SoCal’s favorite festival is back this week! The wait is over; Nocturnal Wonderland 2023 at Glen Helen Regional Park is upon us. While most people are familiar with headliners like Subtronics and Claude VonStroke, the lineup is stacked with talent from top to bottom. Here are four must-see artists with early sets to get you moving, grooving, and hyped for the day.
The first artist highlight for Day 1 is the melodic bass duo from Seattle, Gem & Tauri. Courtney and Emma have been in the electronic scene for 10 years but found their passion for performing during the 2020 pandemic when they kept us sane with their livestreams. Gem & Tauri release their music under the legendary Seven Lions’ label, Ophelia. They have sold out shows at both Midway and the EOS Lounge and just released a new EP Crownless this year. Start Day 1 at Wolves’ Den with an invigorating melodic bass performance! Get ready to sing and headbang with a few of their songs: “Miss You Remix,” “Crash Into Me,” and “All You Need.”
Another fantastic Day 1 artist you have to see comes from just down the road in Los Angeles. Let me introduce you to Corey Divine. This multi-talented artist is not only a new wave, heavy-hitting DJ but also a well-known geometric tattoo artist. Having just played at Forbidden Kingdom and EDC Orlando this year, Corey must be excited to come home and lay down some heavy bass. Get ready to rage with his tracks “Drill,” “Bussin,” and “40HZ REM.” Hurry in to catch Corey at the Labyrinth stage when the gates open at 3pm.
Day 2 brings us an artist who comes from across the pond—the UK—and goes by the name of Chaney. Chaney, whose real name is Theo, has been in music his whole life. He played the drums in pubs with his brother’s band and signed his first solo guitar deal when he was just 18. Soon after signing his singing and songwriting deal Theo fell in love with raves and is now making club-ready bangers like “Love Again.” Having just dropped his latest song, “Don’t Let Go,” last week, Chaney is primed to burst onto the scene. You don’t want to miss this groovy set Sunday at 4pm at the Sunken Garden.
Our final artist highlight for Day 2 is another newcomer from Los Angeles—she goes by Villa. Elisa, aka Villa, is bringing trap back with her unique melodic trap sound. She fell in love with the violin at age six and hasn’t looked back since. Combining her love for live orchestra sounds with hard-hitting trap, her unique style has gained the attention of artists like Zeds Dead, RL Grime, and she even released her remix of Alison Wonderland‘s “Safe Life.” Villa made her festival debut this year at Hard Summer and we look forward to watching her dominate the Labyrinth stage at 3pm this year.
In case you have yet to buy your ticket, they are still available! The gates open this Saturday, September 16th at 3pm. Remember to get to the festival early, drink plenty of water, eat some tasty food, and most of all, have fun! Experience all that Nocturnal Wonderland has to offer and explore the festival grounds. Check out some amazing new artists and enjoy SoCal’s favorite festival!
