If you’ve never heard of one of Southern California’s most exciting events to catch on coast, CRSSD is a biannual music festival that takes place in downtown San Diego. The festival features a lineup of electronic and dance music acts from around the world, as well as ringing in local and regional talent. The festival is known for its high production values and stunning waterfront location, attracting music fans from all over the country.
Always pleasing people that want to dance year in and year out, CRSSD’s spring 2023 edition did not fail to follow that trend. CRSSD presents a stellar lineup of musical acts, beautiful weather at the always beautiful Waterfront Park right in front of city hall, delicious food and refreshing beverages, immaculate vibes, and a slew of after hours options to keep the party going after dark. Keep reading to find out why CRSSD spring 2023 was one for the books, and why you should consider attending the next one happening this fall.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
CRSSD is such a great event because there’s a little bit of everything for anyone and everyone’s varying musical taste. It features some of the most sought after house, techno, and live acts any festival could book, offering 3 different stages to bounce around from. Looking for some groovy, funky beats to get down with? Find yourself at the Palms stage to bring down the house. Want something a bit darker and harder? Tech-out the City Steps stage to get that techno fix. Need something wavy on the more mellow side? Make your way to the Ocean View stage and vibe out to some of the biggest live electronic acts headlining the scene.
We at Six Am love techno, so the City Steps most certainly made us feel at home thanks to the serious girl power coming from Sama’ Abdulhadi, Anfisa Letyago, Deborah De Luca, and Bloody Mary. The dance floor was most certainly popping off during Popof x Space 92‘s set, and we must highlight the chunky techno that was dished out by the legendary super star himself, UMEK. But if you were looking for something to get your feet pounding, any set played by any of the talented artists at the City Steps would’ve done you right.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Rachael Polack — @rachlpolack
On the lighter, bouncier side of things, the Palms was most certainly movin’ and groovin’ with tunes selected from titans such as KETTAMA, Jack Master, Chaos In The CBD, Bedouin, and Purple Disco Machine. You’d be hard pressed not to grab a set from Australian legends Mall Grab on the decks, and our personal favorite set of the event was Seth Troxler b2b SKREAM, filling in for Eats Everything who was unfortunately unable to make it. It’s always the surprises in life that make it all the more exciting.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Rachael Polack — @rachlpolack
And to fulfill the live music concert vibe of the festival, the Ocean View stage was not one to skip out on, featuring icons such as ODEZSA, Polo & Pan, Channel Tres, and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. The special guest appearance by the oh so beloved Lane 8 got everyone in their feels as well, I’m not crying, you’re crying!!
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Felicia Garcia — @fixationphotography
As always, the festivals overall vibe was amazing; how could it not be with such a beautiful location and amazing lineup? As a 21+ event, CRSSD aims to be a more mature dance music event with a more mature crowd, and it most certainly can be felt as you mosey your way through the fun. CRSSD doesn’t call itself a ‘rave’ nor do they want to be associated with the ‘rave scene’, they just aim to be a music event friendly to all who which to attend, which they do a great job accomplishing. Aside from finding most in attendance to be kind and respectful, you can also find most people rocking some ferociously fashionable outfits.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
Looking away from the crowd and into the stage, shout-out to the production team who did a lights out job setting up some of the most amazing lights and decorations any festival could feature. There were also plenty of nice places to chill out around all corners of the venue, with a few art installations beckoning you to stare at. Overall, theres a vibe for everyone to catch when you catch a day spent at CRSSD.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
This CRSSD weekend took place on 2 beautiful sunny San Diego days, and 2 brisk and chill SoCal nights. Taking place twice a year during times of the year where the weather is most suitable, the FNGRS CRSSD promoters do a great job planning around the near perfect weather. Layers were definitely a must to stay comfy and cozy at night, and many furry and fuzzy coats could be found across the festival. The wind picks up a nice ocean breeze off the water, and it’s pure bliss standing in the sun or finding a nice spot for shade to chillax. Never too hot, never too cold, the CRSSD venue is one of the perfect places to party.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
Calling all foodies! CRSSD offers a diverse selection of food and drinks for all attendees to enjoy. The festival features a variety of food vendors, ranging from local favorites to trendy food trucks. Some of the food options available include tacos, hotdogs, pizza, sushi, and vegan and vegetarian options. From acai bowls, vegan noodles and avocado toast to BBQ, burgers, and gourmet mac n’ cheese, there is certainly a tasty bite out there for any pallet to find pleasure.
In addition to the food options, CRSSD also features a selection of craft beer, wine, and cocktails. The festival has partnered with local breweries and distilleries to offer a variety of different drinks, and attendees can find everything from classic cocktails, virgin mock-tails, and innovative craft beers.
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Rachael Polack — @rachlpolack
One thing to note about the food and drink options at CRSSD is that they can be on the pricier side, which is typical for festivals. However, the quality of the food and drinks is very high, and many attendees appreciate the variety and convenience of having a range of options to choose from. You really get what you pay for when you spend your money at CRSSD.
The CRSSD experience is not truly complete unless you cap the night off with an after party, which the FNGRS CRSSD promotors make sure to have plenty to choose from. Taking place in various venues throughout San Diego during the festival weekend, these afterparties are known for featuring top-notch electronic and dance music acts while providing a chance for festival-goers to keep the party going after the main event. Ranging from intimate club shows to larger warehouse events, some of the venues that hosted the FNGRS CRSSD afterparties this time include Spin Nightclub, Music Box, Bloom, Oxford Social Club, and Onyx Room Nightclub, to name a few. All venues are just an Uber away from Waterfront Park, if not just a mere walk away, never out of reach if you want to keep going after midnight.
FNGRS CRSSD After Party // Courtesy of Max Spruill – @6amaxx
One of the standout features of the FNGRS CRSSD afterparties is the quality of the talent they bring to the table. The promoter has a reputation for booking some of the biggest names in electronic and dance music, and attendees can expect to see established headliners as well as up-and-coming artists. Often times you can catch your favorite artist playing not only at the festival during the day, but also at the after’s playing a deeper, darker set by night. Special shoutout to the OG Ken Ishii who brought the daytime techno vibes for his 3:45pm-5pm slot at the City Steps, and then threw down the dark, hard techno we needed at 1am set at Encore on Ronson Road. All in all, the CRSSD after parties are a great way to keep the vibes going all night long while getting a chance to dance to your favorite acts in a more intimate setting.
Ken Ishii After Dark Set // Courtesy of Max Spruill – @6amaxx
CRSSD is a must-see event for any fan of electronic and dance music. With a diverse lineup of top-notch talent, multiple stages, a variety of food and drink options, and a slew of events to check out after dark, CRSSD offers a truly unique, immersive experience. With an energetic and inclusive atmosphere, attendees from all walks of life can come together to celebrate their love of music. Overall, the CRSSD Festival is a weekend you won’t want to miss if you love electronic and dance music, and it’s sure to leave you with lasting memories and a desire to come back year after year. Make sure to keep your eyes out for more information about the fall edition of CRSSD happening later this year in September.
Connect with CRSSD: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Rachael Polack — @rachlpolack
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Claire Lejeune — @ladybaguette
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
Courtesy of CRSSD Fest // Juliana Bernstein— @gettiny
