As 2025 comes to a close, the Moon Lvnding Fvm is reflecting on all the unforgettable sets that defined our year. From major festivals to hometown shows, we’ve danced, headbanged, and grooved our way across every corner of the US, and even Canada. Here’s a look at some of our staff’s favorite sets, festivals, venues, and b2b performances from the past year.
What was your favorite set and why?
Jessica Duncan – Assignment Director
Sara Landry‘s Eternalism set at the Junkyard in Denver. This was my first time seeing her, and all the hype around her is completely justified. The production for this show was absolutely insane! Her set flowed really well and incorporated all the genres I love.
Kate Nelson – Public Relations Director
Armin Van Buuren at EDC Las Vegas. Old hits, new hits, classic trance, and new eras of trance. His set was so diverse and had me jumping like a set hasn’t in a long time. I heard “Set Me Free” for the first time and listened to it every day on SoundCloud for months until it was officially released. He brought out multiple guests, including Gryffin for their song “What Took You So Long.” This is another track I’ve had on repeat since it came out in 2024. I was surrounded by all my best friends, the fireworks were directly before him, and it was just magical. A perfect EDC main stage set. That set is going to be my Roman Empire forever.
Sam Wolloch – Chief Editor
Adventure Club Throwback Tour at Terminal 5. I’ve been looking forward to this tour all year and finally getting to hear it lived up to the hype. Hearing their classics from 10 to 15 years ago brought me back to an earlier time in EDM when life was less complicated and more carefree.
Shae McCormack – Social Media Coordinator
Subtronics Cyclops Rocks night two was my favorite set of the year. Since I got my O.P.U.S. brainwave tattoo, Jesse blessed me by putting me on his artist guestlist for his Red Rocks shows. Night two was truly special for me since he closed out with O.P.U.S. He usually doesn’t play that in his sets anymore with all of his new music. He knew how important that song is to me. Knowing he played it for the show he invited me to as his guest meant the world to me as a fan.
Chris Savioe – Staff Writer
Levity Lasership at the Shrine in Los Angeles. Not only did they limit tickets so it was not overly packed, but the production alone was next level. An insane amount of lasers, colored pyrotechnics, just an unreal set by them. After the set, they also did a surprise meet and greet with everyone.
Kristen Dutton – Staff Writer
Illenium B2B Slander at EDC Las Vegas. It was absolutely so magical. The people, the music, the stage, it reminded me why I love doing what I do! And Grabbitz at Darkstar, it hit parts of my soul I never knew existed.
Emery Davis – Staff Writer / Photographer
Zed’s Dead at Rawhide. It was spent with my close rave fam and it was the tour for an album I really enjoyed. They played a lot of really good stuff and had an incredible lineup. I also got to meet Sippy and she was so cool and incredibly sweet. I felt like you could tell she was excited to meet her fans and connect with them.
What was your favorite festival you attended?
Kate – EDC Las Vegas this year was the most perfect festival experience I’ve ever had, and it’s because of the group I went with. We have RV camping down to a science, and all weekend long was seamless, perfect, and the most memorable time I’ve ever had. From a plethora of inside jokes, meeting up with friends from all across the country, and Afters-ing till 10:00am, we couldn’t have had a better experience. The sets were incredible, the love radiated, and the memories will last forever. I also got to interview Lavern in the press lounge after he opened the main stage on day one, which was an incredible experience. I connected with so many other people on the media side of the industry, and the view from the lounge is amazing. I’m truly so grateful for the opportunities dance music and Moon Lvnding have brought me. That interview was truly a “Holy Sh*t, I made it” moment, and I will never ever forget it.
Sam – Shambhala takes the title as my new favorite festival and it’s not even close. Being a dry fest without any alcohol sales on site is a game-changer for the festival vibes and the vendor layout. But the Salmo River stole the show as the central hangout spot to cool off during the sunny afternoons.
Shae – Shambhala in Salmo, BC. It was my first time attending and the festival surpassed every hope I had for it. There are plenty of daytime activities like acro yoga, breath work, skinny dipping, and of course, floating down the river. At night, the festival transforms into a dazzling atmosphere with unique vibes at each stage and the heaviest bass a sound system can handle. The community is the embodiment of PLUR and there were plenty of experienced ravers in the crowd. The journey to get to and from the festival can take days of travel and hours of waiting in line, so those who make it truly want to be there. This festival truly reminded me of my “why” for raving. Shanbhala re-connected me to my love for this community, how PLUR has changed me for the better, and raving has shaped how I show up in the world.
