Ravers from around the Pacific Northwest gathered at the Portland Expo Center to ring in the New Year with Red Cube and Donnie Disco’s Moonlight Masquerade. We joined the sold-out festival for two days of amazing performances from some of the biggest names in electronic music. Read the full DMNW review below.
A Sold Out crowd ready to ring in the New Year
Credit: @shutter.klick
Night One: Packed with good vibes
The first night of performances can be put into one word: uplifting. It started off with local house duo Sundress. They laid down some smooth house tunes to warm up people entering from the long line outside. Up next, Dreamers Delight kept the positive vibes going with some classic electronic sounds and melodies. After, William Black took the stage and brought up the energy with a great future bass and trap set.
With the party in full swing, the classic electronic trio Cash Cash came through with some timeless tunes and heart-pumping rhythms. To end the first night, Gryffin played an incredible live set that left the crowd in absolute euphoria. After the first night of music, we left the Expo Center elated and primed for the next day of festivities.
Moonlight Masquerade in full swing
Credit: @shutter.klick
Day Two: Ringing in the New Year with Subtronics
Day two of Midnight Masquerade turned up the intensity with a stacked lineup of dubstep artists leading up to midnight. The headliner for the night, Subtronics, was also there to showcase the recently released Antifractals album and tour for the first time.
The night started off with local DJ Stoggrd, who got the early crowd moving with some heavy bass tunes. Up next, Layz got people’s heads banging with an audacious and impressive performance with a well-curated setlist, including songs from her recently released EP Eye of the Storm.
Layz throwing down some fire tunes for us
Credit: @shutter.klick
Following Layz, HE$H showed out with an epic set of new originals, crazy remixes, and old classics. He also played his new remix with Versa, Funked, which was released on Subtronics Antifractals album. To loosen up the crowd for one of the last few hours of the year, Dirt Monkey gave us some bouncy wubs and groovy basslines along with a healthy dose of drum and bass.
With the clock slowly approaching midnight, Wooli took the crowd by storm with an epic setlist of dubstep anthems and disgusting drops. He was also featured as the first song in the Antifractals album with his remix of Into Pieces. To take us into 2023 and take the audience into another dimension, Subtronics headlined the festival. The Philadelphia-based dubstep superstar performed a litany of brain-melting edits, bootlegs, doubles, triples, and fake-outs, playing us into the new year with some always appreciated drum and bass.
Subtronics giving the crowd the full Antifractals Experience
Credit: @shutter.klick
Over the two days of music, staff and security were extremely efficient. They kept entrance lines moving to get people out of the cold and into the festivities. Facilities and vendors were quick to serve the masses and keep people comfortable throughout the festival.
Midnight Masquerade was a feast for the senses, and we left feeling refreshed and ready for the year to come. Northwest residents and visitors could not have asked for a better way to say farewell to 2022 than with friends, family, and a superb lineup of electronic artists from around the country.
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