CRSSD Festival Fall 2024 [Recap]: What we loved about the festival

CRSSD Festival Fall 2024 successfully welcomed house and techno enthusiasts to San Diego’s Waterfront Park for a weekend packed with stellar artist performances and amazing memories.

CRSSD Festival returned for its Fall 2024 edition from September 28-29, transforming San Diego’s stunning Waterfront Park into a house and techno music paradise. Nestled between the city’s downtown skyline and the sparkling Pacific Ocean, FNGRS CRSSD’s flagship festival provided a unique experience that combined breathtaking views, cutting-edge production, and a world-class lineup of house, techno, and electronica artists such as Disclosure, Gorgon City, 999999999, BICEP, Miss Monique, Tinlicker, Biscits, Skream, and many more.

CRSSD once again delivered its signature blend of intimacy and high-energy excitement at this year’s Fall 2024 festival. The open-air setting, with lush lawns and palm trees swaying in the breeze, set the tone for a laid-back California vibe that permeated the weekend. Spanning three stages—The Palms, City Steps, and Ocean View—the festival perfectly balanced waterfront relaxation with electrifying performances. It was the best of both worlds, offering attendees a truly unforgettable experience. Here’s what we loved about CRSSD Festival Fall 2024!

In good company ⚡️ #CRSSDfest pic.twitter.com/VaNFTuiLKn

— CRSSD Festival (@crssdfest) September 28, 2024

The CRSSD Festival Experience

Waterfront Park’s intimate layout made navigating between stages a breeze, allowing attendees to effortlessly transition from the melodic vibes at The Palms to the harder techno beats at City Steps, all while remaining close to ocean views and craft cocktail bars. The food and drink options were equally impressive, offering a wide range of gourmet selections—from baja shrimp tacos to vegan-friendly bites—paired with craft beers and hand-mixed cocktails that kept the energy high throughout the day.

The venue itself, with its lush (somewhat) green lawns, swaying palm trees, and stunning oceanfront views, was the perfect backdrop for the music and the crowd in attendance. Whether lounging in the sun, sipping a cocktail, or moving between stages, attendees were constantly surrounded by San Diego’s natural beauty, creating an atmosphere that was as visually captivating as it was sonically immersive.

However, in a break from tradition, the park’s iconic fountains were drained this time around. Typically a signature feature of the CRSSD experience, the fountains served as a playful cooling spot for festivalgoers to dip their feet and relax between sets. Their absence this year was noticeable but didn’t take away from the overall atmosphere. The crowd’s energy remained high, with attendees focusing on the music and the beautiful weather, embracing other aspects of the festival experience. As much a style showcase as a music event, CRSSD attracted a fashion-forward crowd who transformed the waterfront into a runway of festival looks. Attendees embraced their individuality, turning out in vibrant, creative outfits that added to the festival’s electric atmosphere.

The entire weekend was very blessed with San Diego’s famous sunshine, further elevating the carefree vibe. With clear blue skies and temperatures in the high 70s, it was signature Southern California weather, perfect for festivalgoers to soak in the sun. The sunny skies not only made for stunning festival photos but also enhanced the experience of lounging by the fountain steps or catching a set under the swaying palms. Altogether, it was a weekend where music, fashion, and the beauty of San Diego came together in perfect harmony.

Saturday Highlights

As the festival kicked off on Saturday, Azzecca’s set at The Palms stage set the vibe for the day. Her energetic performance had the early crowd moving under the bright San Diego sun, with palm trees swaying and people dancing in their festival best. The sunset set from Nora En Pure at the Ocean View stage was a festival highlight in every sense. With the ocean breeze gently rolling through the crowd and the sky turning shades of pink and gold, her deep house tunes provided the perfect soundtrack to the moment.

For those craving a darker, more industrial vibe, Klangkuenstler’s techno set at City Steps was the place to be. As the evening cooled down, his hard-hitting beats brought the temperature up to all-time highs in the crowd. The festival’s fashion scene took on a more underground aesthetic here, with people in oversized black t-shirts, combat boots, and bold monochrome looks, reflecting the gritty sound of the music. HI-LO, Oliver Heldens’ techno alias, closed out Saturday night at City Steps, with his bass-heavy techno tracks such as ‘My Fantasy’ with Maddix and ‘DIZZY’ igniting the crowd. As the minimal lights flashed through the night sky, fans danced relentlessly, embodying the energy and style that defined the first day of CRSSD Fall 2024. HI-LO’s set was a perfect end to the day, with the cool night air and festival lights adding to the excitement.

Sunday Highlights

Sunday started just as beautifully as Saturday, with perfect blue skies and warm sunshine creating an inviting vibe as festivalgoers began to arrive. Belgian DJ Jerro opened City Steps with a chilled, melodic set, ideal for easing into the day. As the day progressed, Chris Avantgarde’s deeper, more experimental sound got the crowd moving. The German artist’s set was a more intense journey through techno as he played his fan-favorite tracks ‘Eternity,’ with Anyma, ‘Killa’ with Kevin de Vries, and ‘Perception.’ The contrast between the urban grit of the music and the sun-drenched park created a unique and exciting dynamic that packed the City Steps page from front to back. Mathame’s cinematic techno set at City Steps took festivalgoers on a journey, pairing grandiose melodies with driving beats. The Italian duo’s emotional soundscapes resonated with the crowd, many of whom swayed synchronized to the rhythm.

Over at The Palms, Four Tet delivered a genre-defying set that had the crowd in awe. The sunny, tropical vibes of the stage were perfectly complemented by Four Tet’s intricate soundscapes for festivalgoers to dance freely. Idris Elba kept the energy high at The Palms, with a set that blended afrobeat, house, and techno. The actor/DJ’s undeniable charisma shone through, and the stylish crowd responded with enthusiastic cheers and dancing.

As the evening set in, Drumcode label boss Adam Beyer brought the heat to City Steps with his powerful techno set. The festival crowd showed no signs of slowing down as they danced the night away to the thumping kicks. French DJ I Hate Models followed with a set that mixed raw emotion with hard-hitting techno, creating a dramatic contrast to the laid-back San Diego vibe. Closing out the weekend at Ocean View, Gesaffelstein delivered his signature brand of dark, brooding midtempo and techno soundscapes. The combination of Gesaffelstein’s intense visuals and San Diego’s perfect weather made for a powerful and unforgettable conclusion to CRSSD Festival Fall 2024.

If you consider yourself a house and/or techno enthusiast, then CRSSD Festival should be on your list to attend and experience more than once. For more information on future CRSSD editions, keep your eyes trained on their website here. Can’t wait until Spring 2025? FNGRS CRSSD’s PROPER NYE/NYD at Petco Park is fast approaching! Click here for ticket information and more.

Fresh additions to #ProperNYE 🧬

We welcome @kaskade, @GreenVelvet_, @JWorra, @foreverannicka, X-Coast & @weareparisi ✨

TICKETS >>> https://t.co/VlgeJIvogB pic.twitter.com/vZd8gLbr5z

— Proper NYE (@ProperNYE) September 17, 2024