The Frightfully Fantastic FreakNight 2015 Genre-By-Genre Artist Guide

[divider]BASS PT. II[/divider]

[highlight]Dirtyphonics[/highlight]

French trio Dirtyphonics is making their first Northwest festival appearance since FreakNight 2013 at the Tacoma Dome this Halloween. Currently made up of Charly, Pitchin, and Pho, the former quartet was formed in 2006, released their first tune in 2008, and debut album in 2013. Touring heavily throughout their incessantly progressing careers, Dirtyphonics is the type of group that makes bass-heads confident that their genre-of-choice truly is the best. Dimming the boundaries between drum & bass, dubstep, and electro, Dirtyphonics live is worth the price of admission themselves. Those who were at their last FreakNight performance, their stop at Foundation Nightclub in February of this year, or their numerous Northwest stops over the years, can speak to the masterful multi-decked madness that takes place. No matter the set time conflict, don’t miss Dirtyphonics at FreakNight 2015.

https://soundcloud.com/dirtyphonics/shambhala-mix-2013?in=dirtyphonics/sets/dirtyphonics-mixes

[highlight]NGHTMRE[/highlight]

Making a quick return to the Northwest, NGHTMRE features at his first Northwest festival this fall, after playing at Foundation Nightclub in May. Making music since he was 18, NGHTMRE has worked with incredible labels like Mad Decent and Circus Records, and delivered our favorite Lean On remix of the year. He’s collaborated with SLANDER, remixed Porter Robinson and Skrillex, and produced original tunes that span several genres. NGHTMRE’s melodic stylings showcase what bass music is capable of, and we’ll be there to witness his FreakNight debut.

[highlight]Sub Focus[/highlight]

A bass music heavyweight who’s been making major moves within dance music for more than a decade, Sub Focus returns to FreakNight for the first time since 2011. The London-native, also known as Nick Douwma, released his debut, self-titled, album in 2009 and has worked with two of the top labels in the industry, RAM Records & OWSLA. His last Northwest performance came at Paradiso 2014, and the former Glastonbury Festival headliner knows how to put on a show. Sub Focus has worked with drum & bass, dubstep, and more, and we’re expecting a healthy mix of everything when he takes over the bass stage at FreakNight 2015.

[highlight]Bad Royale[/highlight]

Making their Northwest debut as a group, Bad Royale tops our list of must-see acts at FreakNight 2015. The quartet, made up of ‘3 producers and an idiot’ according to the group’s Facebook page, features a trio of already established producers. Maor Levi, Bruce Karlsson (formerly of Norin & Rad), and Kevin Wild are the trance-fueled core of Bad Royale, giving all dance music fans more than enough intrigue to check out their set. With a background of releases on labels like Anjunabeats and Armada Music, the group is now working with the likes of Mad Decent and Buygore. Doing bass music as well as any artist or group around, Bad Royale released three EPs this summer. The latest, Quest Of The Magi, is out via Buygore, and is our favorite bit of Bad Royale yet. In an industry getting more stagnated every second, acts like Bad Royale are what make festivals like FreakNight worth attending, so make sure you catch their set at the Tacoma Dome this fall.

[highlight]Figure[/highlight]

There isn’t a more fitting Halloween-festival booking than Indiana-native Figure. Also known as Joshua Gard, his affinity for horror and production have put Figure in a class on his own when it comes to freaky festivities. With a couple of Paradiso performances (2012, 2013) already under his belt, we’re happy to see Figure make his FreakNight debut. He’s so fitting for FreakNight, that Universal Studios hired Figure to produce the soundtrack to their annual haunted maze, entitled ‘Face Off: In The Flesh’. He also produces an annual horror-themed fall albums, entitled Monsters. The latest, volume 6, came out this week via his own DOOM Music label, and features nine new tunes. Encapsulating everything we love about Halloween, Figure provides the perfect way to unleash our inner rave-monsters.

[highlight]Apashe[/highlight]

A Brussels native who is currently based out of Montreal, Apashe has been making music since 2005. Utilizing his sound design degree for the greater good, Apashe’s gritty bass, with touches of hip-hop and electro, has us pumped for his quick Northwest comeback. He’s released the majority of his work via Kannibalen Records, which features a roster that includes Black Tiger Sex Machine, Kai Wachi, Snails, and more. Apashe performed at Foundation Nightclub in May of 2015, and we’re ready to see his skills translate to the festival atmosphere at the Tacoma Dome.