A new movement is quickly taking shape in SoCal, and we can’t help but wonder how this genius concept made its way out of the woodwork and onto the top of our “Most Coveted Festivals” list.

Officially dubbed CRSSD Festival, the two-day excursion will take place during the second weekend of March at San Diego’s breathtaking Waterfront Park. CRSSD was recently co-produced by Goldenvoice and San Diego concert promoter, FNGRS CRSSD, with the motive to showcase “forward thinking electronic music and artists,” and, more than likely, will attract a sophisticated, grown and sexy crowd.

Kicking off March 14th, the weekend-long festival features a techno and house-heavy set list, with both DJ sets and live performances taking place. With such a carefully curated lineup, it’s nearly impossible to pick our favorites. But, we’ve narrowed it down to a few must-sees; specifically, which artists we feel would be in your best interest to catch at each stage (assuming set times don’t conflict!).

Check out our first edition of CRSSD Fest Diaries - EPIC Artist Picks (hosted by Jason Bentley), and stay tuned for editions two and three: City Steps and The Palms!

Artist One: Big Wild Setting is everything, which is why it’s literally effortless to enjoy a performance by Big Wild in the San Diego sun. Expect Big Wild’s show to be an eclectic mix of tropical instruments, smooth vocals, funky beats, and colorful vibes to soak up along with the salt water air. Catch him on tour with Odesza and Little People this winter, and recently announced, with Kodak to Graph and Obeson this spring!

Artist Two: Goldroom Fans of nostalgic, heart melting melodies and soulful lullabies, look no further. LA-based producer/DJ, Goldroom, has been on our radar for awhile, and if you’ve tapped into the buzz about this guy, you know why we’ve been paying close attention to him. If you’re not familiar with Goldroom already, take a listen to his Embrace EP (2013) before you check him out live, and keep your eyes and ears open for future releases. A full-length album is rumored to be in the works!

Artist Three: Odesza Odesza made major waves in 2014, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for this Seattle-bred DJ/producer duo. In the thick of their worldwide In Return tour after the release of their massive album last September, Odesza will be stopping through to deliver us what we expect to be one of the most memorable performances at Ocean View Live. After having the guys’ exquisitely beautiful album on repeat (along with indulging in their signature “No Sleep” mixes quite regularly), we are more than ready for their sweet melodies to caress our eardrums at CRSSD Fest.

Artist Four: Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons

Multi-faceted Crosstown Rebels’ artist/producer/label head Damian Lazarus is a chameleon. Catch him spinning dark, eloquent mixes on the turntables, or as his recent frontman alter-ego of The Ancient Moons. Partnering with James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco, Arctic Monkeys, Florence) the Ancient Moons collective brings together a wide assortment of vocalists, artists, collaborators, and instrument players from around the world. Damian Lazarus and the Ancient Moons were a last minute edition to the already drool-worthy lineup, and we can’t wait to see the direction he takes with this performance. All we know for sure is that it’ll be adventurous, safari-esque, and a new experience to enjoy.

Stay tuned for the next “CRSSD Fest Diaries” entry, featuring four of our favorite artists performing at the City Steps location!

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AUTHOR CREDIT: LEAH KENNEDY