When it comes to the North American EDM scene, Insomniac is above all. Their production value, attention to detail and willingness to break boundaries are part of what makes them leaders in this industry. They have brought legendary festivals to the forefront, such as Electric Daisy Carnival, Nocturnal Wonderland and Escape. So, when it was announced that Insomniac was headed back to Arizona for the first time since 2019 to kick off this year's festival season with its main brand, Bassrush, many locals were amped for the heavy-hitting lineup and high-quality production that those in the Valley have been longing for.
Last weekend, Bassrush Arizona was paired with Nightrip, a spin off of Daytrip Festival to create a two-day EDM takeover at WestWorld of Scottsdale. While Nightrip was a house-based event, Bassrush was geared towards bass and dubstep artists. Featuring big names such as Ray Volpe, Jessica Audiffred and an all new BTSM show, Omen; fans knew it would be an action-packed event.
While the visuals and lighting system may not have been as high quality as a production like EDC, Insomniac delivered an impressive product with their return to the desert. For a $65 price tag, Bassrush made audiences feel like they were at a full-scale festival. The visuals provided a hypnotic display of lasers for the audience's viewing pleasure and the sound system was pristine regardless of location in the venue. If you wanted to leave the action at the main stage, the Beatbox Art Car served up bass with local talent all the way until the event ended at 2 a.m. In addition, there were plenty of food and drink options at all corners of the venue.
The talent on display at Bassrush was otherworldly for what was originally considered a smaller festival. Jessica Audiffred brought her signature energy with the all girls mosh pits in full effect. Barely Alive put on a brostep heavy set remnant of the 2010s bass scene with vibrant colors and bouncy basslines.
By the time Ray Volpe hit the decks, the energy was electric, but Volpe bumped it up an extra degree. Dropping signature hits like “See You Drop” and “Laserbeam” sent the crowd into a frenzy. He ended his set with his new release, a melodic track titled “Anesthetic” from his upcoming album, “Forever. Volpetron”. Fans who were worried he might not be bringing his album tour to the desert were ecstatic when he promised them he would be back “real soon”. He then announced a special Arizona date for January 2026.
The surprise of the night was the headlining slot. While many expected Ray Volpe to close—he was heavily featured in the promotional material—the coveted 1 a.m. slot went to Black Tiger Sex Machine. The Montreal dubstep duo premiered their new show titled “Omen: The Manga Experience”. The cinematic masterpiece seemed to be a sequel to their 2024 set, “The Anime Show.” It featured many cutscenes from famous mangas paired with the iconic BTSM tracks, guiding ravers through battles and triumph. When hit songs like “Skull Machine” and “Cheatcodes” rang out, the Bassrush faithful got rowdy & reckless. In a stunning, unexpected move, the duo finished the set by unmasking from their iconic tiger helmets, playing the final 10 minutes unmasked—a massive and symbolic shift for the “Omen” show.
In its entirety, Bassrush was a killer return to the valley for Insomniac. They brought an amazing lineup that audiences loved, the visuals and sound were incredible and the audience had an amazing time. Fortunately, for AZ ravers, it is just a matter of time until Insomniac finds themselves back in the Valley of the Sun.