This past weekend, Shaq’s Bass All Stars made a return to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for its third event. Brandishing a killer lineup full of the best bass artists Shaq could curate, this festival promised bassheads a night of insane music. Bringing in multiple food and merchant vendors, this festival was able to supply attendees a venue that had everything they needed for the night. Containing two stages across the map, Shaq’s Bass All Stars showcased the rising stars of the bass industry at the same event as those currently leading the charge.
As the festival opened its gates, the sun was beaming pretty hard on Panther Island Pavilion. But lucky for fans, it wasn’t long before the shade started growing as the sun set over the first few hours. As people started filling in, they made sure to get some pics while browsing around the venue. There were a few food trucks for those that were hungry, including pizza, burgers, and, of course, some lemonade options. Several bar areas were placed around the grounds, which helped keep lines down through the night as best as possible. There was more than just food though, with some brand installments having been placed inside.
A few free things were placed around the fest, as well, such as the Shaq’s XL Gummies truck that handed out three different kinds of Shaq’s own candy. There was also a crane game with some prizes for those lucky enough to win. Similar to the crane game, fans were given an opportunity to play Shaq’s Long Shot Basketball. It was a $3-dollar game with different prizes based on the amount of shots made, and all proceeds were donated to charity. This was Shaq’s way of merging the EDM community with a fun philanthropic effort.
The last addition to the venue was the merchant stands, which were conveniently located toward the back of the main stage crowd. These merchants had plenty to offer, ranging from glowing glasses and harem pants to tons of pashminas and even some pins. Similarly, the festival made sure to have its own merch stand in the center, offering fans some artist merch along with some festival-specific items like a jersey and hat. With all of the additions at the festival, there was never a dull moment.
The crowd’s energy was booming for the artists. Warming up the fest early were Drinkurwater and Gorilla T. Both of them really helped build up the atmosphere as the festival grounds started filling up to capacity. They put on sets that spoke for themselves, showcasing that a daytime set can be phenomenal and high-energy even without the full impact of lights and lasers.
Jessica Audiffred, an EDM artist who is well known for her heavy grungy edits, followed. As she performed on the Main Stage, artists Dreamtakers and Celo b2b Neotek threw down at the 360 Trenches stage, drawing hungry attendees in for sets that brought their unique styles to life. While the crowds for them weren’t the size of the main stage, the energy that the artists and the fans brought to the Trenches area was out of this world. It’s clear that DFW has the curiosity and desire to enjoy these these up-and-comers.
Following on the Main Stage was T-Pain, who is typically known for his early 2000s R&B hits. This time, however, fans flocked to the stage to catch him for a special DJ set, during which he remixed the songs people know and love with intense bass that rattled the ground. This was a must-see set for attendees, and it was clear by the crowd’s size as it started getting a bit tighter. As he performed, Shaq made an appearance as a lil sneak peak for what was to come. Overall, T-Pain’s set was pretty good seeing as how he’s pretty knew to the EDM scene. It was different from what people usually see from him, but it showed potential for him to continue this genre.
Headlining the festival was obviously Shaq, bringing everyone a set of mosh pits and raging. As he took the stage, bass shook the ground, fireworks lit up the sky above, and pyro literally warmed up the crowd, especially those near the rail. This was where production peaked for the festival. As lasers danced overhead, Shaq played some of his most memorable edits. Along the way, a few artists came back to join him for collabs, including Jessica Audiffred and T-Pain. After giving everyone a nearly hour-and-a-half set, Shaq gave us one last surprise when he joined the crowd for the final mosh pit. This obviously kept fans invigorated for the closers to come.
As he left the stage, Levity and Wooli arrived to perform a b2b set. This was the first time these artists had come together live, creating what Jon from Levity calls, Wevity. As they performed to close out the fest, the fireworks were unfortunately no more, which was something that would have been nice to continue to close the festival with a bang. But even without fireworks, the pyro and lasers were going insane, providing fans with a colorful dance of light paired with insane remixes by two favorites in the industry. The visuals blended the vibes of Levity and Wooli perfectly. As fans danced, headbanged, and sang along to the lyrics engrained in their brains, Shaq’s Bass All Stars closed out with a phenomenal performance by the wonky boys of Levity and the bass legend Wooli.
Overall, Shaq’s Bass All Stars was yet again a huge success. Brandishing the title of Texas’ largest bass music festival, this production held nothing back and provided attendees with a great way to dive into the festival season early on. It is fully expected to come back for a fourth run, so make sure to keep an eye on their socials as time goes on.
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