Goldrush Festival 2024 delivered a stellar experience in two days, filled with genre-bending beats, intense visuals, and surprise collaborations. While not a perfect festival for all types of attendees, here’s a breakdown of the most electrifying moments of the weekend and a bit of grumbling I can’t ignore.
ADA Backslide
As a long-time Relentless Beats attendee and a mobility aid user, I was disappointed to see a new trend in their ADA setup this weekend. Historically, RB has provided an elevated viewing platform for disabled attendees to have a specified place to enjoy their evening. Unfortunately, this was downgraded to a playpen built from metal barriers at Goldrush. No longer elevated and was shoved to the furthest corner possible, the viewing experience was beyond lackluster. To add insult to injury, in the direct line of view to the stage from the ADA section was an elevated viewing section for bottle and table service VIP groups. Disappointing, to say the least.
Day 1 Highlights
Pauly D
While Pauly D kicked off the festival with explosive party energy, he quickly proved he was a girl’s girl with his selection of samples! Dropping Kesha’s classic “TikTok” with a very necessary facelift saying “F P Diddy!” He kept with this theme by rolling right into “Not Like Us,” I wish I could tell you how hard the crowd hit those “wap wap waps”! This was my first time catching a Pauly D set and I was thoroughly impressed with the energy and overall vibe he was laying down.
Halogenix
Next, Halogenix brought the underground UK dubstep vibes to the decks. To top off a dynamic set, we were treated with a surprise back-to-back moment with Alix Perez. They featured their new track, which was bass-heavy and grimy. It hit all the right notes for the bass heads. I’m keeping my eyes out for their fresh collaboration track.
Timmy Trumpet
Timmy Trumpet brought the energy, literally flying in on a helicopter. Sharing a surprise track with special guest Diego, they dropped a country road dubstep remix that intrigued the crowd. The highlight? Pulling up Sullivan King for a moshpit frenzy! The crowd became chaotic, ecstatic, and downright feral! It was a moment I was stoked to be a part of.
Ganja White Knight
Ganja White Knight followed with their signature whimsical visuals and heavy dubstep. Their set, a triple threat of fire, fireworks, and lasers, was an audiovisual journey, complete with a shout-out to LSDream and featured their latest single with Tape B.
Alesso
Alesso, a forever notable name in the game, delivered a house-driven, big-room set. Opening with a deep remix of Calvin Harris’ “Under Control,” he built the energy smoothly, taking the crowd for a ride. He ended on a high with “If I Lose Myself,” keeping the crowd dancing through his entire performance.
Ray Volpe
Ray Volpe brought the lasers and bass but offered less variety than the rest of the day’s performances. It was a classic Ray Volpe performance, which provided heavy bass and fun gimmicks but nothing groundbreaking.
Chainsmokers
The Chainsmokers brought a theatrical flair, opening with dramatic intensity and dropping enough bass to shake the entire crowd to their core. Their vibe was contagious, with the duo enjoying themselves as they performed tracks like “Don’t Let Me Down” and a 2015 throwback remix of “Hideaway.” A surprising twist came when they dove into riddim—a departure from their usual sound, but it worked.
Sullivan King
Rounding out Day 1 of Goldrush Festival, Sullivan King tore into the night with his usual mix of heavy metal and dubstep. Highlights included a Linkin Park sample and a reckless Zeds Dead remix. His set was filled with fresh releases, with a wild shout-out to Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” before breaking the crowd’s minds with a screen-smashing bit. Classic Sullivan chaos.
Day 2 Highlights
Hvdes
Day 2 started with Hvdes, who delivered a nostalgic yet filthy set. Featuring visuals that resembled her likeness, she dropped insane dubstep remixes of tracks like Avril Lavigne’s “My Happy Ending” and Nickelback samples—melding 2000s emo rock with filthy dubstep. The crowd loved it, especially when she wrapped up with a glitchy remix of Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Our resident writer, Kody Teer, has a stellar experience meeting Hvdes herself. Check out more about his festival experience here!
YDG
Stepping up for a second set after Pola & Bryson couldn’t make it, YDG’s “sploiky” sound was an unexpected hit. He earned serious props from me for holding the crowd with a last-minute performance. I gotta imagine he loved the opportunity to try some new stuff he may not have been able to fit into his first set.
AC Slater
AC Slater brought the party vibes, packing the majority of fest-goers into his energetic set. His bass-heavy house beats had the crowd bouncing from start to finish.
San Holo
San Holo was in a class of his own, blending California Love, Mr. Brightside, and a killer dubstep drop of Soulja Boy into his set. His playful, silly energy was infectious, but he showcased his technical prowess. Bringing out Daniel Allen for their unreleased collaboration was a highlight, as was the emotional performance of “I Just Want to See the Light,” with San Holo sharing his touching story behind the track.
Black Tiger Sex Machine (BTSM)
BTSM’s anime-themed show had a drawn-out build-up with 10 minutes of looping ambiance, but once the drop hit, it was worth the wait. The dramatic opening was everything the anime fans wanted, making the performance a cinematic experience.
Deathpact
Deathpact kept things heavy with his filthy, bass-driven set. Sprinkling in recognizable samples but keeping his own vibe, Deathpact had the crowd thrashing with tracks like “Stop Drop,” and a wild REZZ sample, leaving everyone in a bass-induced trance.
INZO B2B Mersiv
The festival’s first-ever INZO and Mersiv back-to-back set was the perfect way to close out Goldrush. INZO, wearing a crazy hat, set the tone with his signature “face plant on a galaxy” style, while Mersiv brought a wobbly, bass-heavy vibe. Their energy was palpable, and their synergy made it feel like they’d been performing together for years. The smooth transitions between their respective styles made it one of the standout sets of the weekend.
Goldrush Festival: Dripping in Gold or One to Skip?
Despite some logistical flaws, Goldrush 2024 was a whirlwind of heavy drops, explosive collaborations, and nostalgic throwbacks, from dubstep to riddim to big-room house. Each day was packed with surprises, and the artists brought their A-game to every performance. The festival wasn’t just about the music but the shared experience of losing yourself to the sound and the moment. This was my 4th Goldrush and most certainly not my last!
If you had your pic snapped by our photo team, check out the full photo album on Facebook here!
Relentless Beats has a handful of fests lined up for the rest of the year. Check them out below!
Super Unnatural | November 1st and 2nd
Better Together | November 22nd and 23rd
Decadence Arizona 2024 | Age of Indulgence | December 30th and 31st
Stay safe, and keep dancing!
