Coverage by: Spencer Wiley & Samantha Chin

Ooh this year be hittin’ different! As 2019 comes to a close, it’s not too late to finalize your plans for New Year’s Eve. The best way to celebrate another year around the sun? Ascending to a new vibe  with some of the biggest and baddest names in EDM.

Enter Decadence Arizona. Not to be confused with it’s sister event Decadence Colorado (same dates, different city), this heavy-hitting 2-day festival by Relentless Beats and Global Dance will be held on December 30th and 31st at the Rawhide Event Center, just outside of Phoenix, AZ. 

This year’s Decadence Arizona lineup is stacked top to bottom with quality artists including Zeds Dead, Galantis and the highly anticipated Griztronics, as well as household names like Diplo, Skrillex and Dillon Francis. There are still a few more acts to be announced, as well as local Arizona talent. Check out the full line-up here.

With such a big event right around the corner, here are our top highlights and recommendations:

General Highlights:

2-day GA passes are currently $209 (around $250 after fees and shipping), with VIP packages still available. To purchase tickets, click here.

Get ready for 3 stages, 2 for the main acts and one stage for local Arizona talent, plus a handful of beautiful, Instagram-worthy art installations to keep you entertained between sets. Relentless Beats and Global Dance also have announced some improvements for this year including:

• Reconfiguration of the main stage area to create more dance floor space
• Additional entry and exit points, added water stations and heated areas
• Increased flooring throughout the event
• Capacity control measures to ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Griztronics  –  With a mix of Griz’s funky sounds and Subtronics’ high energy bass, it seems like everyone and their mother has heard of the latest top-of-the-charts banger, “Griztronics”. If you’re as big a fan as we are, then you won’t want to miss their first ever festival b2b set (they played a last minute show together in Philly for the first ever Griztronics set in November 2019).

Illenium  –  One of the hottest EDM dj/producers over the last few years has seen quite an evolution in his music from melodic to straight up headbanging. For one of the first times, Nick will be playing a set showcasing his new album, Ascend, which has a great mix of his iconic melodic bass sound, as well as some harder tracks that will keep you on your toes throughout the entire set.

Day 1

With a special Dab the Sky set, you’ll get close to tears thanks to melodic bass from two OG Sadboi artists, Dabin and Said the Sky. If you like Dabin and/or Said the Sky, check out Illenium.

The genre-bending Space Jesus is always an interesting act to see, especially if you like hip-hop mixed with some filthy alien bass. If you like Space Jesus, don’t miss G Jones or Whipped Cream.

Future bass artists Tchami b2b Malaa always prove to be one of the best live performances around, keeping the crowd dancing from start to finish. If you like Tchami and/or Malaa, go see AC Slater.

Day 2

Some of the highest energy sets in the festival realm belong to Joyryde and Fisher who create energy like you’ve never seen before. If you like Joyryde and/or Fisher, don’t miss Ardalan.

Many are debating who will ring in the New Year — Zeds Dead or Galantis. Both duos are notorious for closing out past festivals, so either one could easily play in the NYE midnight slot. If you like Zeds Dead, don’t miss Decadon. If you are more of a Galantis fan, check out Nora En Pure.

Who knows, we might see some new faces in the midnight slot. Fingers crossed for Griztronics.

Long story short, it’s a really good idea to go to Decadence AZ. With a mix of artists to fit anyone’s taste and an opportunity to check out a wintry weekend in the desert, embrace the new year with a new you and say YES to a seriously good time.

Follow Decadence Arizona on Instagram: @decadencearizona