Zombified! The How-To Guide for Surviving the Apocalypse.

What was a last-minute email for event coverage approval turned into a breathtaking experience that resurrected the parts of me that die from simply keeping up with everyday life. Apocalypse: Zombieland was “a Whole Other Animal” as far as music festivals go. Separating ticket holders from reality for a weekend with its creative art displays, epic stage builds, and even motocross performances. This festival really went to infinity and beyond (bite me, Disney) as far as performative pageantry goes. To set the scene, an all-star cast of zombies is unleashed to roam the festival, interacting and dancing with the crowd and photobombing while never breaking character. Flames go off from the tops of trussing in front and behind you at almost every stage while 3 guys (maybe girls?) ride on motorcycles upside down and around, Mad Max style, in a cage.  The stages are stacked to the nines with bass artists from around the globe with the THICCEST bass within earshot every several feet.

This festival takes place bayside, at the foot of the Queen Mary, where Bass Fanatics & Zombies alike can book a room aboard the historical retired vessel with direct festival access; and if you’re lucky, you’ll score a room with a view above your favorite stage area where you can watch all the action below. Like a lot of festivals, different ticket tiers have different perks, and I was lucky enough to experience the festival through the eyes of a VIP.

The VIP tier is available directly to the public for a reasonable upcharge from the original GA ticket price. The major perks are the well-kept premium restroom trailers with on-site custodial services (super great for when certain zombies ate too many brains ;D), exclusive seating areas (which at the ripe age of 35 is a blessing around hour 3), an un-cramped viewing area where you can enjoy the tunes with some space to breathe, every stage having a VIP bar that takes almost no wait time to get a drink, as well as raised viewing decks located in different parts of the festival. In addition to all this, it also features its own VIP access line, which is an absolute asset if you’re a frequent FOMO feeler and not a fan of waiting. After all is said and done, I don’t think there’s any better way to enjoy the Apocalypse.

Insomniac really knows how to please a crowd and keep the festival spirit alive with its lenient policy of permitted festival items. Fans were able to bring their juggling balls, hula hoops, pois, totems, and light staffs. making the whole place feel like a carnival filled with fun side shows, allowing attendees to express themselves to their favorite tunes. Which is something I’ve been seeing a lot of EDM festivals ban in the last few years, but these guys are cooking with the right stuff and ever so graciously let the experiencers enjoy their own light shows they had to bring to the table.

If you want the best advice on attending this festival on a budget. Your best plan of attack if you’re from out of state is to carpool with some friends; I went with Best DnB’s traveling on-camera personality, Saturn. We took a drive from Las Vegas, which cost us about $40 each way. Being that this trip was last minute, we missed out on a lot of early bird hotel accommodation deals. However, since Las Vegas Junglists and Bassheads alike have been marking their calendars for Apocalypse: Zombieland the last 3 years, we were able to crash with some close friends and room in their Airbnb. [A special shout-out to @HeliconDnB & @Heartsmayfire for the last-minute lodging that came in SO clutch.] Which brings me to our next travel tip: parking.

Parking in LA is hard to come by, specifically any side street/parallel parking situation. Once you park your car, lock the doors and just fucking leave it! An Uber to or from the festival was only about $20 at any time. Granted, your Airbnb is within a 5-mile radius. Parking near the event is VERY HARD to get, and you’ll just piss yourself off when you realize you’ll pay the same $40 just for the lot space. When you account for the walk from the car (compared to where Uber drops you off), you’ll save a headache, a shit-load of time, and much-needed festival money from ending up in the swear jar. Keep your blood pressure low and just take the Uber/Lyft.

You’ll also want to account for the time it takes to leave. It took my group about an hour and a half to get home using the shuttle connector to the Uber lot. Keep in mind the line moves the entire time; there are just A LOT of people using the shuttle services. I was VERY IMPRESSED with how smoothly they cleared out the event space. But even so, if it’s a quick escape you’re looking for, you might want to coordinate a carpool situation with someone who drove there.

This was fantastic event with too many moments to fit in one article so staytuned later next week for when Best Drum n Bass compiles and posts our favorite reels caught on camera of this EPIC Bass Festival by the sea!

View this post on Instagram