extra day of fun. Taking place at Atlanta Motor Speedway this September 19-22, 2019, the added day will be free to everyone who purchases a 3-day ticket and available for a limited time until August 15th. Imagine has also unveiled the full lineup, in addition to several other big announcements, including a brand new stage- TechYes / Guerrilla 360 and a Saturday pool party.

The full lineup by stage, listing artists additions first includes:

OCEANIA STAGE: Drinkurwater; Eddie Gold; Mantis and Midnite Panda. Previously announced artists for Oceania include: Diplo; REZZ; Above & Beyond; Alison Wonderland; Zeds Dead; Marshmello; Alan Walker; KSHMR; Matoma; 1788-L; Ghastly; K?D; Leah Culver; Said the Sky and Svdden Death.

AMAZONIA STAGE: G Jones; Jade Cicada; JuJu Beats; Scales and Zen Selekta. Previously announced artists for Amazonia include: Louis the Child; Tipper; Cherub; Detox Unit; Goldfish; Phantoms and Thriftworks.

Imagine Music Festival 2019 Tipper Takeover
Imagine 2019 Amazonia Stage Tipper Takeover

DISCO INFERNO STAGE: Lane 8; Space Jesus; Blunts & Blondes; Sullivan King b2b Kai Wachi b2b Kompany; Boogie T; Squnto; Alex Lucas; Otica; Ployd; Throwdown; Vivid and White Rhino. Previously announced artists for Disco Inferno include: Claude Vonstroke & Dirtybird Players Stage Takeover; Anna Lunoe; Dr. Fresch; J.Phlip; Justin Jay; Justin Martin; Nora En Pure; Rusko; Wax Motif; Grave Gang b4b set with Subtronics, HE$H, joined now by Boogie T and Squnto.

TECHYES 360: Amine Edge & Dance; Anthony Attalla; Black v Neck; Charles Meyer; Ciszak; Clyde P; Doons; Dr Boom; Ernesto; Franklyn Watts; Galo; Greco; Hunter Reid; Lee K; Mark Starr; Ronnie Lopez; Techneekz; Tim Baresko and Treasure Fingers.

Imagine Music Festival 2019 TechYes Stage
Imagine 2019 TechYes 360 Stage

AERIA / SIX FEATHERS STAGE: Eddie Gold b2b Midnite Panda; Big Mansions; DaddyDough; Ian Live & Friends; Julian Gray; Laser Assassins; MC Word; Nhexis; NOA|AON; Paraleven; Reliquary; Ricky Raw; Torch x Elevate Block; Previously announced artists for Aeria include: BT; Darude; AK1200 and Reid Speed.

SILENT DISCO STAGE: Bandikook; Chachuba; Comisar; D:RC; Deep Technicians; Deff Jeklyn; Dose Dromer; Exit 9; Fear & Lowe; JD; JStella; Kozmic; Krushendo; LaGoons; Leet; Magnesk; Mettapattern; Mike’s Revenge; Movin Keys; Octl; Riven; Shakes; Stranger Candy; Sylo; Tripnotic; White on Rice; Xenotype and Zubah. Stage takeovers by Ian Live & Native Groove.

In addition to music pulsing throughout the festival grounds and into camping, Imagine has partnered with Beatbox Beverages to host a Vegas-style daytime pool party on Saturday. All festival-goers are invited to the party and can add the pool party to their ticket. VIP campers will automatically have the pool party included as a part of their pass. DJs for the pool party will be announced in the coming weeks.

Finally, for those Imaginers looking to get a head start on the week, Imagine is opening up the camping grounds for early arrival on Thursday, September 19th. Early arrival camping passes can be purchased as a part of a 4-day combo pass or as an add-on for those who already purchased their camping passes for Friday through Sunday.

For a limited time, up until August 15th, 4-day General Admission passes are available starting at $269- the same price as a 3-day pass and $289 for a 4-day pass with Early Arrival GA camping. VIP passes with express entry into the festival, exclusive viewing areas, VIP bars, and lounges, and private air-conditioned VIP trailer restrooms start at $369 for a 4-day pass and $539 with a 4-day pass with camping. Payment plans are still available for a limited time. Tickets are available online at www.imaginefestival.com. Imagine Music Festival is an 18 and over event.

Imagine Music Festival is produced by Iris Presents. Visit www.imaginefestival.com for the most up-to-date information. Fans can stay connected for updates on Instagram at www.instagram.com/imaginemusicfestival, Twitter at www.twitter.com/imaginemusicfes and Facebook at www.facebook.com/imaginemusicfestival.