If paradise is a place of timeless harmony, I’m hoping that USC’s Paradiso will fit the bill. Hosted at The Gorge Amphitheater since 2012, USC is bringing digital to nature to create a marriage of euphoria. The lineup has something to please every taste, and let’s just say, I’m hard to please. With carnival rides, art installations, theatrics and circus-style performances, it’s a can’t miss event if you live in the Pacific Northwest. And to set the stage, the stunning beauty of the Columbia River Gorge provides a backdrop that never gets old.
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A trance connoisseur and house fanatic at heart, I’m ecstatic that I get to see Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Gabriel & Dresden, and The Crystal Method again. But I also have a huge soft spot for old school drum and bass, so I’m stoked that I’ll FINALLY get to see Pendulum for the first time and Planet of the Drums again. I mean, if you can’t appreciate AK1200, Dara, Dieselboy and MC Messinian, regardless of what your favorite genre is, we can’t be friends. Sprinkle in some Captain Hook psytrance, Said the Sky dubstep, Gramatik trip hop, the unique house sounds of Hotel Garuda and Porter Robinson’s alias Virtual Self, and I’m a very happy girl!
I haven’t been back to The Gorge since ABGT250 (which was mind-blowing) and every time I return it’s like coming home. It’s impossible to NOT have fun there! And I’d have to say that a huge part of the fun is the camping experience. This year iHeartRaves is coordinating the campground activities in conjunction with USC and you’ll find me dabbling in a bit of yoga, flow sessions (someone please teach me the LED whip), silent disco, and maybe a bit of beauty bar to get bedazzled and my hair did. I’ll be joined this year by my bestie Steph who’s relatively new to the scene. She’s most looking forward to dancing on the grassy hillside with our crew and being dazzled by the light show. I can’t wait to shriek with laughter on rides and skip down the hill with her hand in hand. Let’s leave our cares behind for a weekend of spontaneity, thrills, and elation in the Digital Oasis of Paradiso!
USC’s Paradiso–A Slice of Paradise
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