Photo Credit: Relentless Beats
Decadence Arizona: Age of Indulgence returned Dec. 30-31, 2024 celebrating 10 years of Arizona's largest premiere New Year’s Eve celebration. Raising the overflowing champagne flute with Arizona’s EDM scene, this year’s edition of grandeur showcased a lineup superior to previous editions with special collabs and the most popular headliners of 2024. Kissing 2024 goodbye in this royal ball with Deorro, Excision, and Dom Dolla inaugurated the magnificence of 2025 for many.
Dazzling Daffodils: Celebrating a Decade of Decadence With a New Theme
The new theme for this tenth edition was “Age of Indulgence” which incorporated the best creative elements of previous editions to create the ultimate marker of decadence. Official Weird And Wonderful Cast performers were seen as Palace Warriors from Decadence AZ 2022: Ancient Future at The Grand Palace. Blue cherub performers from last year’s edition of The Sky Realm pole-danced next to WOOLI.
Other official performers adding the richness to this year’s theme were walking, breathing daffodils as they symbolize good luck if they bloom during the new year. Every character became walking omens of splendor and prosperity on the festival grounds.
Ringing in 2025 With Tastemaking Tracks and Collabs
Indulgence, opulence, and hedonistic-good music: it’s all one in the same. Decadence AZ is never shy of the best music to be heard before the new year. From drum and bass at Deadmau5 to Mau P mixing “Cinema” into a heavy bass track at the end of his performance, this year promised experimental sounds from the greats.
Other than individual tracks that made your ears do a double-take, Decadence AZ 2024 crafted B2B performances of best friends because B2B stands for best friend-to-best friend. Those unforgettable performances include NOSTALGIX B2B JSTJR, Dr. Fresch B2B BIJOU, and Tchami x Malaa: No redemption. Dr. Fresch announced his B2B set with BIJOU to The Grand Palace Stage as a “Mau P-Dr. Fresch-BIJOU-John Summit-sandwich” before they mixed “In Da Club”. It was arguably the best sandwich of all 2024.
Partying All Next Year (With John Summit): Special Countdown Sets
As one of the country’s largest NYE celebrations, three headliners and two countdown sets deemed fit for this theme of indulgence. Those headliners being John Summit and Dog Eat Dog (Crankdat B2B Riot Ten). The Royal Ballroom Stage hosted Dog Eat Dog and immediately after the countdown to 2025 ended, the pair mixed Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball”. Why not ring in the new year like a wrecking ball?
Meanwhile at The Grand Palace Stage John Summit featured his track “Go Back” as the clock hit 0:00. A million strands of white confetti rained onto ravers sharing hugs and kisses. As 2025 was in full motion on the dance floor, John Summit mixed Charli xcx’s “Guess” and shared his famous phrase with Arizona. “Yo, Arizona, for real, how the f*** we feeling, baby?”.
Welcoming a New Age of Love: The Moments We’re Taking With Us in 2025
Cuddle puddles covered the VIP lounge floor and rave families posed for photos in front of the official Decadence sign at the entrance. These little moments of bliss became the last memories to make for 2024. Just beyond the little things happening, chicken soup for the soul in the form of showstopping tracks took place at various performances.
On night 1, Eptic x Space Laces asked the crowd to create a wall-of-death moshpit in the middle of their iconic set which was glorious for the die-hard bassheads. Also on the same night, Dom Dolla stole the hearts of many by playing house favorites such as “Saving Up - Odd Mob Remix” and “girl$”. Sharp white lasers sprayed The Grand Palace and only smiles were distinguishable in this tastemaking set.
During Zeds Dead’s appearance on night 2, the crowd couldn’t stop dancing to their popular track “Gassed Up”, but soon stopped dancing to Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang”. The lights and lasers faded to black only leaving the darkness from the winter night and the crowd stood still. Then, an electric surge of sunshine yellow strobe lights grew as “Lost You” played; the crowd livened.
John Summit ended his performance with “Shiver” and the entire Grand Palace Stage sang to the emotional lyrics. As he left the stage, he said, “Arizona, you guys were f***ing amazing. Happy f***ing new year!”. Can you feel it now?
The Last Side Missions of 2024: An Official Scavenger Hunt
Just before night 1, Relentless Beats announced an official scavenger hunt taking place on the festival grounds for a chance to win 2-VIP passes to all Relentless Beats festivals in 2025. Less of a scavenger hunt and more of an itinerary to a full festival experience, this was an immersive guide to navigating the indulgence bestowed on and off the dance floor.
The scavenger hunt required ravers to collect experiences and accomplish tasks across the festival. Some missions of the scavenger hunt mandated posting a photo of a live Relentless Beats News artist interview and riding the rail for a set in The Royal Ballroom. Other missions were beautiful riddles such as #3: Discover a living canvas and become the art.
Cheers to partying all 2025! Visit the official Relentless Beats website for upcoming events you won’t want to miss this year!
