festivals

CloZee at Sunrise, Theme Days, Hot Air Balloon Rides + New Surprises for SSBD 2025

Same Same But Different Festival is always about more than music; it’s about the moments in between. This year, those moments are shaping up to be bigger than ever.

The Phase 2 lineup just dropped, and the standout is impossible to miss: CloZee will play a rare Sunrise Set. If you’ve ever caught her cinematic global bass, you know the experience is already transportive. Add Lake Perris at dawn? That’s the kind of memory that etches itself forever.

But there’s more. SSBD is welcoming 60+ artists to the mix, like Coco & Breezy with their house-meets-R&B grooves, Luke Andy repping the new wave of house, and tesh weaving melodic stories through sound. Headliners LSZEE, Zeds Dead, and Dr. Fresch round out a bill that blends bass, house, and everything in between.

And don’t sleep on Thursday’s Good Society pre-party. The SoCal collective is bringing their bass-forward energy with A Hundred Drums, sumthin sumthin, PHRVA, and more to kick the weekend off right.

If you’re wanting to join the community for the theme days this year, it’s time to start planning your outfits! Friday will be But County Flair, Saturday is Seas The Day and Sunday is Squad Spectrum!

Beyond the music, SSBD thrives on creative spaces: the But County Fair immersive art theme, Grandma’s House, Nakey Island, and wellness programming like LSDREAM’s Lightcode and yoga workshops. It’s community, connection, and adventure rolled into one. An amazing way to see the festival is by hot air balloon! SSBD will be offering guests the chance to soar above Lake Perris and the festival catching breathtaking views during sunset for a one of a kind perspective.

Attendance is capped at 7,500 and already 75% sold out. Pro tip: grab your spot early because this isn’t just another festival. It’s Same Same But Different.

Written by: Ryan Johnson

Cascade Equinox Festival 2024

The Cascade Equinox Festival, held from September 20-22, 2024, in Redmond, Oregon, was a vibrant celebration of community, music, and art. For the second year of the festival, held at the Deschutes Fairgrounds, we spent the weekend nestled in the beautiful high desert
overlooking the stunning views of the mountains.

The festival brought together an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, and attendees seeking to mark the transition of summer into fall with dance, creativity, and connection.

This year’s event featured an impressive lineup that brought festivalgoers from all over the country. From CLOZEE throwing it down on the mainstage Friday night, to STS9 and Liquid
Stranger headlining Saturday and no better way to end the weekend on Sunday night with the performance of a lifetime by JUNGLE that got the crowed moving and grooving. We also really enjoyed Marc Rebillets set, which was very interactive with the crowd, totems, and the environment.

Something we saw a huge difference in this year compared to last year was the implementation of more areas around the festival to explore with friends. From a pop up DJ cart in front of Cosmic Drip at midnight, to a roller rink inside one of the barns, to swings at the Grove – we were pleasantly surprised with how many additions there were to the festival grounds.

Cascade also brought many Immersive art installations throughout the grounds, engaging attendees with interactive and sensory experiences that merged enlightenment and creativity. Workshops and wellness sessions offered a space for personal growth and reflection, from yoga
and meditation to talks on sustainability. Families were welcomed with kid-friendly zones, while food vendors provided a variety of delicious foods. We personally loved Dump City and went every day of the festival – no better way to warm up those 40 degree nights than with dumplings!

As the sun set on this year’s festival, attendees left not only with memories of a weekend full of music and art but also a renewed sense of community and connection within themselves. With how much we saw added to this year, we can only see potential for growth for this special festival in Central Oregon and can’t wait for the future.

Photos by Megan Dirksen, Article by Aly Martin