Featured Photo: @chatterzphoto
Often when people find something good they try to gatekeep it. I understand the sentiment; they want to protect their precious, good thing from the world as a way to preserve it. They want to enjoy it, unobstructed, for as long as possible. What if the word gets out too much? What if that thing gets overexposed and ruined? Believe me, I get it.
That's not me though.
I do the opposite of gatekeeping. That is to say; when I find something I love, I won't shut up about it until everyone sees what I see in it. As someone who has been going to Das Energi since its first year in 2012—back when it was a little single-day rave in a dilapidated warehouse on the beach—I am happy to announce that my and everyone else's reverse-gatekeeping has finally paid off.
It appears the secret is out. There has been an electrical surge. Das Energi is on. fire.
@chatterzphoto
The Energi
Das Energi has grown significantly each year throughout the last decade. Every edition of the festival brings with it a better lineup, more art installments, more festival grounds to explore, better food, and bigger stages. The growth hasn't been linear or perfect, but it has been consistent and it does show the passion and dedication behind its organizers at V2 Presents. These people just really love raving, and they want you to love it too.
The vibe at this year's Das Energi was unlike any year in the past. With a massive upgrade to its main stage, V2 came prepared with a lineup, a new set of very large speakers, and a dream. The music was loud—like, louder than anything I've ever experienced in my life, shake you to your core from the back of the crowd loud. I've been raving around the world for over a decade, and the sheer volume of Das Energi was a feat.
@chatterzphoto
Combine that volume with walls of LED lights that stood high into the sky, lasers, and pyrotechnics that you could feel from across the parking lot, and you've got the recipe for a legendary party. I can say that for sure, because Pasquale even said he was impressed on his Instagram story after spending the weekend dancing with ravers in the GA crowd.
If there's one person who knows a good party, it's the founder of EDC. If a legend says the party is good, then the party is legendary. I call that raver math.
The crowd loved it. Down on the beach at the Galactic Flats, people could chill out in hammocks hanging from an art installment that shot a laser straight up into the sky, or rage within the LED pillars of a temple-esque dancefloor. Lasers stretched out into the dark abyss of the Great Salt Lake after sundown, but during sunset was the perfect time to make some core memories with your rave family against the backdrop of the expansive desert lake. I've seen couples get engaged here, so it's seriously the spot to be. Lives change on that beach.
@chatterzphoto
Up at the Energi Field mainstage, a massive crowd of people seemed to be having the time of their lives head-banging in unison as the V2 Performers, Das Energi's version of the Ultra Angels, danced onstage in custom Das Energi fabric. Even security was vibing by the end of each night.
The Lineup
In 2024 we're genre-fluid. What I loved about the lineup and stage schedule at Das Energi this year was that there wasn't a dedicated spot for any single genre. You could catch a harder techno set at the Galactic Flats stage from Cassian b2b Layton Giordani just before Gorgon City came onstage and toned it down with more of a house vibe. I'm hesitant to name any genre, though, because none of the DJs throughout the weekend seemed to stick to any single style—and also because I don't care and neither should you. I even heard a hardcore remix of a Taylor Swift song at one point, which the crowd loved.
@chatterzphoto
The thing about Utah is that it's a smaller market, and I've noticed that trends from other cities can take a couple of years to catch on here. Over the years I've grown to appreciate that because there will always be some level of consistency in the headliners at Das Energi with a little bit of experimenting in the smaller acts. Above & Beyond, Rezz, Fury, Walker & Royce and Adventure Club are, at this point, classics that can grace any lineup and bring in a massive crowd—especially here in Utah.
This year people turned out early to catch the rising acts that built the vibe throughout the weekend. Some of my favorite sets throughout the festival came from acts like Tinykvt, who smashed Energi Field just before sunset with a set that featured her live vocals. I arrived just in time on Friday to catch the end of Kaleena Zanders' set, which set the bar high for the rest of the house music throughout the night.
Photo: Matt Dippel
Das Energi's lineup of local support was stacked, too, with local legends like Nate Lowpass and Z AND Z kicking it off on Friday. On Saturday I caught some of Sarah Lies' set at Galactic Flats, which brought the Bratz doll energy I was waiting for with some pop hits, house music, and cute graphics for the girlypops. "She's going to make it big," I heard someone say as she walked off the stage when her set ended. Trust them.
V2 Presents is a family business. Partly because its organizers are a rave family of their own, but also quite literally. Co-founder Jeremy Moreland's son Jayden, also known as JR Destrukt, took the indoor Synergy Station stage on Saturday evening to set the vibe for a killer night of drum and bass with SLC DNB.
@chatterzphoto
In the future I would love to see even more genre-fluidity at Das Energi, and maybe even some experimenting with a pop/electronic act or some hyperpop to draw in an entirely new crowd. I am anti genre. I refuse to learn the difference between house and tech house. I love when pop stars make drum and bass. I love it all and I want to see it all from the comfort of my local festival.
Utah's Rave Community
I should disclose that the organizers of Das Energi over at V2 Presents have become dear friends of mine after all these years. However, my proximity to the organizers does not cloud my judgement—Das Energi really has become that good. It's no secret anymore. You don't need to look at a budding festival and think "I see the vision," because the vision has come to fruition.
@chatterzphoto
Checking out social media in the days after Das Energi, I've seen dozens of posts from attendees who loved every minute of the event—from the art installments to the music, the local food trucks, and just the overall vibe. I've seen baby ravers share that this was their first rave and I've seen veteran, out of state ravers (again, I need to name drop Pasquale) declare that Utah is on the map.
For a festival that takes place within a state and local religious culture that has actively stifled and vilified the electronic music industry for decades, it feels like an even bigger accomplishment to not just throw a good party here, but to make everyone feel safe and welcome on the dancefloor. Raving is about more than just partying—it's culture.
At one point throughout the weekend I had a moment where I looked at the new, massive stage production and thought "damn, they really made it." It's cool to see your friends become rockstars. They've more than earned it.
@chatterzphoto
Want to see firsthand what V2 is doing for the US rave scene? Check out their next festival, Get Freaky, which might have the best lineup of any Halloween festival this year. 👀
