Space Struck in AZ: PHXLIGHTS Fest 2023

Space Struck in AZ: PHXLIGHTS Fest 2023

As night fell the and stars came out, fans were eager to enter the Phoenix Raceway, located in Avondale, AZ, as PHXLIGHTS: Among The Stars mades its yearly return! This festival, produced by Relentless Beats, lit up the weekend by bringing fans a stellar lineup, sharp production, extra activities, and more! 

Layout and Production

For the first time since they first partnered with the Phoenix Raceway, PHXLIGHTS was held inside the racetrack! This layout featured two stages, a variety of vendors, a food court, art installations, interactive spaces, and plenty of hangout spots. 

The main stage, also known as The Mothership, took fans to another planet while hosting artists who will forever leave a mark on this world! The production included an elevated stage, visionary production, pyrotechnics, and of course, lasers! It also had multiple LED screens in front, behind, and flanking the DJ booth.

The secondary stage, Invasion, was presented by Beatbox Beverages and gave a platform to local and up-and-coming artists for attendees to discover. The production featured a UFO structure that had moving lights while the stage demanded attention with its heavy-hitting sound and lasers.

PHXLIGHTS 2023 Lineup

Occuping The Mothership were some out-of-this-world performers. We were able to experience the musical stylings of Martin Garrix, Afrojack, San Holo, Trivecta, Moksi, Seds Vortex, Ganja White Night, ISOxo, AC Slater, Crankdat, Wenzday and Pat Riot. 

Invasion shone a light on artists closer to their breakthrough period. Fans were able to discover artists that go by Myrtle, Mahsiv, Svnday Drvr, Jonis, Guestlist, Zanni, Qüez, Peachy Keen, Alex The Lad, Elwer, Lujan, Jur, OGK, and Zeuz. 

Both stages offered a wide variety of genres, from dubstep to house and from trance to electro-house and progressive. You could feel the energy radiating off every performer and all were well received by the crowd. Vibes were immaculate — you could feel it in the air.

Food and Drink

There were plenty of options to satisfy your taste buds! 

For food, options included mac and cheese, pizza, nachos, pretzels, chicken tenders, fries, and more! There were also a few vegetarian choices as well. 

Drink options included water, sodas, lemonades, and Red Bull energy drinks. For alcoholic beverages, attendees had the option of choosing between mixed drinks, various beers, White Claw Seltzers, and Beatbox Beverages.

Fans were also excited to see multiple local food trucks along with the ever-so-popular Maui Wowi Hawaiian Smoothies.

Interactive Spaces and Vendors

Pricklee Cactus Water hosted an area known as The Playground! This interactive space held dodgeball games, twister, shuffling classes, and more while encouraging hydration with great taste. 

Voodoo Ranger brought the 8-bit fun by hosting the 1UP arcade powered by Cobra Arcade Bar! Patrons could play games, taste beer, win prizes, take photos, and more!

Starlight Studio, presented by aerīz, hosted an imaginative space that featured vendors and live artists sharing their works and wares for curious attendees! Some of these artists included Boo Wuerger, Beyond Earth, Color Queen Art, Hippy Chick Co., and The Pour Hippy. 

Other vendors for attendees to support included Kritter Klips, Waz Shop, We Rave Hard, and Moon Lvnding.

To check out the full list of vendors and see all the activities, be sure to check out the official PHXLIGHTS Instagram!

PHXLIGHTS will forever be evolving! This incredible festival is worth experiencing when it makes its return next year. Follow @PHXLIGHTSFest and @RelentlessBeats on all socials to stay in the loop for more updates.

Artist Spotlight: PHXLIGHTS Lineup

A Look at the PHXLIGHTS 2023 Lineup by Day

As we zoom closer to April, PHXLIGHTS: Among The Stars, produced by Relentless Beats, is quickly approaching. This illustrious EDM event will touch down at the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona on April 7th and 8th.

This festival was inspired by the jarring event that occurred in March of 1997 where thousands of people saw lights of various descriptions from the Nevada state line, across Phoenix, and to the edge of Tucson, Arizona. 

Some witnesses of that night stated this was a V-shaped UFO that contained five main spherical lights. 26 years on from this supernatural event, people still wonder: are we really alone in this universe?

