Top 5 SoCal Festivals of 2023

Lets take a deep dive into some of Southern California’s best music festivals they have to offer.

Two things that go hand in hand like no other are Southern California and music festivals. The combination of great weather year-round, paired with amazing festival productions, creates a unique synergy. The Southern California festival scene has grown tremendously over the last couple of decades. This growth involves discovering new venues, attracting global artists, and creating memorable weekend getaways. Let’s dive deep into some of the top festivals in Southern California.

HARD Summer

In August, Hard Summer returned to the City of Angels for a weekend filled with amazing artists, packed stadiums, and plenty of pyro to go around. The venue encompassed Exposition Park’s massive landscape, including the LA Coliseum and the BMO Stadium. The scale of the venue allowed the festival to feature larger stages with enhanced production. From the fans’ perspective, larger stages equate to more extensive dance floors.

Hard Summer’s stacked lineup included artists such as Diplo b2b Blond:ish, Kayzo b2b Sullivan King, Boys Noize, Loco Dice, Diesel, Gorgon City, Pawsa, Hayden James, and Skrillex b2b Four Tet. Lastly, with Hard Summer LA firmly establishing its presence, it’s evident that the festival is here to stay and poised to grow even bigger and better.

Day Trip

Day Trip festival triumphs against Long Beach’s iconic Queen Mary backdrop, celebrating sound, culture, and community in a stunning spectacle. Just like many other Insomniac festivals, Day Trip’s meticulous programming has created curated experiences for every ticket holder tier. More importantly, this past year’s lineup included artists such as Dom Dolla, Dombresky, Duke Dumont, Blond:ish, MEDUZA, James Hype, Nora En Pure, Tita Lau, and more. For those who wanted to continue the party into the night, Day Trip’s nocturnal counterpart, Night Trip, brought the house programming into the late hours. For an all-day party extravaganza, Day Trip is your festival.

Skyline Festival

Insomniac Events is among the best in the industry, leaving no doubt about their status as pioneers in the event and production space. Their annual Skyline festival showcases their ability to bring house and techno to Los Angeles on an unprecedented scale. The event is a testament to their influence and innovation in the music scene.. Moreover, their techno property, Factory 93, hosts its yearly festival, Skyline. While last year’s event took place in DTLA, this year it was set at Exposition Park. The sky-scraping stages, combined with worldwide talent, contribute to the festival’s uniqueness and diversity. This year’s edition featured artists such as Peggy Gou, Charlotte de Witte, Diplo, Michael Bibi, Joseph Capriati, ANOTR, and many more.

Splash House

If you’re looking for an escape from Los Angeles, and you want to go somewhere remote, Splash House is your best bet. Splash House held events on three different weekends throughout the summer due to its high demand. In the last ten years, the summer occasion has expanded, transforming from a typical desert poolside retreat into one of the most fashionable poolside festivals in North America. Despite its evolution, the event remains authentic and true to its roots. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists such as The Blessed Madonna, John Summit, Dom Dolla, Shiba San, Kaytranada. Late-night ravers can continue the party at the Palm Springs Air Museum, as the festival extends its vibrant atmosphere into the night. This festival has a little bit for everyone; if you ever have the chance, you should definitely check it out.

Coachella

Last but not least, we have the heavy hitter of all festivals: Coachella. This festival needs no explanation other than its constant reputation for pushing boundaries and leveling up year after year. Coachella, with its artist selection and cutting-edge production, transcends the ordinary, crafting a unique utopia that sets it apart globally. Coachella takes place every April for a back-to-back weekend extravaganza. The festival embraces DJs worldwide, gracing their decorated stages, including the DoLab, Yuma, and Sahara stages, with diverse musical vibes. Lastly, the festival featured top-tier performers alongside promising up-and-coming talent, creating an electrifying mix of established excellence and emerging creativity. These artists included Eric Prydz, Jamie Jones, Idris Elba, Nora En Pure, Mochakk, PAWSA, Dennis Cruz, Chris Stussy, Keinemusic, and more.

In conclusion, attending music festivals in California is a vibrant and unforgettable experience that transcends the boundaries of mere entertainment. California’s sun-soaked beaches and iconic Los Angeles venues host diverse festivals, cater to every musical taste and cultural preference.