CRSSD Festival has announced its Fall 2025 lineup, marking a decade since its debut with a diverse slate of electronic acts scheduled to perform at San Diego’s Waterfront Park on September 27 and 28. The San Diego event features Empire of the Sun, John Summit, Ben Böhmer and more across three stages
This year’s edition continues CRSSD’s tradition of hosting a broad spectrum of electronic music, reflecting trends in global dance music. The festival’s three-stage format returns, each focusing on a distinct facet of electronic culture: Ocean View, The Palms, and City Steps.
Headlining the Ocean View stage are Empire of the Sun, returning with their visually rich live show, and house artist John Summit, known for recent mainstream success. Other highlights include German producer Ben Böhmer (performing live), experimental duo DARKSIDE, Canadian artist Caribou, and UK group Maribou State. This stage leans toward live sets and melodic sounds, offering a contrast to DJ-heavy lineups typical of large festivals.
House and Techno at The Palms and City Steps
The Palms continues to cater to house music with performances from Jamie Jones B2B Adam Ten, Claude VonStroke, Purple Disco Machine, and Dombresky. Rising artists such as Chris Stussy, Cassian, and Beltran also feature prominently, alongside new names like Swimming Paul and Max Styler. This programming reflects house music’s evolving landscape, where veteran acts are joined by emerging producers gaining momentum online and in clubs.
City Steps brings a harder-edged techno focus. Boys Noize headlines, joined by Brutalismus 3000 and Berlin-based duo DJ Gigola B2B MCR-T. Japanese DJ ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U and artists like Blawan and OGUZ underline CRSSD’s commitment to showcasing boundary-pushing underground talent. The inclusion of KETBOI69, a collaborative alias of KETTAMA and Partiboi69, points to CRSSD tapping into the energy of meme-driven club culture.
Changing scenes
CRSSD’s 2025 edition arrives amid a broader shift toward genre fluidity and multimedia performance in electronic festivals. Its continued focus on live electronic acts and hybrid performances sets it apart from many US festivals dominated by traditional DJ sets. The lineup demonstrates an awareness of both digital-native breakout artists and legacy acts, capturing a moment in the genre where innovation and nostalgia often overlap.
CRSSD remains a 21+ festival and is known for its daytime, waterfront setting. Alongside the music, it features local food vendors, craft beverages, and interactive areas including a music-tech lounge and vinyl market. Afterparty events under the CRSSD After Dark banner will be announced closer to the event.
Ticket sales begin with an alumni presale on May 27, followed by SMS and general public sales on May 28. More information is available on the festival’s official website.
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