An overview: What makes Splash House special
Splash House, Palm Springs’ popular poolside music festival, once again delivered two consecutive weekends of sun-drenched fun, electrifying music and endless good vibes. Held at three legendary venues – The Renaissance, Margaritaville and The Saguaro – this festival combines the best of electronic music, house and disco with the unique charm of Palm Springs. Whether you’re swimming in the pool, dancing at the after-hours parties at the Air Museum or roaming between venues, Splash House offers an intimate yet exciting experience that sets it apart from other festivals.
Weekend one: Gorgon City, Green Velvet and Rowdy Revelry
The first Splash House weekend was nothing short of spectacular. With the Renaissance as my personal favorite venue and the Saguaro a close second, the vibe was just right. The festival grounds are cozy enough to feel intimate. With three venues, you can move around freely without being overwhelmed by the overwhelming crowds you find at larger events – at least until the end of the day when things really heat up.
Highlights of the first weekend included the epic back-to-back set from Gorgon City and Green Velvet, who brought the house down with their unique blend of beats. The Friday night pre-party, Fly with Us, featuring AC Slater and Chris Lorenzo, was nothing short of insane. The Air Museum, with its historic aircraft and desert night sky as a backdrop, remains one of the most unique and exciting places to party.
Although Margaritaville was a fantastic venue, some attendees experienced issues with the air conditioning, which was inconvenient for guests. However, SH organizers were quick to respond and offered new accommodations and refunds so everyone could still enjoy their weekend.
It’s worth noting that the crowd was a little louder than usual on the first weekend, likely due to the high-energy lineup attracting a more excited group. But that’s part of the fun – certain types of house music just have that effect, and the atmosphere was full of excitement.
Second weekend: John Summit, Aviation Museum and Renaissance celebrations
The second weekend kicked off with an incredible opening party from John Summit. Nala, who opened for him, did an impeccable job setting the stage, but it was Summit’s insatiable beats that set the tone for an unforgettable weekend.
Day one
The Renaissance was my home base for most of the weekend, and for good reason. The first day started strong with a killer set from Manics, an LA duo known for their blend of indie dance, dark disco, and melodic techno. They fired things up and set the bar high for the rest of the weekend. Moon Boots and Girl Math – VNSSA b2b Nala – kept the mood going and created magic on the decks. Biscits, as expected, did not disappoint, delivering a high energy set that kept the crowd moving. The highlight of the night was Chris Lorenzo, who managed to fill the Renaissance to capacity. The pool was the only place with room to move, and that’s where I spent the majority of his set, drifting to the beats in a sea of other festival-goers.
On Saturday night, everything revolved around the Renaissance’s renegade parties. There seemed to be a DJ setup in every corner of the hotel, with improvised sets transforming the hotel rooms into mini-clubs. A highlight was Busterkunan up and coming LA DJ/producer who stole the show with his incredible renegade set. It was a night of great vibes, spontaneous friendships and non-stop music. Although I had planned to go to Disco Dom at the Air Museum, I ended up staying at Renaissance where the energy was just too good to leave.
Day two
Despite staying up way too late on Saturday and missing most of the second day, I managed to catch LF System as the sun set, which provided the perfect backdrop for their groovy, disco-heavy take on house music. MEDUZA’s two-hour set was the highlight of the evening, taking us on an unforgettable journey and ending with the fitting track “I Don’t Want to Go Home.” Everyone in the crowd felt the same.
While I didn’t make it to Saguaro or Margaritaville, my friends who were there had nothing but praise for the performances by SG Lewis, AC Slater, Patrick Topping and Dr. Fresch. Riordan and Austin Millz also delivered stellar sets, capitalizing on the unique energy of each venue.
Final Thoughts: Why Splash House Festival is a must-attend
Splash House is more than just a festival; it’s a community. With its intimate setting, diverse lineups and unique venues, it creates an atmosphere where lasting friendships are formed. You could even say that every moment feels like a shared celebration. Whether you’re a first-timer or a long-time participant, there’s always something new to discover and new people to meet.
While it’s impossible to see all the acts from the three venues, that’s part of the fun. Each venue offers its own distinctive atmosphere and no matter where you are, you’ll have a good time. Acts like Wenzday, DJ Topgun and Bijou were on my list but didn’t quite fit into my weekend – just more reasons to come back next year.
Whether Splash House returns next year for two or three weekends, it’s an event you don’t want to miss. If you love Coachella, CRSSD, or just a good pool party, Splash House is the ultimate summer festival. See you next year!
For more information, visit the official Splash House website. Here.
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