Imagine perfect weather, bass music pulsating beside a flowing river, and a community of enthusiastic bass fans — that’s Bass Camp VII! Taking place on July 27 and July 28 in Downtown Reno on the Truckee River, the scenic views made this bass festival an unforgettable experience. Once again, Bass Camp showed why it deserves to be on your festival radar!
Bass Camp was an all-ages event that lived up to its description. Pregnant women enjoyed the event, as did families in matching outfits and even newborns (wearing protective hearing headphones, of course). The atmosphere at Bass Camp was perfect for families, friends, and future ravers to create lasting memories.
Bass Camp was perfect for the 25+ ravers, too. The festival started at 2 pm and was over by 11 pm. An additional benefit of Bass Camp is that the Truckee River flows through the festival grounds, providing plenty of scenic seating areas for attendees to enjoy.
The festival grounds featured grassy areas shaded by trees and rocks leading up to the water, which provided the perfect place to relax and take in the surroundings. One unique feature was the Giving Tree Stage, where attendees could use headphones to listen to either bass or house sets.
Festivalgoers could move around freely while enjoying their favorite DJs sitting by the water, creating lasting memories and connecting with nature. Seeing people paddling on paddle boards while different DJs put on pyrotechnic displays was quite a sight. Combined with the sunsets and impressive fire and laser shows, the view was truly breathtaking.
Everyone in the Bass Camp crowd exhibited PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) and was passionate about the bass and dubstep played throughout the weekend. When the beat dropped, everyone instantly smiled, making it easy to move around. The head-banging and hyping each other up added to the excitement. There is something magical about being surrounded by flames, without a care in the world, while breaking a rail.
From the opening DJs to the headliners Gigantic Nghtmre and Zeds Dead, everyone gave their all and held nothing back on the stage during their sets. You could see the DJs’ love for their music while up there, giving the bass community what they want. Despite the name, Bass Camp offered a variety of bass house and future bass artists to complement the hard-hitting beats.
Drum and bass (DnB) continued to get the recognition it deserves, with DJs incorporating it into their sets. DnB is a good time, and seeing it live throughout the weekend was an excellent pick-me-up early in the day, jumping around with friends.
Gorilla T ripped off his shirt during the middle of his set and jumped on the decks to excite the crowd. If your favorite DJ isn’t shirtless and jumping on the decks, then you may be at the wrong set. He wasn’t the only one who kept the Gud Vibrations going Saturday night!
Night 1 on the main stage featured captivating performances by Kill the Noise B2B Bro Safari, also known as Kill Safari. With their electrifying light show, Wax Motif and San Holo brought a vibrant energy to Bass Camp. Watching them perform is always a treat, as their sound and production always impress.
What do you get when you mix Big Gigantic’s sensual saxophone, drums, and Nghtmre’s deeply moving beats and lyrics? You get Gigantic Nghtmre. Gigantic Nghtmre sets do not happen often, so seeing one live is always a special treat. On stage, they captivated the crowd with breathtaking moments. Those riding the rails felt the heat throughout the night, without a doubt.
At the Dancetronauts Bass Station stage, Moon Boots showcased his funky flair by keeping the crowd dancing all night. Following Moon Boots, Marten Horger brought his feel-good bass house music, which powered the crowd’s minds, bodies, and souls. His iconic mustache beamed from ear to ear as he performed on stage.
The fun continued into Sunday at the Dancetronauts Bass Station. Day 2 was filled with intense performances by DJs like Effin, Cyclops, and Bear Grillz, leading to wild mosh pits. It was so intense that Advil was needed afterward.
The energy and power of the live performances were a different experience than just listening to these DJs on streaming apps. At the Dancetronauts Bass Station, it felt like unleashing your inner beast. If you ever fell, the crowd was always ready to help you back up!
Zeds Dead had the main stage moving from the opening of their set to the very end. This iconic EDM duo continues to push the boundaries of EDM, and at Bass Camp, they did not disappoint. The talented duo from Deadbeats had the crowd moving all night long. There may have been a few tears shed, but they quickly vanished when their hard-hitting bass dropped. It is always a memorable night whenever Zeds Dead is on the lineup.
When the headliners Gigantic Nghtmre and Zeds Dead closed the night out on the main stage, the afters were just getting started at Cypress. This stage became home to the riddim rats after Bass Camp. The chop shop was chopping and slicing — knees were to the chest, no questions asked!
Overall, Bass Camp was a phenomenal festival. Attendees enjoyed scenic views, great music, making new friends, access to clean porta-potties, and the chance to let loose and be carefree for the weekend. Attending Bass Camp needs to become an annual tradition and the Moon Lvnding Fvm is already looking forward to its return. For the rest of you festivalgoers, follow all things Bass Camp using the links below and maybe we’ll see you back in Reno in 2025!
