A Decade of Dancing: CRSSD Fest Celebrates 10 Years at Waterfront Park
Sunsets & Synths: CRSSD Fest’s Day 1 Was a Waterfront Dream
Ten years in, CRSSD Fest knows how to throw a party. For its anniversary edition, the festival’s first day felt like a victory lap, packed with incredible music set against the stunning backdrop of the San Diego waterfront. As devoted fans of live performance, we at ListenSD made it our mission to soak in as much of the Ocean View stage as humanly possible, and it did not disappoint.
The day kicked off with a full set from BUNT, who delivered an energetic and undeniably fun performance that set a perfect tone for the afternoon. Soon after, New York’s Fcukers (one of our recommendations) hit the stage and completely justified our hype. They make vibrant, exciting music that had the entire crowd dancing. We can’t wait to see them again.
As the golden hour approached, Ben Böhmer offered a refreshing wave of melodic house before the ever-brilliant Caribou took over. As always, their set was an impeccable display of aesthetic vision, complete with their signature juxtaposition of light and shadow that make their live shows a truly immersive experience.
With the sun well set and the afterimages from Caribou’s set fading from our retinas, the night brought our favorite discovery of the festival: Darkside. The group completely lived up to their name, plunging the audience into a deep, psychedelic journey that was as mesmerizing as it was mysterious.
The grand finale belonged to Empire of the Sun, who delivered one of the most incredible productions we’ve seen. The stage overflowed with elaborate props, captivating dancers, and breathtaking visuals, creating an otherworldly spectacle. The band brought all the beauty and theatricality they are famous for, and the people were absolutely stoked, singing along in a massive, joyous wave. It was a perfect ending to a near-perfect day.
Brutalismus & Bliss: CRSSD Fest’s Day 2 Capped a Perfect Anniversary Weekend
After a stellar first day, the final day of CRSSD’s tenth-anniversary weekend kept the energy high, offering a full spectrum of sounds from groovy funk to blistering techno.
We made sure to arrive early to catch the infectious rhythms of Mexican funk group Midnight Generation, and their vibrant set proved it was worth the effort. (Keep an eye on the site for our upcoming interview with them!). The afternoon continued with a super fun set from Darius, but a definitive highlight came from Mindchatter. We loved their entire vibe, and they closed their performance with a beautiful, unexpected cover of Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” that sent a wave of joy through the crowd.
The afternoon delivered standout after standout. Sultan + Shepard brought a special moment to their super fun set by featuring a Native singer from San Diego, grounding their global sound with a powerful local voice. Following them, Maribou State delivered what might have been the most elegant set of the weekend. Guided by the incredible stage presence and beautiful vocals of singer Talulah Ruby, their performance was flawlessly smooth. Not to be outdone, Elderbrook unleashed a super fun and characteristically energetic set that had the entire crowd bouncing.
As night fell, a choice had to be made. While a massive crowd swarmed the main stage for the undeniable star power of John Summit, we peeled off to the City Steps to witness Brutalismus 3000, where the German duo delivered a blast of pure, raw, Berlin techno-trance that was absolutely relentless. It was an amazing, visceral set that left us totally impressed, and we can’t wait to see them again.
Overall, CRSSD Fest’s anniversary edition was an incredible success. The weekend was a powerful statement that the unique house and techno brand they’ve cultivated in San Diego is here to stay. We’re already counting down to see what’s in store for the spring.