One thing’s for sure: You can’t feel alone while attending PHXLIGHTS! Many out-of-this-world and up-and-coming artists will take the stage to showcase their talent. Here is a preview of what attendees can be expecting over the weekend:

Day 01 (Friday, April 7th)

Martin Garrix 

Martin Garrix is a Dutch Dj who has been at the top of the charts since his release of “Animals” in 2013. His music can be categorized as progressive house, big room, and future bass. 

Garrix’s most popular track, “In the Name of Love” featuring Bebe Rexha, dropped in 2016 and has made a huge impact on the EDM scene. It currently sits at over 1 billion plays on Spotify. 

“I’d like to make a little difference in this world and hope I can inspire others to do the same,” says Martin Garrix.

Afrojack 

Nick Leonardus van de Wall, also known as Afrojack, is a Dutch DJ who has been creating music since the early 2000s. Fans would likely tell you that he is most known for his 2011 release, “Take over Control,” which features Eva Simons. 

His iconic sound can be described as electro-house, progressive house, and future bass. “There’s nothing better than making music and hearing 3,000 people chant, ‘Afrojack! Afrojack!’” says the superstar.

San Holo (DJ Set) 

Sander van Dijck, aka San Holo, is a Dutch DJ and producer from Zoetermeer, Netherlands. His first two EPs, Corellia, and Demons, were released in early 2013. Sander has been paving his way in the music scene since then. 

“Light” by San Holo came out as a single in 2017. It has been a favorite among fans and currently has over 200 million plays on Spotify. 

San Holo has also started a movement known as “Stay Vibrant”. The idea is to be aware and fully experience what’s around you, whether it be your friends, nature, or the music. Fans of his show their support by placing the % symbol behind their names across various social platforms. He encourages others to create good energy for themselves and others. 

“Let’s stay vibrant together,” says San Holo.

Trivecta 

Sam Dobkin, known as Trivecta, is an artist from Tampa, Florida. He has been releasing music since 2014. 

In May of 2022, Trivecta dropped his debut album, The Way Back up. He is consistently carving out his own path and his sound can be categorized as various genres such as melodic bass, dubstep, and progressive house. 

One of his most popular songs right now is “Island” featuring Neeve. He produced it alongside Seven Lions and Wooli.

Trivecta’s self-described goal is to “make dubstep beautiful again.”

Moski 

Dutch Duo Moski, aka Samir and Diego, create bass-heavy electronic dance music that is inspired by late ’90s U.K. garage. 

Their first EP, Brace Yourself, was released in 2015. Later that year they made their live debut at Tomorrowland in Belgium!

Moski’s song with Elayna Boyton, “Slow Burn,” currently has over 11 million plays on Spotify. It appears on their 2019 album, The Return of House Music

The word “Moksi” comes from a country in Central America meaning mix — in all contexts of the word. It means a mix of cultures, people, food, and most notably, music. 

Their sound can be categorized as house, bass music, and club/dance.

Sed’s Vortex 

Sedona, aka Sed’s Vortex, is a DJ, producer, and vocalist based in Phoenix. This will be her second year performing at PHXLIGHTS. 

Sed’s Vortex has opened for various artists in well-known local venues such as Sunbar and Shady Park in Tempe. Her unique sound incorporates multiple genres, melodic mashups, and dub frequencies to form a curated experience for the ear. 

In 2020, Sedona begin working on her craft by writing original lyrics, recording her own vocals, and growing her production knowledge. Sed’s Vortex’s latest release, “Crystalized,” dropped in April of 2021 and is currently on Spotify.

Day 02 (Saturday, April 8th)

Ganja White Night 

Benjamin and Charlie, also known as Ganja White Night, are an electronic music duo that originated in Belgium. 

GWN has been creating music for over a decade. After experimenting with hip-hop and drum and bass, they soon became truly inspired by dubstep and started curating their own style of “bass wobbling.” 

Their most popular song right now, “Jungle Juice” is a collaboration with Liquid Stranger. It currently has over 12 million plays! 

GWN is perfect for those listeners who like their music a little weird in the best kind of way.

DJ Diesel 

DJ Diesel, also known as Shaquille O’Neal, began DJing in 2014. This legendary star is known for being a basketball player, actor, and now music producer.

What most fans might not know is that Shaq has been in the music business since the ’90s! He has also released two albums as a rapper: Shaq-Fu: Da Return in 1994 and You Can’t Stop the Reign in 1996.

His large personality and stage presence get the crowd going as he is full of energy. He has been making his way across the USA performing at some of the most popular music festivals.

