Escape Halloween Music Festival, an annual celebration of music and mystique, offered a hauntingly good time that left attendees like me, utterly speechless and spellbound. I only attended the first day and had a absolutely incredible experience.
Escape is known for its diverse and visually striking stage designs, each transporting festival-goers to a different dimension of sound and spectacle. The entire festival site was transformed into a haunting wonderland, complete with fog-filled corridors, haunted attractions, and costumed performers who added an extra layer of intrigue to the night.
Some of the super cool parts of this event was the legendary Crazy Town area with a Poison Ivy themed club and a Butcher’s building with a disgustingly dope and bloody rave happening inside of it.
Photo By Felicia Garcia for Insomnia Events
Escape’s stages were transformed into massive spooky arenas and electrifying performances from renowned artists like Afrojack, ATLiens, Kaskade, ARMNHMR, and Zomboy had the crowd energized and going hard all night long.
Attendees took the Halloween spirit seriously, with thousands of people sharing their elaborate and creative costumes that ranged from cute or sexy to downright terrifying. It was impossible not to feel the excitement in the air as you walked through the nightmarish carnival.
Now, let’s delve into the performances by the artists that graced Escape Halloween.
By time we got into the festival on the first day/night, Afrojack was just getting introduced onto the stage. He didn’t wait long to drop some of his classic tracks and delivered an electrifying performance that left the crowd begging for more. His masterful mixing of electronic and house music had the audience dancing from the moment he took the stage. It honestly felt like the entire set was meant for an EDC 2013 crowd but it was super fun nonetheless.
Kaskade, the iconic artist known for his melodic and progressive house tracks, captivated the audience with his ethereal melodies and uplifting beats. His set was a beautiful contrast to the festival’s eerie surroundings, reminding attendees of the power of music to unite and uplift.
ARMNHMR delivered an explosive performance that left a lasting impression for me. The duo’s unique blend of emotional and high-energy music was a perfect fit for the festival’s diverse audience. Their set was a rollercoaster of excitement, vibes, and dancing, taking the crowd from heart-wrenching melodies to powerful drops. I always enjoy a good set that has the crowd legitimately raging from the front of the stage to the back of the crowd.
Zomboy’s set at Escape Halloween was my final of the evening. Imagine being hit with wave after wave of heavy dubstep and a relentless onslaught of bass and energy that left the crowd entirely drained and in absolute awe. His super heavy tracks unleashed bone-rattling drops that shook the very core of the festival and surrounding neighborhoods. The sheer force of his performance was a testament to his mastery of the dubstep genre, leaving no doubt that Zomboy is one of the GOATs’ for the genre. His set was a highlight of the night, and a defining moment in my eleven-year long career covering dance music and specifically dubstep. Zomboy, if you’re reading this, we appreciate you and very much would love to smoke some weed with you and interview you one day!
ATLiens was arguably my favorite performance from the first night of Escape Halloween. Their set legitimately brought an otherworldly presence complete with disgusting spider webs and massive arachnids hanging from the ceiling. For some reason, this stage and the decorations didn’t hit as hard until ATLiens came on and did the damn thing. The duo’s signature blend of heavy bass and experimental sound design took the audience on a journey through a creepy landscape that definitely pushed my boundaries a bit.
Escape Halloween Music Festival in San Bernardino proved to be a one-of-a-kind experience that blended music, Halloween, and artistry to create a truly unforgettable night. The diverse and visually stunning stages, the immersive Halloween atmosphere, and the powerful performances of artists like Afrojack, ATLiens, Kaskade, Zomboy, and ARMNHMR all contributed to the festival’s ability to create real FOMO.
Escape Halloween remains a testament to the enchanting power of music and the magic of Halloween, combining to create an electrifying event that is not to be missed.
Stay tuned for coverage of next year’s event.
