[FESTIVAL REVIEW] Dreamstate SoCal Stands Out Among Insomniac's 2023 Lineup

Paije Kantor | December 09, 2023

Spanning the weekend of November 17 + 18, 2023, Insomniac’s irreverent trance imprint found a new home along the shores of Long Beach for the 2023 edition of Dreamstate Southern California.

The event organizers dedicated two talent-packed days towards showcasing dozens of hand-selected artists at the forefront of innovation arising from the trance community throughout the year.

Dreamstate SoCal attracted thousands of trance fans to the port city with a masterful lineup featuring prestigious trance and techno artists from across the globe. This flagship event offered ticket holders the unique opportunity to attend sets from several artists rarely booked in the United States.

Trance powerhouses such as Armin Van Buuren, Vini Vici, Cosmic Gate, Lane 8 & Yotto, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Paul Oakenfold, Gareth Emery, and Aly & Fila stunned their fans with their signature discography and production value, closing out the larger stages both days of the event.

Dreamstate SoCal Foreign techno artists such as Maddix, Andrew Bayer, Klangkuenstler, Trym, and Shlømo swept the festival grounds with hard-hitting industrial kicks that left fans speechless.

Notable acts making up the bulk of the lineup included Indira Paganotto, Fatima Hajji, Astrix, Blazy & Vegas, Will Atkinson, and Jorza & Taylor Torrence. Each of these artists set themselves apart with bold tracklists and unrelenting energy that left a fantastic impression on committed fans and new listeners alike.

The smaller Queen Mary venue was rearranged in stellar fashion to make adequate space for four large stages without sound bleed. The layout divided the grounds into two sections connected by a tunnel and bridge to increase space for foot traffic.

Although this spatial planning was likely the best yet, the one-way bridge induced some bottlenecking of crowds and caused a handful of accidents due to the steep, slippery steps. Despite the Queen Mary venue being nestled in between the massive port and Downtown Long Beach, the transportation and parking logistics are facilitated by an efficient shuttle system.

Insomniac Events has continued to refine the entry and exit process with each festival held at the Long Beach waterfront, which has been the largest noticeable obstacle for the logistics department at the location. Upon arrival, the Queen Mary proves to be worth any trouble due to its spectacular marina views and gorgeous weather.

The ocean breeze was extremely mild due to the unique coastline and insulation provided by the massive ship. Even though the weather was overcast and spotted by light showers, the conditions inside the venue were not nearly as chilly as expected.

In a proactive decision by the Dreamstate organizers, they placed large plastic tiling atop all dirt and grass areas, which was a fantastic preventative measure for the threat of extreme muddiness due to the rain.

In terms of atmosphere, the crowd was arguably the best of any large dance music event in Southern California's recent years.

Attendees were a bit older on average, took care of each other, and cleaned up after themselves. There was seldom any pushing, shoving, litter, or general rudeness among the crowd, which was a true pleasure to experience.

Dreamstate holds a long legacy within the dance music industry for good reason. Albeit less popular than Insomniac's most famous events such as EDC, HARD Summer, and Escape Halloween, the quality of production, lineups, and crowd atmosphere solidify Dreamstate as one of their best.

Dreamstate serves as a beacon example of a top-tier festival and attracts returning fans each year as a result. Upcoming Dreamstate festivals include Dreamstate San Francisco 2023 and Dreamstate Europe 2024.