We’re officially kicking off festival season as Southern California’s premier house and techno festival (with a sprinkling of other genres) is finally here this first weekend of March! It has a lineup so diverse that you’d hardly ever see some of these acts combined into one three stage event. If you’ve yet to hear, the line up features Empire of the Sun, CamelPhat, Gorgon City, Bonobo, SNBRN, Cirez D, Sasha, Shiba San, MK, Billy Kenny and many more.
Launching the CRSSD weekend, Burner Podcast presents a very intimate and community-based event called Alkaline Sessions at Blonde. This happy hour event goes from 5-8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2, and features Aenera with Navjeet Sarma on hosting duties, making it an easy show to attend if you’re trying to call it an early night to save your energy for CRSSD. After each of the two daytime filled music festival celebrations, CRSSD will host a variety of CRSSD After Dark after parties throughout San Diego with select headliner brands to keep the party rocking. On Saturday, March 3, the after party of the night goes to Shiba San at Bang Bang. The man has been on a streak with amazing releases, and he continues shining the light on his after hour power. Sunday, March 5, coming all the way from Germany, is a "This Ain’t Bristol" showcase -- the brand led by house music legend Billy Kenny, who is presently making huge moves and leaving his name on the dance music scene.
After an intense CRSSD weekend, on Thursday, March 8, RetroBox SD and resident DJ1979 invite you to AC Lounge for a night of dance music featuring some of the OG’s of the SoCal dance music scene. This month, DJ1979 hosts longtime underground DJ JSPLAT to share his musical beats alone with Erik Dolen. Friday, March 9, the bass is turned up to 10 at Spin Nightclub with SD Union (the leading drum and bass brand for San Diego) and Damascus (San Diego’s leading music and lifestyle apparel brand) join forces hosting one of DnB’s most prolific artists: Dieselboy. A personal favorite of mine, Dieselboy is one force not to miss, rocking four decks all night long to his custom cinematic intros that raise your skin as you feel the bass travel through your system. Nearing the middle of the month, there is no place better to kick off your weekend than beachside in San Diego. Jimbo Jones and friends have been taking over PB’s Firehouse hosting a variety of house music artists showcasing as the sun goes down. Friday, March 16, Jimbo invites the homie Memo Rex for the Solset series. Get a sneak preview of Memo’s present musical selections as he gets ready for Desert Hearts festival going down next month!
With spring break right around the corner, I invite you all to join me in Miami at the elite dance music festival celebrating its 20th anniversary: Ultra Music Festival, which happens March 23-25. I will be in the house as well as many surprise acts adding to the most global lineup presently announced for this festival season. For those that will already be in Miami, I am giving away tickets to Ultra this first weekend of March. You simply have to find me by following my Instagram.com/DJIDeaL page and see where to spot me, possibly CRSS’ing the street or on the dance floor (hint, hint).
The month filled with so much world-class talent doesn’t slow down as we enter the end of March. Saturday, March 24, at Spin, the United by Bass crew take it up a notch as their series heats up with the weather, hosting techno power act Bülent Gürler aka Butch -- resident to Berlin’s Watergate and a veteran of 20 years as an electronic artist. Fusing the grey-area space between music of the body and mind, join in on the fun and take a trip of sound as his production have all landed on imprints such as Desolat, Cocoon, Rekids and more.
Closing out the month, San Diego gets a friendly visit from Ben Annand alongside San Diego underground movement leader Rock the Discotek for a daytime party at an undisclosed location on Saturday, March 31. Such events are always hosted in unique environments, so stay posted and find out where the next hidden location will be! On the same night, if you are more keen on the clubbing world, Omnia hosts a very eclectic performance by none other than Elephante. Raking in millions of streams and plays on his latest, the producer/remixer who’s been tapped by the likes of Clean Bandit and Lorde plays a progressive house, big room boom set to keep the energy going well into the morning sunrise.
With plenty else going down in SD, I’m always welcome to hear about any events you are recommending, so feel free to shoot them my way. Remember to rest up in between raging, especially as April comes in hot with my official underground birthday party, Desert Hearts festival and much more!
DJ IDeaL's Top March 2018 EDM Shows
- March 2: Alkaline Sessions by Burner Podcast (Aenera with Navjeet Sarma hosting) at Blonde (5-8:30 p.m.)
- March 3: CRSSD After Dark featuring Shiba San at Bang Bang
- March 3-4: CRSSD at Waterfront Park featuring Empire of the Sun, CamelPhat, Gorgon City, Bonobo, SNBRN, Cirez D, Sasha, Shiba San, MK, Billy Kenny
- March 3-4: CRSSD After Dark This Ain't Bristol showcase at Music Box
- March 8: RetroBox SD at AC Lounge
- March 9: SD Union with Dieselboy and Damascus Apparel
- March 16: Solset with Memo Rex and Jimbo Jones
- March 23-25: Ultra Music Festival Miami
- March 24: United by Bass: Butch
- March 31: Pleasure Palace: Ben Annand and Rock the Discotek (1-10:30 p.m.) @ TBA
- March 31: Elephante at Omnia San Diego
Tomas Serrano, aka DJ IDeaL, is the electronic dance music correspondent for SoundDiego, covering the best of San Diego's electronic music events and culture. Follow his whereabouts on Facebook, Twitter or contact him directly.