DJ Diesel’s latest single release, “BANG,” is a collaboration with NGHTMRE and Lil Jon. It currently has over 12 million plays.

AC Slater 

Aaron Clevenger, aka AC Slater, refers to himself as “the king of heavy bass house” in the U.S.

His music style mixes various genres like dubstep and garage. Since the launch of his Night Bass record label, AC has managed to curate his own community in the scene! 

“Suffocating” by AC Slater and Qlank features Queen Millz and sits at over 8 million plays.

Crankdat 

Crankdat, also known as Christian Smith, is a DJ and electronic music producer from Ohio. He has been releasing his own music since 2016. His unique sound can be categorized as dubstep, trap, or drum and bass depending on the release.

Fans are obsessed with “Kneel Before Me,” which is produced by Crankdat, SLANDER, and Asking Alexandria. This single was released in August of 2018 and has over 19 million plays!

Wenzday 

Straight from the Bay Area, Taylor Chung aka Wenzday has been creating music since 2016. 

At a young age, Wenzday moved to Los Angeles to commit to DJing full time! Using her experience as a classically trained vocalist, she likes to mesh together house and dubstep to create her own sound. 

Her latest release, “Handle With Care,” was released in February of 2023. Fans say her live sets are something you don’t want to miss! “When you step into her world, every day is Wenzday,” they say.

Pat Riot 

Pat Riot from Phoenix is taking the scene by storm with not only his music but his energy. He is known for his stage presence and distinctive approach to heavy house music production. 

Pat Riot’s October 2022 release of “Bad Girls” is currently his top song on Spotify. He is quickly blooming in the scene and shows no sign of stopping! 

“House Music For All” – Pat Riot

Tickets and Pricing

Tickets for PHXLIGHTS are on sale now! General admission weekend passes are available starting at $129.50 before fees. Other options include GA+, VIP, and single-day passes. 

GA+ includes express entry and private restrooms; it starts at $219.50 before fees. VIP weekend passes include everything a GA+ pass does along with a commemorative lanyard, access to a VIP lounge with premium viewing spots, and air-conditioned restrooms. They start at $319.50 before fees. 

Single-day passes are also available. 

For more information regarding ticket types, table reservations (21+), and payment plans, visit www.phxlightsfest.com and www.relentlessbeats.com. PHXLIGHTS: Among The Stars is an 18+ event.

Sweet Neon Dreams Are Made Of This!

Sweet Neon Dreams Are Made Of This!

Howdy, fellow festival goers! As this past weekend came to an end, the high of Goldrush Music Festival: Neon Dreams slowly faded away. This three day reimagined event that is produced by Relentless Beats featured a diverse lineup, multiple stages, art installations, vendors, hang-out spots, extra activities and more! Goldrush has always been one of the best festivals here in Arizona so fans were eager for it’s return this year.

Location, Layout, and Production

Goldrush Music Festival called the Phoenix Raceway, located in Avondale, AZ, home for the weekend of October 7th – 9th. The raceway is a unique space that has lots of parking, including ADA and Premium, and has multiple entrances and exits for crowd flow. 

They had plenty of bathrooms, water stations, and rangers on site to assist you with anything you may need. 

Relentless Beats was able to utilize this outdoor space to hold three stages that go by Paradise Prairie, Moonrise Mountain, and Coyote Cove. There was also a Sound Cabin Art Car and the Cowboy Corral Silent Disco that was hosted by Beatbox Beverages

Grass turf was also provided for attendees to relax along with multiple picnic tables, food court seating, and more hang-out areas around Coyote Cove. 

VIP also had its own entrance to the festival along with private viewing areas at Mainstage, Paradise Prairie, which featured the very well-known Megastructuce that has been a staple in previous RB shows, and Moonrise Mountain which had a smaller stage that still wowed the crowd with its impressive lighting rig.

Line up

Goldrush’s stacked lineup knew how to keep the crowd moving all weekend. There were over 60 artists performing across all stages. To name a few heavy hitters, fans were excited to see Excision, Seven Lions, Rezz, Dom Dolla, Jai Wolf, Kaskade, G Jones, Herobust, Tape B, Netsky, Yolanda Be Cool, Ghastly, and more.

Let’s not also forget some of our favorite up-and-coming artists that threw down such as 2SOON, Bigstabes, Medicine Mike, Chiief., Voodreau, and more. 

