Category - News

Damian Marley & Rebelution to Headline AZ Roots 2020

Arizona Roots 2020 Lineup

Phoenix, AZ — After an amazing first year splash, Arizona Roots Music & Arts Festival returns to the Riverwalk at Rawhide Western Town & Event Center on February 22 and 23, 2020. The festival produced by the same team behind California Roots Music & Arts Festival in Monterey, CA- the premier gathering for the progressive U.S. reggae and roots music movement and culture and Relentless Beats- Arizona’s best and most consistent music promoter.

With the announcement of the Arizona Roots dates, the two-day event will feature today’s biggest reggae-rock acts and roots music activists. Artists announced include headliners Damina “Jr Gong” Marley and Rebelution, along with support by Steel Pulse; Collie Buddz; the Expendables; Hirie; Iya Terra; Passafire; Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad; Satsang; Dubbest; 4th & Orange; Artikal Sound System; Synrgy; Fayuca; Kush County; Clint Stevens; Vana Liya, and Zeeceekeely.

“While Arizona has always been a good market for our scene we were blown away by the response to the inaugural Arizona Roots” states festival Co-Producer, Dan Sheehan. “We cannot wait to return and show all our fans the amazing surprises we have in store for year two.”

General Admission tickets for Arizona Roots Music & Arts Festival are on sale now, starting at $89 for a two-day pass, plus fees. VIP passes will be available at two levels: Cypress, including everything that a GA ticket provides plus express entry, premium restrooms, a commemorative lanyard, access to the VIP area with premium stage viewing, and an exclusive VIP-only t-shirt. Willow includes everything that the Cypress pass includes, plus: a festival swag bag, complimentary drinks, catered dinner, and access to the Willow deck for enhanced stage viewing. VIP options are available for $229 and $599 for a two-day pass, respectively. Cypress passes are 18+, and 21+ for Willow passes to purchase. For full details and all ticket options, visit www.arizonarootsfestival.com. Arizona Roots Music & Arts Festival is an All Ages event. Stay connected on Facebook at www.facebook.com/azrootsfest, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/azrootsfest and Instagram at www.instagram.com/azrootsfest.

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.

Feelmonger Drops Remix of Mersiv’s ‘Select Da Bass’

Feelmonger, Photo by Ted Daroski

Matthew Pham, better known by his alias Feelmonger, returns to the scene with the release of yet another complex and bass-heavy remix. Inspired by Mersiv’s widely popular track, Select Da Bass (released March of 2017 with nearly 50k plays on SoundCloud), his remix has been blessed by Mersiv himself, landing Pham an official remix title.

Feelmonger entered the bass arena about five years ago and was heavily inspired by artists like Bassnectar, Jantsen, Craze, and Space Jesus. His sound, while in the arena of Dubstep, sets itself apart with complex bass lines, intense yet balanced layering, and a unique unpredictability that leaves listeners patiently waiting for the next drop.

I had the chance to talk to Pham about his style, his influences, and his plans for the rest of the year. For clarity, my questions will be italicized.

Bradley: Tell me about your inspiration for creating this track.

Pham: It’s been a while since I’ve heard a Dubstep song that reminded me of the earlier era like Bassnectar, Rusko, and Datsik. I wanted to create something that was similar to those but with some influence from 2019. Also, I’ve been digging Mersiv’s releases and his “beautiful and filthy” ethos and I felt that his recent releases leaned more towards the beautiful side. I wanted to contrast this one and go fully filthy with it.

What do you hope to achieve on your journey of creating music?

Pham: I want to eventually move from the bedroom studio into a live environment where I can curate experiences for audiences; similar to what Bassnectar does. I want to have a totally immersive live experience that changes people’s perceptions of concerts. I also want to eventually produce a body of work that is timeless, and evokes the entire spectrum of human emotion.

Do you have any shows coming up that your fans can look forward to?

Pham: I am playing at the Back 2 Bellingham Festival in Washington State at the end of September alongside Stylust, Neon Steve, Pigeon Hole, and Klutch. I also plan on releasing a mixtape in mid September with some unreleased goodies and collaborations.

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.