![Day Trip Festival turned up the heat in SoCal with a sold-out, high-energy weekend [Recap]](https://weraveyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Day-Trip-Festival-2025.jpg "Day Trip Festival turned up the heat in SoCal with a sold-out, high-energy weekend [Recap]")
Image Credit: Day Trip Festival
Day Trip Festival turned up the heat in SoCal with a sold-out, high-energy weekend [Recap]
Long Beach was bumping this past weekend as Day Trip Festival returned for its fifth edition — and what a milestone it was.
Another year, another unforgettable edition of Day Trip Festival, and 2025 might just go down as the best one yet. With both days completely sold out, Insomniac transformed the Queen Mary Waterfront into a dance music paradise June 21–22, packed with palm trees, ocean breeze, and tens of thousands of house and techno lovers grooving to world-class music under the sun.
From start to finish, Day Trip 2025 was a celebration of everything the brand has built over the past half-decade — vibrant energy, infectious beats, and picture-perfect West Coast vibes. The weather? Flawless. The production? Next-level. The music? Easily one of the best lineups in Day Trip history, with artists like Tiësto, Vintage Culture, LP Giobbi, Anfisa Letyago, Chris Lorenzo, San Pacho, and many more in the mix. This year’s Day Trip was everything we hoped for, and then some.
Saturday: Waterfront grooves and sunset magic
Saturday set the bar high with an expertly curated lineup at the High Tide stage. Biscits warmed up the crowd early with bouncy tech house cuts, keeping things playful and setting the tone for the day. Skream came next with a set that reminded us why he’s still one of the most versatile DJs around, shifting effortlessly between styles and creating pure dancefloor joy with every drop.
Matroda brought that bass-heavy edge to the afternoon, mixing in slappers that had the crowd losing it every few minutes. His set was relentless in the best way: dirty, fun, and impossible not to move to. Wax Motif followed with a peak-time performance full of funky basslines and vocal-heavy edits that had High Tide surging with energy.
But when UK duo Gorgon City stepped on stage, everything shifted. Their headlining set was a masterclass in emotional, melodic house. Mixing crowd favorites like ‘Foolproof’ with Hayden James, ‘You’ve Done Enough,’ and ‘5AM At Bagley’s’ with deeper cuts and seamless transitions, the duo crafted one of the most euphoric moments of the weekend. As the stage’s massive production synced seamlessly with the soundtrack of the night, thousands swayed together — enjoying the moment with friends, significant others, and even strangers they’d just met — a powerful reminder of what happens when music, energy, and atmosphere align at just the right moment.
Sunday: A techno-driven, high-heat sendoff
Day 2 brought the heat, literally and musically. With clearer skies, Sunday was noticeably hotter than Saturday, but the crowd didn’t slow down. Instead, they dove deeper into a lineup that leaned hard into the techno side of the Day Trip spectrum.
Rising Scottish producer Hannah Laing tore up the Deep End stage early on with her bold mix of hard techno, trance, and wild edits. Her set was unapologetically high-energy as she ripped through her heaters such as ‘4am In A Rave,’ ‘Love Is A Drug,’ and ‘Speed Is A Deed.’ Hannah Laing’s set was exactly what early arrivers needed to wake up and throw down.
Over at High Tide, AYYBO brought a wildly fun, funky set that had everyone locked in from start to finish. Between his breakout track ‘HYPNOSIS’ and unreleased gems, his set delivered a futuristic blend of tech house that was easily one of the standouts — and judging by the sea of dancing bodies, it hit hard.
The real techno takeover kicked in with Patrick Mason, who gave a visually captivating, fast-paced set. With his commanding stage presence and bone-rattling sound, Mason transformed Deep End into a techno afters that felt worlds away from the beachy backdrop. His wild spins, expressive dance moves, and constant movement across the stage made it feel more like a performance than just a DJ set. It was raw, sweaty, and unforgettable.
Up next at Deep End was Eli Brown, who delivered arguably the most iconic moment of the weekend. Originally scheduled to close the night, his set was rescheduled to sunset — and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. His dark, gritty techno contrasted beautifully with the golden-hour glow, creating a cinematic atmosphere that left the crowd both hypnotized and fired up as he played fan favorites such as ‘Be The One,’ ‘When I Push,’ and ‘gimmE gimmE.’
New York-based Layton Giordani came into Deep End with a monster set packed with unreleased IDs, showcasing why he’s one of the most exciting names in modern techno. The first half of his performance had the underground heads freaking out as he built tension with layered synths, pulsating kicks, and haunting melodies. His transitions were razor-sharp, each track bleeding seamlessly into the next, creating a relentless momentum that kept the crowd fully locked in. As the set progressed, the energy only intensified — a masterclass in pacing, precision, and pure crowd control.
Finally, Duke Dumont brought Day Trip Festival 2025 to a close with a high-vibe set at High Tide. His sleek blend of melodic house, soaring synths, and polished production created the perfect finale to an already unforgettable weekend. As the lights glowed over the crowd and fans danced together one last time, arms in the air, smiles on their faces, wrapped in that post-festival glow, it was the kind of closing moment that made you wish it would never end. With tracks like ‘Ocean Drive’ echoing into the night, Duke delivered a set that was emotional, uplifting, and pure Day Trip magic.
Production, vibes, and everything in between
Beyond the music, Day Trip truly excelled in its experience design this year. Entry was smooth and well-organized despite increased security measures on day two (due to global events unfolding that weekend). Security was thorough but respectful, and the staff overall kept things running smoothly across both days.
The fishbowls, a beloved Day Trip staple, were out in full force and hit perfectly in the heat. It was clear they were the go-to drink for cooling down and leveling up, with vibrant-colored bowls spotted in hands all across the venue. Food-wise, the festival stepped it up this year. From gourmet sliders to flavorful rice bowls, the options were diverse, delicious, and served with surprisingly short lines. The quality was high across the board, making it easy to refuel without missing a beat.
Visually, the festival grounds looked absolutely stunning. Lush greenery and tropical plants surrounded the High Tide stage, giving it a polished beach club vibe that felt both elevated and laid-back. The massive disco ball spinning above the dancefloor added a dazzling, retro flair, catching the sunlight by day and casting shimmering reflections by night. Over at Deep End, the tropical aesthetic continued, but with a darker, moodier twist. The LED halo suspended above the stage truly stole the show, especially after sundown. As the lights pulsed in sync with the beat, and fog rolled through the crowd, it felt like stepping into a portal to another world — immersive, hypnotic, and unforgettable.
Photo ops were everywhere, from art installations to waterfront views of the Queen Mary. Flamingo and giraffe statues scattered throughout the venue added a playful, tropical touch that perfectly complemented the Day Trip aesthetic. Whether you were snapping shots with your rave fam or catching a candid mid-set moment, every corner felt made for memories — colorful, vibrant, and picture-perfect.
Day Trip 2025 was a full-on celebration of how far the event has come in just five years. From the stacked lineup and sold-out crowd to the flawless weather and elevated experience, it was a shining example of how to curate and grow a brand that perfectly embodies the Southern California summer, house, and techno vibes. Festivalgoers laughed and danced it out under the sun and the lights, and now, they’re already counting down the days until they do it all again in 2026.
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