Electronic Dance Music in San Diego County

Looking for the best places to enjoy Electronic Dance Music in San Diego County? Check out our guide for the top venues and events!

Introduction

San Diego County is home to a thriving electronic dance music (EDM) scene, with a number of clubs and venues hosting regular events. The county’s EDM scene is particularly well-known for its focus on house and techno music, with several world-renowned DJs and producers having been born or raised in the area.

Despite its relatively small size, San Diego County has produced a number of notable EDM artists over the years, including Skrillex, 12th Planet, and Kaskade. The county is also home to a number of prominent EDM festivals, including CRSSD Festival and BangOn!SD.

If you’re considering attending an EDM event in San Diego County, it’s important to be aware of the area’s unique culture and history. This guide will provide you with an overview of the county’s EDM scene, as well as some tips on how to enjoy your time at an event.

History of EDM in San Diego County

Electronic dance music has been around since the 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it started to become popular in San Diego County. The first EDM party in San Diego County was held in 1992 and was called “Rave ’til Dawn.” This party was organized by a group of friends who wanted to create a safe space for people to enjoy electronic music.

Early days

The history of EDM in San Diego County goes back to the early days of the rave scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first techno rave in San Diego was held in 1990, and it featured DJs spinning records on turntables. The rave scene began to grow in popularity in the mid-1990s, and by 1996, there was a thriving underground rave culture in San Diego.

Raves were often held in warehouses or other large venues, and they typically featured multiple DJs playing a mix of electronic music genres. The music at raves was often loud and fast-paced, and the atmosphere was often intense and energetic. Raves were often all-night affairs, and they sometimes attracted a diverse crowd of people from different backgrounds.

The rave scene began to decline in popularity in the late 1990s, but it has experienced a resurgence in recent years. In 2010, an estimated 10,000 people attended the annual Electric Daisy Carnival rave in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Electric Daisy Carnival is one of the largest EDM festivals in the world, and it has featured some of the biggest names in electronic dance music.

The 1990s

The 1990s was a pivotal time for the electronic dance music scene in San Diego County. This was the decade that saw the birth of the world-renowned Sunset Cliffs rave scene, which would go on to put San Diego on the map as an international destination for EDM lovers.

The first major rave in San Diego County was held in 1990, and was called Energy. Energy was held at various locations throughout the county over the next few years, including an annual event at Lake Hodges. In 1994, Energy moved to its permanent home at Sunset Cliffs, where it would become one of the most iconic raves in North America.

Sunset Cliffs quickly became renowned for its beautiful location, stunning sunsets, and of course, its incredible parties. Every year, ravers from all over the world would descend on San Diego for a weekend of non-stop dancing and good times. The Sunset Cliffs rave scene reached its peak in the late 1990s, with some estimating that as many as 20,000 people were attending parties there each weekend.

Sadly, the party came to an end in 1999 when the city of San Diego passed a law banning raves at Sunset Cliffs. However, this did not stop the rave scene from thriving in other parts of the county; today, San Diego is home to some of the biggest and best EDM festivals and events in North America.

The 2000s

The early 2000s saw a boom in popularity for electronic dance music in San Diego County. Venues like Clubregon in Encinitas and Spin Nightclub in San Diego became popular hotspots for locals and tourists alike. With the rise of social media, EDM culture began to take shape online, with forums and websites dedicated to music discovery and sharing becoming popular among fans.

In the mid-2000s, local radio station Energy 103.7 FM began to play more dance music, helping to grow the scene even further. In 2007, the first major EDM festival was held in San Diego County – the Wavefront Music Festival. The festival featured many local and international DJs, and was attended by over 10,000 people.

The late 2000s saw a continued rise in popularity for EDM, with more festivals and events being held throughout the county. In 2009, the world’s largest EDM festival, Ultra Music Festival, made its debut in San Diego. The festival featured over 200 DJs and attracted tens of thousands of attendees from all over the world.

Since then, electronic dance music has continued to grow in popularity in San Diego County. New clubs and festivals have popped up all over, solidifying the region as a major player in the global EDM scene.

The 2010s

The 2010s were a big decade for Electronic Dance Music in San Diego County. With the rise of social media, EDM became more accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. DJs and producers began to emerge from all parts of the county, and new venues popping up to accommodate the growing demand for live music. Artists like Kaskade, Porter Robinson, and Zedd found mainstream success, and helped put San Diego County on the map as an EDM destination.

The current state of EDM in San Diego County

The electronic dance music scene in San Diego County is booming. With new clubs and festivals popping up all the time, there is no shortage of places to go to hear your favorite DJs. However, some people are concerned about the current state of EDM in San Diego County.

The scene today

In the past few years, the EDM scene in San Diego County has exploded. With world-renowned festivals like CRSSD and Wave House, as well as a plethora of smaller shows and events happening on a regular basis, there is no shortage of things to do for electronic music lovers in the area.

This growth has not been without its challenges, however. In 2018, two major festivals – Sunburn and Bunka Bash – were shut down due to problems with their permits, leaving many disappointed fans in their wake. And more recently, concerns have been raised about the safety of attending EDM events after several people died of drug overdoses at local shows.

Despite these challenges, the EDM scene in San Diego County remains strong. With new venues and events popping up all the time, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy electronic music in the area.

The future of EDM in San Diego County

The future of EDM in San Diego County is bright. The genre has been growing in popularity in recent years, and shows no signs of slowing down. With a thriving club scene and a number of major music festivals, the region is quickly becoming a hotspot for electronic dance music.

Clubs such as Spin Nightclub and Bassmnt are constantly bringing in top DJs from around the world, and festivals like CRSSD and Hard Summer attract tens of thousands of fans each year. With so much momentum, it’s only a matter of time before San Diego County becomes a major player on the global EDM scene.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the electronic dance music scene in San Diego County is thriving. With a variety of venues to choose from, there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a laid back atmosphere or a more high-intensity experience, you can find it here. So get out there and start dancing!