Something unique about Shambhala is its strict no alcohol policy. While correlation doesn’t equal causation, I believe the no alcohol policy and onsite harm reduction and testing resources contributed to a safer environment. There wasn’t drunk fighting or people being carried out of the crowd by paramedics like you unfortunately, typically see at many other festivals. Harm reduction services are free and extensive, not only for substance testing and measurement but also for safe sex practices and hygiene.
Sam and I had the opportunity to interview Whipped Cream, who played a vibrant and genre-diverse set at the AMP stage. The artist lounge was in a treehouse where I wrote an encouraging message in a notebook left there signed with the Moon Lvnding social media handle. A few weeks later, I received a message from the owner of the notebook who thanked me for the kind words.
Chris – EDC Las Vegas. This year was the final year of the current basspod stage and it was crazy stacked. The group we went with was amazing this year. We had our own party bus, no drama, and it was just an insane time. Ending the weekend with a 5:00am Voyd set was great
Kristen – DUSK purely for the Moon Lvnding fam. I had such a genuine bonding weekend; it made my heart so full.
Emery – Cyclops Desert at Rawhide. My bestie and I hosted a meetup, I had a great group, the lineup was insane. Subtronics played practically all of Fibonacci Pt. 1. It was the craziest two nights I’d had in a while.
What was your favorite venue?
Jessica – Mission Ballroom in Denver. So many amazing artists come through there every year. The giant disco ball always adds an extra element to each show.
Kate – Darkstar in Tempe has truly turned into such an incredible club. Intimate vibes and the best crowds. The attached lobby bar is great if you need a moment to step away and chat with friends before jumping back into seeing your favorite artist tear it up to a true crowd of ravers.
Sam – Once again, Shambhala & the Salmo River are back in the limelight for best venue. There’s nothing better than relaxing in a tube, floating on the river, and listening to the beats coming from the riverside stage.
Shae – Brooklyn Storehouse took over the scene in NYC this year as the Brooklyn Mirage didn’t overcome its remodeling issues. Storehouse had mainly been booking house and techno artists but this year they have expanded into bass music with upcoming shows for Crankdat, REZZ, Subtronics, and Seven Lions.
This warehouse venue is customizable for artists to create the production experience they want, so it’s not surprising that many artists who typically were booked year over year at the Brooklyn Mirage have been migrating to this venue for their tour shows.
Chris – This year might be The Shrine in Los Angeles. Between the Lasership show and the Subtronics 360 set, they really went all out.
Kristen – Even though it’s giant, EDC Las Vegas at Las Vegas Raceway.
Emery – Rawhide in Arizona, specifically for Goldrush. This was my first Goldrush at Rawhide and I must say it far outweighs the raceway for this event. It felt like a real western town and was just so cool.
What was your favorite B2B?
Jessica – Caspa B2B Rusko at Mission Ballroom in Denver. Seeing the OG’s of dubstep throw down classic after classic made me feel like it was 2010 again, when I was first discovering those songs.
Kate – Adam Ten B2B Mita Gami at EDC Las Vegas. Flawless minimal vibes, the two flowed effortlessly into each other.
Sam – Excision B2B Subtronics at Lost Lands. This was the set we were waiting for all weekend and it exceeded expectations. These guys were chopping it up, finishing each other’s drops, and slamming VIP after VIP for almost two full hours. Dubstep at its finest!
Shae – Excision B2B Subtronics at Lost Lands was everything a headbanger could have asked for! Two of my favorite artists blending their most iconic tracks together into a symphony of heavy-hitting bass was the ultimate finale. I frequently re-watch that set and time-travel back to one of my all-time favorite sets of my rave career.
Chris – ILLENIUM B2B Slander was probably my favorite of the year at EDC Las Vegas.
Kristen – Aside from Slander B2B Illenium, Illenium B2B Zeds Dead at Goldrush. It was absolutely BONKERS.
Emery – Zed’s Dead B2B Illenium. Their music selection was immaculate and I had multiple friends from out of state and different rave fams with me. Sharing music and movement with them was incredible and the crowd around us was so full of PLUR.
As we close the chapter on 2025, these moments remind us why we fell in love with dance music in the first place. From massive festival stages to intimate club nights, legendary B2Bs to deeply personal sets, this year was fueled by connection, community, and unforgettable energy. We’re endlessly grateful to these artists, the venues that became second homes, and the people who shared the dance floor with us. Thank you for being part of the Moon Lvnding Fvm. Here’s to continuing to chase the magic wherever the music takes us next in 2026.
