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Happy Thursday!
While we don’t have any full-fledged music festivals on the schedule for this weekend, music festivals reporter Holly Alvarado checked in with Pasquale Rotella of Southern California-based Insomniac Events as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
It all started in 1993, with local DJs and about 300 EDM fans at a warehouse party on the corner of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard in South Central Los Angeles.
Now, Insomniac Events throws massive parties with big-name acts like Kaskade, Diplo, Zedd, Tiësto, Deadmau5, Armin van Burren, Marshmello and more. They also produce some of the largest music festivals around the world and about a dozen popular electronic music fests here in Southern California alone, including Hard Summer, Nocturnal Wonderland, Beyond Wonderland, Day Trip and more.
In our interview, Rotella looks back on the early days of Insomniac, relishes in the present and is hopeful for the future of his growing company in the ever-evolving EDM scene. Read more about Insomniac Events and the 30th Anniversary Lane — a pop-up experience that is on display at all major festivals through the end of 2023 — here.
Insomniac Events’ Escape Halloween will return to the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino on Oct. 27-28.(Photo by Jose Murga, Insomniac Events)
Insomniac Events‘ next big party is Escape Halloween, taking place on Oct. 27-28 at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino.
It’s an immersive Halloween experience that has expanded to five spooky-themed stages and now with exclusive after-parties that keep the fun going until 6 a.m. both days. Fans will also get to experience the 30th Anniversary Lane pop-up at this show, too.
The lineup includes performances by Zedd, Kaskade, Three 6 Mafia, Above & Beyond, Afrojack, Zomboy and more. Holly has more on Escape Halloween’s expansion, what to expect from the event this year and how to get tickets here.
Thomas Rhett is set to headline Boots in the Park at Silverlakes Sports Complex in Norco on March 9.(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
Orange County-based Activated Events announced that its Boots in the Park Festival will return to SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco on March 9, 2024.
The successful country music festival brand, which hosts events throughout Southern California and now in Arizona, will be back at its original home in Norco with headliner Thomas Rhett. He’ll be joined by Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Parmalee, Tyler Braden, Presley Tennant and DJ Luwiss Lux.
Paramore (vocalist Hayley Williams pictured at the 2023 Bud Light Super Bowl Music Festival at Footprint Center on February 09, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona) will headline the 2024 ALTer Ego show at Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, Jan. 13. (Photo by Marcus Ingram, Getty Images)
ALT 98.7/FM and iHeartRadio’s ALTer Ego is moving from its longtime home at the Kia Forum in Inglewood to Honda Center in Anaheim on Jan. 13, 2024.
“The Woody Show” morning crew surprise announced the lineup, which features Paramore, The 1975, The Black Keys, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Bush, Sum 41, Yellowcard, lovelytheband and The Last Dinner Party, on Friday, Oct. 13.
Tickets go on sale starting early next week. Here’s everything you need to know about the presale, how to jump on the 24-hour ALT VIP sale and more.
Until next week, thanks for reading and keep rockin’!
Read previous editions of the Festival Pass newsletter
Festival Pass: Why Power Trip with AC/DC, Judas Priest, Metallica and more was a perfect festival
Festival Pass: Power Trip brings rock, heavy metal to the desert this weekend
Festival Pass: Ohana Festival: What you need to know before you go
Festival Pass: BeachLife Ranch: What you need to know before you go