Smoakland Closes Out the Smoak Sesh Tour at The Aggie

The West-coast-bred duo, Smoakland, closed out their Smoak Sesh tour with a bang last weekend at The Aggie in Fort Collins. The tour was presented by Zeds Dead’s label Deadbeats. It also followed the release of Smoakland’s fall EP, Smoak Sesh. The project featured heavyweight collaborations from artists like Cyber G and Attitude. The Smoakland boys- Harrison Hays and Anthony Battaglia -have traveled across the US this fall. Still, they saved something special for Colorado and finished their tour with a three-night run culminating in their final Fort Collins stop. 

Gravitrax

To kick off the night, Gravitrax took the stage alongside hoopers and other flow artists to get the energy started. Gravitrax is a Colorado local, currently on his 2022 Space Rock tour. He lived up to his tour name, bringing space bass originals along with songs from favorites in the genre like LSDream. Gravitrax closed out his set with high-energy drum and bass, seamlessly mixed with dubstep classics.

Gravitrax alongside local flow artists
Stooki Sound

Smoakland was incredibly proud to present trap legend Stooki Sound at both Colorado tour dates. Stooki Sound hails all the way from London, and half of the iconic duo crossed the pond to serve as direct support. Stooki Sound has been releasing major hits since 2013, and they took this set as an opportunity to honor the golden era of trap in EDM. They played bangers from giants like Flosstradamus and Keys N Krates, along with DNB remixes of rap hits and other classics. Most importantly, Stooki Sound closed out the set with a new collaboration with London-based DJ Troyboi, bringing the old trap flavor into 2022. 

DJ Jelacee, one half of Stooki Sound
Smoakland

This last stop of the Smoak Sesh tour was undoubtedly a special one. To start their set, Smoakland honored the legacy of Stooki Sound, saying they would not be here today without them. This Fort Collins stop followed a special two-night run in Denver. Night one presented their liquid drum and bass side project, Liquid Smoak, while night two brought their usual energetic dubstep.   

For their set at The Aggie, the duo went all out to present their biggest and baddest bass music. They played out their 2021 collaboration with Mersiv, “What You Want,” as well as a fan favorite from their 2020 Modern Throwback EP, “Four 15’s VIP.” Most importantly, Smoakland showed off their Smoak Sesh project. The crowd went wild for the first track on the EP, “Welcome to Smoakland” with Attitude. 

If you want to catch more Smoakland, they will be returning to Colorado in April as support for Mersiv’s Red Rocks show. They will be presenting their special Liquid Smoak DNB side project on its biggest stage yet. You can check out Liquid Smoak here.

Photos by Sammantha Drake

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DEADBEATS AZ – A Night Out With The Boys

This past weekend, Zeds Dead and co. took their prominent curated showcase to Arizona’s newest home for electronic dance music events; Phoenix Raceway. Complete with a lineup with legends such as NGHTMRE and a rare appearance from Dimension, one of the UK’s most regarded drum & bass acts, the 2022 edition of Deadbeats Arizona was complete with action that kept fans on their feet throughout the night.

As the fans entered the venue, they experienced a spectacle of audio and visual delights, with massive complimentary LED screens displayed on the sides of the stages and pyro machines blasting the air with powerful mist. The production value of this year’s edition surpassed that of recent years, thanks to Relentless Beats‘ Megastructure which debuted last year for their Summer Series events.

Deadbeats had an outstanding lineup for the show, which featured some of EDM’s biggest names alongside rising stars in the scene. Fans were treated to sets by 2SOON, Rossy, Dion Timmer, NGHTMRE, Dimension, and of course, Zeds Dead.

For those who attended Phoenix Lights just three weeks prior, the Raceway layout might have looked a little familiar. But there was plenty to see and do for music fans making their first visit to the new grounds, including a premier VIP Lounge complete with an elevated area to see the stage’s action and a vacated trolley for attendees to lounge at.

Audiences were treated to an ultra-rare set from one of drum n bass’ most critically acclaimed artists. Dimension’s first DJ set ever in Arizona was accompanied by some filthy 170 BPM drops and melodies that DnB fans around the world love him for. The UK-based producer has made a name for himself with his unique sound and ability to create tracks that are both exciting and accessible. These qualities, combined with his love for the genre, have enabled him to become a leading figure in the scene.

Zeds Dead closed out the night with a set that was as wild and varied as the dance floor in front of them. The heads of Deadbeats took their audience through ambient bass music, pumping bass house, and everything in between. Zeds Dead is known for its versatility, and this set was proof positive that they’re still at the top of their game. The Boys didn’t just bring a special guest onstage to perform “Gangsta’s Paradise“—they brought out Coolio.

And that was the icing on the cake to an already amazing night.

As another night of music and dancing came and went, it was clear that Deadbeats had once again lived up to its reputation. The show was a flawless blend of hard-hitting bass, euphoric melodies, and crowd-pleasing drops—and the crowd loved every second of it. As the final notes of Zeds Dead’s set rang out, many in the audience were already making plans for their next show.

It’s truly no wonder why Relentless Beats continues to thrive as one of EDM’s top promoters. With a relentless commitment to excellence, they always know how to put on a good show. Let’s hope they come back for another edition of Deadbeats in 2023!

Photos by Alexander Peet

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