Zombie Apocalypse Leveled Up Its Experience This Year

1 hour ago 2

The upgraded layout, the new Quarantine Zone stage, and other enhancements made the first summer edition of Zombie Apocalypse memorable.

The most recent edition of Zombie Apocalypse has come and gone, and it was yet another successful battle against the undead. This year saw the festival get a solid shakeup compared to previous iterations. Insomniac and Bassrush embraced the summer vibes, incorporated new areas at the Queen Mary Waterfront into the festival’s layout, and fixed many of the issues that had appeared in recent years. Of course, Zombie Apocalypse featured a bangin’ lineup of bass behemoths who provided the soundtrack, which included a hearty helping of drum and bass.

Overall, the experience satisfied the cravings of humans and zombies alike. So let’s dive in and talk about the modifications to this year’s edition, because many of these will serve as indicators of what’s to come at future festivals held at the venue, like Day Trip Festival and Dreamstate SoCal.

The revamped layout for Zombie Apocalypse was sublime.

Take one glance at the map for Zombie Apocalypse, and you’ll notice many changes from the jump. Those taking the shuttles to and from the venue still had their standard entrance to the festival grounds, but anyone who walked or pedicabbed across the Queensway Bridge no longer had to go nearly as far. For many, the new festival entrance ran along the road that was once dominated by shuttles, making it far more efficient.

Because of the newly opened Long Beach Amphitheater, walking between stages became a breeze. There were no more underpasses or overpasses you needed to take to get from the Quarantine Zone to any of the other stages, which made crowd flow far easier to manage all weekend. Having more walkways with a larger footprint just made so much sense, especially considering how often flocks of bass lovers were making their way from one side of the festival to the other.

The Long Beach Amphitheater’s layout shifted the experience for those, like myself, who made their home at the Quarantine Zone stage all weekend.

Although perpendicular to previous years, it still felt like a bit of its own world to explore. Having ample seating in the area was a huge bonus for those looking to rest their feet. That said, it did feel a bit lackluster on the production side of the spectrum. Most of the zombie-ified production elements were outside of the stage area, save for a trio of scientists-turned-zombies in the VIP section. It would’ve been nice to have a bit more immersion there, but perhaps the goal was to make it feel sanitized — it was the Quarantine Zone after all.

With the new layout, it was a short walk to get from that stage to anything else. If you exited from the left side, you could easily get to the BeatBox Art Car or make your way to the Zombie Citadel. Leaving from the right side would put you straight into the Necropolis District with a short journey to the Apocalypse Arena.

Another major upgrade at Zombie Apocalypse was the inclusion of the Passport Lounge.

For headbangers who have been lucky enough to receive an invite to the Insomniac Passport program, their time had finally come. Smack dab in the middle of the venue was its first-ever Passport Lounge, which offered respite from the sun, a small stage featuring a range of artists, meet-and-greet opportunities, an exclusive bar, and even a food vendor who had delicious skewers and noodles. Whether you were stopping through to grab a drink or fill up on water, or just looking for a chill place to hang, this was a solid spot to go. Hopefully, it will return for future editions.

Although the lineup was stacked with talent from top to bottom, it was the sound of drum and bass that carried me forward throughout my experience.

Aside from a few adventures to check out the new layout and stage designs, and a few other quick trips, practically every artist I spent a considerable amount of time with was from the realm of drum and bass. There wasn’t a shortage of those artists, either, whether at the Quarantine Zone or elsewhere throughout the venue.

The beauty of having a full stage dedicated to drum and bass meant that for two days, you could catch artists who aren’t just legends in headliner slots, but artists who represent the future of the scene. Acts who took the stage early in the day, like Crumb Pit, Bensley, [IVY], Georgie Riot, and MAYLAY, all brought plenty of heat along with them as the sun baked everyone in the crowd. Dieselboy, a true legend in the DnB scene, also performed early alongside MC Dino, sparking plenty of energy as junglists flocked into the area.

The late afternoon and evening hours were dominated by a run of DnB acts that threw down incredible sets. Standouts on Friday included Camo & Krooked, Pendulum, and the b3b featuring Bladerunner, DJ SS, and Document One, all of whom clearly had plenty of fun as the crowd moved to their beats. The second night delivered another impeccable run, with artists like Muzz, SOTA, and Hybrid Minds showcasing their styles, while Tantrum Desire capped off the night with a satisfying finish.

Poking around elsewhere brought forth some cool experiences with other artists.

Getting a dose of different sounds throughout the weekend was great, and the Necropolis District is where I found some of the most dynamic. Casey Club, Integrate, and Taiki Nulight all showcased some unique bass styles that provided a breath of fresh air.

It was also cool to bump around to the sounds at the BeatBox Art Car, which always seemed to draw a crowd. Yet it was the run of San Diego-based drum and bass acts at the Passport Lounge that was a nice surprise. Artists like Josh Taylor and Quintessa brought incredible vibes to the tiny stage, and I can only hope they’ll be leveling up to the Quarantine Zone in the future.

Zombie Apocalypse was a solid summer kick-off for bass lovers, and Insomniac deserves some love for making the experience a memorable one.

Weather-wise, it was perfect, as the summer heat hadn’t really set in yet, with the nights being a bit chilly. Crowd-wise, everyone I encountered was in good spirits, nice, and welcoming. Production-wise, it seemed as if everything hit on all cylinders. Transportation-wise, while shuttle lines did become lengthy, they weren’t unbearable. With those as indicators for success, along with the solid sets from artists all weekend, it’s pretty clear that this edition of Zombie Apocalypse was one of the best yet.

Zombie Apocalypse is slated to return next summer on June 18-19. Make sure to grab your passes if you plan to battle the undead with other headbangers, junglists, and more.