There’s actually no competition fairly like Lightning In A Bottle. Placed on by the Do Lab and held at Buena Vista Lake in Bakersfield, California, this yr’s version was my 4th time experiencing its magic, and I’m much more satisfied that this is among the finest festivals on the earth.
LIB is actually a playground for adults; a sprawling wonderland of interactive artwork and installations designed to be touched, climbed, explored, and performed with. In every single place you flip, there’s one thing sudden and kooky. Individuals bartered sweet for secrets and techniques at a Nineteen Thirties-style basic retailer, danced in an ‘80s front room stacked with cassette tapes and a classic sound system, skated by way of showers of bubbles on the curler rink disco, and jumped on trampoline artwork vehicles. LIB actually encourages you to embrace your interior baby.
Being bizarre isn’t simply accepted, it’s anticipated. One evening, I bumped into a man totally dressed as Man Fieri. Frosted ideas, flame shirt, the entire shebang. Once we complimented his outfit, he lit up and mentioned we have been the primary folks to say all of it evening. At every other competition, he would’ve been a strolling spectacle. At LIB? Simply one other face within the crowd.
The very best a part of LIB, nevertheless, is definitely how unimaginable the group is. Yr after yr, LIB constantly attracts the most effective folks. If you happen to go searching at any set, you’ll see barely any telephones. Festivalgoers are current, totally dedicated to dropping themselves within the music and connecting with the folks round them. In a scene the place live performance etiquette appears to be disappearing, it’s such a aid to expertise a dancefloor group that reaffirms that PLUR continues to be alive and effectively.
I feel my favourite reminiscence of the weekend got here throughout a aspect quest by way of considered one of these installations. We stumbled upon a treehouse that held a piano in its heart. As I began fascinated about how cool it might be for somebody to play it, a man walked up and beginning enjoying a surprising rendition of “Say My Title” by ODESZA. That is precisely the sort of expertise that defines LIB and separates it from the remainder of the competition pack.
Now, onto the music. I didn’t see a nasty set all weekend, however these ten stood out from the remaining:
John Summit: This was the most effective John Summit set I’ve been to. Whereas he has a repute for attracting frat boys with no sense of PLUR, the LIB ethos got here by way of as all the time – there was a real sense of group within the crowd as he threw down an particularly bass heavy set. He closed the competition with the Griz remix of “The place You Are,” which actually highlighted his capacity to learn the vitality of the dancefloor. After, we have been fortunate sufficient to catch a uncommon SubJohnics (Subtronics + John Summit) shock set at stacks, the place the 2 spent an hour getting really wooky. It was the right finish to the competition.
Photograph Credit score / Do LaB / Ivan Meneses
Subtronics: This was my first time seeing Subtronics, and I can see why he instructions such a loyal fanbase. He didn’t take his foot off our headbanging necks, working by way of one electrical VIP flip after one other, a few of which he talked about he had made solely hours earlier than. He toured by way of virtually all subgenres of bass music, balancing enjoyable DnB with pure chaotic dubstep. Even a few of the bass skeptics of my group have been transformed by the top of his set.
TroyBoi: I truly was sitting for a breather initially of TroyBoi’s set after going arduous at Sammy Virji beforehand, however his global-inspired entice picks have been merely irresistible. I discovered myself sprinting to the Thunder stage to participate within the absolute dance occasion that was going down. The particular feeling was mutual; on the finish of his set, he instructed us it was his favourite of the yr up to now.
Sammy Virji: Sammy Virji is considered one of my favourite DJs within the sport proper now. He all the time transforms the dancefloor into an absolute occasion together with his signature bouncy UKG beats, and this efficiency was no exception. Virji was one of many few performers who introduced out a particular visitor: Flowdan for a particular efficiency of their collab “Shella Verse” in addition to “Rumble.” He additionally introduced Salute up as he performed what was clearly a brand new shock collab ID cooked up by the 2 of them.
Photograph Credit score / Do LaB / Jess Gallo
Salute: I noticed Salute in October when he toured for his wonderful 2024 album True Magic. Throughout that set he primarily performed his personal songs, so I used to be pleasantly shocked by how wide-ranging his LIB set was. He sprinkled in so many unreleased IDs, a few of which have been his personal, however others that belonged to Chris Lake, Disclosure, and Interplanetary Prison, which gave a pleasant preview for all the warmth popping out this summer time. He drew probably the greatest crowds of the weekend – we have been leaping from begin to end.
Hamdi: I used to be first launched to Hamdi once I noticed him at LIB in 2023 when he’d solely had a number of songs out. Two years later, and he’s solely gotten higher. He handled us to his signature mixture of hard-hitting bass drops and gritty wubs, sometimes switching up the tempo with some excellent UKG picks. And I don’t assume anybody likes a spinback as a lot as Hamdi. Everytime he did it, the group roared their approval – he actually is aware of learn how to construct a connection to the viewers.
Khruangbin: Not even audio difficulties might preserve Khruangbin from grooving. Regardless of their sound fully chopping out quite a few occasions, they nonetheless introduced a dreamy, psychedelic-funk oasis to LIB. Amidst all of the bass heavy digital acts, it was a pleasant second of respite, an ideal sonic reset.With their reverb-soaked guitars, groovy bass, and tight, jazzy rhythms, they transported the viewers to a different period, with a sound that was each nostalgic and timeless.
Photograph Credit score / Do LaB / Julian Bajsel
Underworld: Underworld proved why they’re legends within the digital world, delivering a set that felt an old-school rave. The duo gave a reside vocal efficiency towards a backdrop of hypnotically trippy visuals and lasers. “Born Slippy” was, after all, an enormous spotlight, however their newer materials stored the vitality peaking.
Photograph Credit score / Do LaB / Ivan Meneses
Mary Droppinz: As a longtime LIB attendee, it’s been so cool to see Mary Droppinz journey. After serving as one of many opening DJs at Woogie in 2023, this yr she obtained a chief time slot on the devoted bass stage, Thunder, the place she performed to a packed crowd. She lived as much as her title with a brilliant wubby set full of infectious vitality. When the act scheduled after her failed to indicate, she stayed on, in the end blessing our ears with three hours of stanky beats whereas the solar set.
Hybrid Minds: My group sprinted from Jamie XX to catch the top of their set, and we have been so glad we did as they injected a dose of straight euphoria into our evening with their model of liquid drum & bass. DnB music has been huge within the UK for years, and so they have been the right ambassadors for this sound: Their MC completely overrated the group, reminding us all to get pleasure from ourselves and respect each other.
Photograph Credit score / Do LaB / Ivan Meneses