There were also a few meet and greets where fans could interact with artists like HoneyLuvLucii, Da Tweekaz, ARMNHMR, and Wuki

And lastly, the Raceway was also able to host afterparties all three days that included Space Laces, ACRAZE, and AC Slater

We struck gold this past weekend with all these amazing artists. You can check out the full list of artists here.

Vendors and Activations

Drink and food vendors were placed around the festival for easy access. Drink options included mixed drinks, seltzers, Beatbox Beverages, beers, and more! As for food, there were options such as vegan pizza, vegan wraps, chicken tenders, burgers, fries, nachos, and more. 

I am going to give an honorable mention to Maui Wowi Hawiian and Rudy’s BBQ

As for retail therapy, attendees were able to shop till they drop from a variety of vendors such as Kritter Klips, Moon Lvnding, Rave Circus, Waz Shop, Kandies World, We Rave Hard, and more. 

Some activations on site that were very enjoyable to use were the Deep Eddy Dive Trailer, White Claw Roller Disco, Phoenix Suns Inflatable Hoop, The Highland Cannabis Park, Aeriz Lounge, the Melted x Jars Art Installation, and more. These were so fun and really gave attendees other activities to do while waiting for the next set or good points of interest to meet up with friends!

Conclusion

Goldrush: Neon Dreams was definitely a weekend to remember. I would highly recommend attending! Relentless Beats is constantly evolving and I am excited about the future growth of this festival. Be sure to follow Goldrush Music Festival and RB on their socials for the most up-to-date information. The official after-party movie should be debuting soon.

All photos captured by Alexander Peet.

Goldrush Music Festival Returns To The Wild Wild West!

Time to whip out your chaps and cowboy hats, Goldrush Music Festival is back! Relentless Beats happily announced that the reinvented Goldrush: Neon Dreams makes its return to the valley and will be calling Phoenix Raceway, located in Avondale, AZ, home for the weekend of October 7th -9th, 2022. This three day event is going to be filled with multiple stages, lots of vendors, art installations and more! The refresh of the festival will now bring attendees into a reimagined world of the wild wild west that will be described as “Neon Utopia” which will also feature some branded activations like the Beatbox Silent Disco and a Roller Disco by White Claw.

Lineup

One thing that will always stay golden is the caliber of lineup we can expect every year!

Some incredible artists that have already been announced include: Excision, Chris LakeKaskade, G Jones, AC Slater, Space Laces, Boogie T, Wuki, Bob Moses, Herobust, Jerro, Schade, Michael Sparks, Dom Dolla, Noizu, Netsky, Lucii, 1788-L, Ghastly, Armnhmr, Seven Lions, and Rezz.

Goldrush does a fantastic job of collecting artists from various genres to make this festival so special. There is going to be something for everyone to enjoy. 

Previous lineups have included Above & Beyond; Adventure Club; Alison Wonderland; BIJOU; Black Tiger Sex Machine; Blossom; Blunts & Blondes; Boogie T; Claude Vonstroke; Deadmau5; Destructo; Dillon Francis; Don Diablo; Dr Fresch; Getter; Ghastly; Gorgon City; Green Velvet; GRiZ; Illenium; Kayzo; Lil Skies; Lil Texas; Lil Uzi Vert; Malaa; Marshmello; Migos; NGHTMRE; Oliver Heldens; Rezz; RL Grime; San Holo; Shlump; Tokimonsta; Trippie Redd; Troyboi; Vince Staples; Will Clarke; Zedd; Zeds Dead, and Zhu.

Be sure to follow all of RB’s socials for the complete line up coming out soon!

Tickets, Tables, and Travel Packages

General on-sale tickets will open Friday, July 22nd at 10 a.m. PT. Pricing starts at $199, before fees. Attendees will be able to choose from general admission, GA+, VIP, and platinum options.  

Goldrush will also offer table reservations that include: admission to the festival, access to the VIP lounge and viewing deck, express entry to event, food and beverages, and a dedicated host along with a server. 

Travel packages will be available soon. Visit www.relentlessbeats.com for more information on all ticket options. Goldrush is an 18+ event.

Conclusion

Goldrush will always be one of my favorite festivals to attend! We are all super excited to see the revamp and experience it all over again. Goldrush is produced by Relentless Beats, Universatile Music and Global Dance. Visit www.goldrushfestaz.com for the most up-to-date information. Stay connected on Twitter and Instagram at @GoldrushFestAZ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldrushFestAZ.

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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