PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Escape Halloween helps the veil thinning, bringing this world and the afterlife closer together for all things ghoulish, spooky, and heart-pounding. The masterminds behind Insomniac have perfected a unique immersive and mystical experience for music and Halloween devotees alike. Crowds gathered in Southern California for two days of captivating music, enchanted landscapes, a mesmerizing environment, and a collective energy of solidarity.
The moment attendees entered the gates, they were greeted with soul-pounding music, art, performers, and an ambiance that words can’t describe. Sinister characters lingered the grounds; fortune tellers lured those who seek insight and guidance. Crazed clowns peeked from hiding spots and scared those passing by. The band Witch Doctors protected and combated against evil and negative energy. Contortionist bent and twisted our minds with their abilities to move in profound ways. The plethora of other anomalous beings set a stage of their own, helping guests embody their inner freak.
Along the festival grounds were special places where guests are invited in for a secluded treats.
The Butcher
The Butcher was a tenacious, and grim place with hallways traced in body bags and meat. Once you’ve made passage, you find yourself in the Butcher’s shop. Behind the counter is where the DJ is playing sinister music for a room dawn in the brightest red lighting; almost as red as the bloody meat sack that hang from the ceiling.
Poison Ivy
The Poison Ivy was conveniently a pharmaceutical market where you could purchase delicacies to enhance the enchantments of the night. Overgrown ivy peer to the outskirts of the building and on the inside a huge flesh-eating plant is center stage and in control. The black-light psychedelic bar was the perfect spine-tingling atmosphere that sent chills over the body as a response to this pleasurable sensory overload.
Stages
Escape Halloween bestowed 5 stages where artists transcended creative limits; taking onlookers on a sensory overload thrill ride. Headliners created an euphoric affair, with the use of larger than life stage productions, lasers, lighting, LED screens, and pyrotechnics.
The Grimm
The Grimm is an intricately veiled skeleton set atop the stage overlooking visitors; appropriately located within Voodoo Village. Artists played to crowds at the Grimm as an offering to honor the spirits; here and in the afterlife.
Wicked Woods
The stage was lined with bare branched trees that swing performers used as a backdrop. At center stage a beautifully eerie woman watches as she casts her spell on those who frolic through the woods.
Feeding Grounds
Those who braved the creepy crawlers that inhabited the Feeding Grounds experienced amazing sets. Completely entangled in webs and prying from above; the centuries old spiders have their choices of treats among the guests.
The Sewer District
Sectioned off from most of the festival’s grounds is an area barricaded by Factory 93. Performers played sets for all the demented, crazed, and dangerous castaways that banded together within the Sewer District. Although simplistic in design, the Sewer District seduced outcasts with live art, light technology and deep house and techno music that touched on a soulful level.
Sanitarium
The stage within the Sanitarium centers an operating table for artist to perform sweet musical operations within the institution. Patients are invited to endure and undergo upbeat sounds, energetic beats, and one hell of a time, doctor’s orders.
Lineup
(Alphabetically)
- ABOVE & BEYOND
- AFROJACK
- ALWZ SNNY
- ARMIN VAN BUUREN
- ARMNHMR
- ARMNHMR
- ATLIENS
- BEN NICKY PRESENTS XTREME
- BLACK SUN EMPIRE B2B THE UPBEATS
- BUNS
- CALYX
- CANABLISS
- CHARLES D
- CHELINA MANUHUTU
- CID B2B HUGEL B2B WESTEND
- CODE BLACK
- CODE BLACK: BLACKOUT
- CODEKO
- CRYSTAL SKIES
- CULTURE SHOCK
- DANNY OLSON
- DARREN STYLES
- DEATHPACT
- DJ ISAAC B2B SAYMYNAME
- DJ SNAKE
- DJ TOPGUN
- ED RUSH & OPTICAL
- EMO NITE
- GEO
- GRAVEDGR
- GREEN VELVET
- HE$H
- HEKLER
- HOANG
- HOT SINCE 82
- IAN ASHER
- JAMIE JONES
- JAMIE JONES
- JVNA
- JVNA
- K?D
- 1788-L
- KAIVON
- KAS:ST
- KASKADE
- KELTEK
- LADY FAITH
- LAUREN LANE
- LILLY PALMER
- LLLLNNNN B2B WATER SPIRIT
- LNY TNZ
- LOCO DICE
- MACKY GEE
- MALAA
- MARIANA BO
- MATRODA B2B SAN PACHO
- MATRODA
- MAX STYLER
- MK
- MUERTE
- MUSUBI
- NIA ARCHIVES
- NITEPUNK
- PATRICK TOPPING
- REINIER ZONNEVELD
- REZZ
- ROBYN BALLIET
- ROHAAN
- ROSSY
- ROSSY’S ROOM
- SENZA
- SHIP WREK
- SIREN
- SKELLYTN
- SLANDER
- SMOAKLAND PRESENTS LIQUID SMOAK
- SPACE 92 X POPOF PRESENT: TURBULENCES
- SUAHN
- SVDDEN DEATH
- TAYLOR KADE
- TCHAMI
- THREE 6 MAFIA
- TOBEHONEST
- WADE
- WILKINSON
- WILLIAM BLACK
- YETEP
- ZEDD
- ZOMBOY
Final Thoughts
Escape Halloween was a first for PopHorror and we had such a great time exploring the sights and sounds. The positivity and welcoming enviornment that other attendees offered us was such a breath of fresh air. This event was well equipped with food, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), merchandise, medical aid, water stations, etc. Although it is a massive festival with turn out numbers easily exceeding 50k, they offer VIP experiences to help alleviate congestion throughout the grounds. Yes, Halloween just passed but anyone looking for a good way to close out the season should definitely check Escape Halloween next year. Keep up to date with announcements and other content on all social platforms here:
@escapehalloween @insomniacevents
@escapehalloween @insomniacevents
@escapehalloween @insomniacevents
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