Breakaway Music Festival is returning to Sloan Park Festival Grounds in Mesa, Arizona, April 24–25. This year’s festival brings a stacked lineup of more mainstream artists, coupled with a few lesser-known acts that caught my attention. As someone whose music taste usually pulls me away from the main stage as the night goes on, this year’s lineup has me excited. Here are the top five bass-heavy sets I can’t wait to see at Breakaway Music Festival Arizona 2026.
5: Effin
I first heard Effin in the lead-up to him dropping his 2025 album Daydreams. I instantly fell in love with the slow, heavy-hitting bass drops that had me vibing and headbanging simultaneously. The old movie and television samples he uses give his music a strong nostalgic feeling, forming a cohesive and unique sound. After the album was released, I made sure to catch him when his tour stopped at a small local venue, but I couldn’t wait to hear these songs on a large festival sound system with full stage production. Effin delivers the kind of deep bass you can feel in your bones, and it’s best experienced on the biggest sound system possible. His entire Daydreams album is full of bangers, but Bringing Me Down and Dreams Come True are the tracks I’m most excited to hear in this set.
4: Grabbitz
Probably the least heavy set I won’t skip will be Grabbitz. I last saw him open for Sullivan King on his Chaos Will Bring Peace Tour, and I was floored by his talent. He doesn’t make the heaviest dubstep that will have you breaking your neck for an entire set, but with the number of artists he has collaborated with, there’s bound to be plenty of heavy moments thrown in. On top of that, he delivers the live vocals he’s known for. Grabbitz sets create an atmosphere where people are happily dancing while singing their hearts out, making it a great time at any festival. I personally can’t wait to sing along to Pain Killer.
3: Habstrakt
Habstrakt is one of the very few house artists I like, and that might be because his beats are packed with so much bass they border on dubstep. Many people label his style as bass house for that exact reason. I’ve never had the chance to catch a Habstrakt set live, which makes this one even more exciting. I’m hoping I don’t tire myself out dancing to his high-energy sound. I can’t wait to hear the crowd reaction to whatever remix he drops of Chicken Soup, his collab with Skrillex, which remains one of the all-time great festival tracks.
2: ISOxo
The first time I heard of ISOxo was at Decadence 2024, when a random person in the crowd told me not to miss his set. I had never heard his name before and was planning to skip it entirely. I’m glad I didn’t, because it ended up being my most memorable set of the festival. The energy from both the crowd and the artist was on another level, making it unforgettable. Since then, I’ve found myself frequently going back to ISOxo on Spotify whenever I need an extra boost of energy. I’m excited to experience that same intensity again now that I’m more familiar with his music. Smack Talk and Fuck the Speakerz Up are both in my daily rotation—catch me losing my mind when those drop.
1: Marshmello
Every dubstep fan gives me a suspicious look when I tell them not to miss a Marshmello set. Yes, Marshmello has collaborated with artists like Selena Gomez and Bastille to create massive mainstream hits, but his live sets are packed with bass-heavy, high-energy tracks that keep any headbanger satisfied. Anyone who’s heard his collaboration EP with Svdden Death, MELLODEATH Tapes Vol. 1, knows exactly what I mean. He tends to lean into his heavier catalog during live performances rather than focusing on radio hits. Out of all the artists on the lineup, I think Marshmello is the most likely to throw down some riddim and truly shake the crowd. If you don’t believe me, do yourself a favor and listen to Fireball—that’s the track I’m hoping to hear most.
Finally, I want to give an honorable mention to both Dr. Fresch and Mersiv. Dr. Fresch puts on an incredible house set that, much like Habstrakt, can blur the line into dubstep territory. His sets feel like one giant party, with nonstop energy. Mersiv, on the other hand, brings a slower, heavier bass style, with many releases on Wakaan. His sets blend deep, wubby basslines with touches of future bass, creating a vibe that appeals to both dedicated bass fans and casual listeners. Both artists are well worth catching if you have the time.
Breakaway Arizona 2026 will be a festival to remember, so don’t miss out! You can find more details and tickets here.