HEX‘s inaugural weekend was anything but predictable. What began as a Halloween bass takeover at Rawhide quickly became a test of endurance. Between Friday’s lightning evacuation, Saturday’s relentless rain, and some seriously heavy performances, the festival gave Arizona plenty to remember.
The weather brought the chaos, but the artists brought the soundtrack. Across The Altar and The Catacombs, fans chased heavy drops, experimental sounds, and plenty of unexpected moments. Mother Nature had other plans, but the weekend still delivered some unforgettable sets.
Night One: Lightning, Rain, And A Whole Lot Of Bass
Friday started with Dennett bringing heavy energy to The Altar. However, the weather quickly interrupted the evening as rain moved across Rawhide. Lightning prompted an evacuation, bringing performances to a temporary halt. Attendees were directed out of the festival grounds while organizers waited for conditions to improve.
After roughly 45 minutes, the grounds reopened, and fans made their way back inside. The interruption created an unexpected reset for the night. Despite the delay, the music returned, and the crowd was ready to make up for lost time. What was appreciated from an attendee standpoint was the extension of night one to ensure each set got its deserved moment.
Once the festival resumed, LAYZ brought her signature heavy, metal-influenced bass sound to the stage. It was a welcome return to the music after the weather interruption. INZO brought a completely different atmosphere to Friday night. The crowd followed along as the performance shifted between emotional builds and heavier drops.
Then (a personal favorite), Subtronics took over as Friday’s final headliner and wasted absolutely no time. He opened with a Frank Sinatra-inspired “My Way” intro before unleashing his signature bass-heavy sound. With playful visuals, VIP’s, and unreleased IDs, he gave fans exactly the finale they needed.
Night Two: Muddy Boots and Heavy Drops
Saturday brought another round of unpredictable weather. This time, the rain stuck around and turned parts of Rawhide into a muddy playground. Unlike Friday, the night continued without another lightning evacuation. Ponchos, boots, and soaked costumes became part of the Halloween uniform. Rather than letting the weather steal the spotlight, fans leaned into the madness. The rain even created some incredible visual moments as lasers cut through falling droplets. Happy to finally check off seeing glitter lasers from my bucket list!
Riot Ten and PhaseOne delivered one of Saturday’s biggest highlights. The duo arrived dressed as Mario and Luigi, immediately bringing some Halloween fun to the stage. Both artists brought their own signature energy while pushing the performance into unexpected territory. ATLiens took the atmosphere in a darker direction. Their theatrical transitions and quick-hit samples kept the crowd engaged between heavy drops. Familiar throwbacks, including a flip of “It’s Goin’ Down,” added another layer of excitement. Their mysterious aesthetic felt right at home beneath HEX’s Halloween production.
Excision had the honor of closing HEX’s first-ever weekend. He opened with his iconic remix of Creed’s “One Last Breath,” setting the tone immediately. The performance delivered the heavyweight energy fans traveled to Rawhide to experience. By this point, the rain and mud had become part of the story. The crowd powered through the conditions for one final round of bass. Rawhide may have been soaked, but the energy never completely disappeared.
Weathering The Storm
HEX’s first year certainly came with challenges. Friday’s lightning evacuation tested the festival’s operations before the opening night could fully unfold. Saturday brought another obstacle as persistent rain soaked the grounds. Still, fans returned, artists performed, and the weekend continued.
The weather also created an unexpected sense of community. Strangers shared space beneath ponchos, helped each other through muddy paths, and kept the energy moving. Those moments became part of the experience just as much as the performances. Sometimes the most memorable festival stories happen between the sets.
For a first-year festival, HEX made a serious introduction to Arizona’s bass community. And it didn’t get the easy debut most festivals hope for. Instead, its first year came with lightning, rain, mud, and plenty of bass. But the lineup, stage variety, and dedicated crowd gave this new Halloween destination a strong foundation. The boots are muddy, the costumes are soaked, and the first HEX is officially in the books!
