RB Weekend Preview: Hardcore, Block Parties, and Restless Hearts

Festival season in Arizona is in full swing coming off of a massive Mad Decent Block Party just a couple of weeks ago, and this week we present to you the next massive festival to hit the valley of the sun: HTID (Hardcore Til I Die). For all of you fans of hard dance out there, this two-day festival is your place to be this weekend. In addition, this Saturday night we have two events for two groups of fans on completely opposite sides of the electronic music spectrum. On one end, we have the Mill Avenue Block Party at CASA featuring Ghastly and Dr. Fresch to celebrate Game Day here at ASU, and on the other end over at the Monarch, Mark Sixma and Emma Hewitt will be taking you on a journey with their ethereal trance music. Whether you’re into festivals, block parties, or nightclubs, we have something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds!

Hardcore Til I Die Phoenix at The Stratus Event Center (10/9 – 10/10 7pm)

With the first HTID show taking place in the United Sates in Los Angeles, California last year, this second installment of the USA version of the UK’s premiere festival is a big deal. Moving from LA to Phoenix, demonstrating just how large the dance scene is becoming out here, expect floods of hardcore fans from the western side of the United States to be present at this years show. Show promoters claim that this is the largest lineup of Hardcore artists that North America has ever seen and, just looking at the lineup, this statement is evident. This year’s lineup includes Dutch hardstyle artists Ophidian and Partyraiser, German Happy Hardcore stylist Dune, as well as UK artists Brisk, Scott Brown, Mark Breeze, Gammer, and Joey Riot. Expect to hear everything from Old School Rave to Breaks to Gabber and everything else hard dance. Come out and be part of what is sure to be one of Arizona’s greatest raving experiences!

Mill Ave Block Party featuring Ghastly and Dr. Fresch at CASA (10/10 7pm)

For you block party lovers out there, although no “Mad Decent” is attached to the front of this one, expect Mill Ave to be full on poppin’ on Saturday night in celebration of GAME DAY!! To help us start the party we’ve got the one and only Bijou opening up for our amazing headliners: Ghastly and Dr. Fresch. Ghastly aka AZ-native David Crow, returns home to stir the pot of inebriated college students with his metal-inspired dubstep and hard-hitting mixing skills. Having recently been signed to Mad Decent, Ghastly is a sure fire contender for sickest set thrown down on Mill Ave this year.

As for our other headliner, Dr. Fresch, this artist has quite the musical palette, with experience in many different genres of music from classical to rock to jazz, he now he blends all that he has learned over the years to create his funky fresh electronic beats. As of recent, his popular podcast, The Prescription, has been making it onto many radars as the show to follow. In addition, following the trend with an upcoming track alongside producer Jackal called “Netflix N Kill”, Dr. Fresch has a lot on his plate that he is looking to serve to us this weekend, Netflix and chilled.

Stay Forever Young with the Restless Hearts Tour at Monarch Theatre (10/10 9pm)

And last, but certainly not least, for all you Trance heads out there we bring you the Restless Hearts Tour featuring Mark Sixma and Emma Hewitt. With an intimate setting such as the Monarch it should be quite the treat to witness the live trance vocals of Emma Hewitt sung alongside the euphoria-inducing tracks that Mr. Sixma will be putting out. Having just teased the release of a new collaboration, you can expect to hear some brand new music from both artists. Emma Hewitt was last in AZ for Global Dance Festival 2014 where she belted her classic tunes to a crowd of thousands… this time, experience these trance superstars at an intimate show where you can all get lost together.

Show your face this weekend at venues all over the valley. Whether your from Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Northern Arizona, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Albuquerque, or even New York City, we hope to see you out there for some Hardcore, a block party, and some music for all you restless hearts!