Dreamscape Festival Local Spotlight
–Written by Kevin Madert
Dreamscape is fast approaching, and we can’t wait to join Badvss Raves and all of you at Camp Ramblewood May 8-10. In the days leading up to the festival, we’re hoping to get you better acquainted with some of the artists playing the festival; if you read about them here on the AltFreq page, you should definitely catch their performances at Dreamscape.
2Rip
The fearless leader of Badass Raves since its inception (sometime in the late Jurassic period), 2Rip is equal parts man, myth, and legend. With over a decade of DJing experience under his belt in myriad genres catching one of his sets a bit like playing Russian roulette, with all six shots replaced by your new favorite songs. Nothing but respect from AltFreq for this scene staple and local legend; that sunrise set in particular shouldn’t be missed. Set times: City Of Dreams, 3:00AM-4:00AM Saturday; Pool Stage, 5:30AM-7:00AM Saturday
Des McMahon
DC residents are plenty familiar with Des McMahon, who hails from Philly but has made a home and a name for himself in the nation’s capital. A man of many sounds and no ceilings, McMahon is the rare producer who can turn in an inspired effort whether he’s tapped to play dubstep, moombahton, house, or drum ‘n’ bass. This versatility has seen him release on Play Me Records, Ammunition Recordings, and Ultra Records (among others) and endeared him to the likes of Diplo, 12th Planet, and Tittsworth. There’s no telling which hat McMahon will don this Friday, but his odds of delivering an inspired set stuffed with painstakingly hand-chosen tunes border on certainty. Set time: City Of Dreams, 7:40PM-8:30PM Friday
DeltaNine
Sometimes – read, often – it’s the small-time, unheralded band that’s doing the biggest things. DeltaNine hasn’t been around for long, but in their four years of partnership Chris Honsberger and Chris Beck have made sure to leave a lasting impact on every stage they grace and every crowd they entertain. The electro-tinged jam style isn’t new, but Messrs. Chris & Chris are damn good at producing and presenting it, borrowing from their various influences equally to groovy effect. At a festival focused primarily on turntables and MacBooks, this jamtronica duo is a pleasant change of pace. Set time: Pool Stage 9:00PM-10:00PM Friday
Aligning Minds
While only one half of the pair that is Aligning Minds is from Baltimore (the other hails from Asheville, NC) the dubby genre-defying act has been a staple in the DMV since they got their start over a decade ago. Their lengthy resumé speaks for itself – they’ve worked with artists like Emancipator, Shpongle, and Beats Antique, performed at festivals across the nation, and released all sorts of original material. The thoughtful, melodic tones and hypnotic beats commonly found in an Aligning Minds set are tailor-made for winding down your weekend at Dreamscape. Set time: Pool Stage, 4:00AM-5:30AM Saturday
Plaeground
This Baltimore-based act is another longtime participant in the wonky, unclassifiable bass corner of the music sphere. The five-piece concocts self-described “electrodelic tribal futurebass” – an accurate mouthful. Many styles are brought together under the Plaeground banner; it’s not unusual to hear gnarly guitar solos, soulful sax fills, and playful flute arpeggios in rapid succession. Even when they let themselves get out there, the danceable organic backbeat keeps things moving in a forward direction. As their Facebook bio aptly states, “Plaeground has many sounds, but no sides.” Set time: Pool Stage, 3:00AM-4:00AM Saturday
Connect with 2Rip: (Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / Instagram)
Connect with Des McMahon: (Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / YouTube)
Connect with Aligning Minds: (Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / Official Site)
Connect with Deltanine: (Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / Bandcamp)
Connect with Plaeground: (Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / Official Site)