Seven Stars was one legendary step out of hiatus for GRiZ, and one giant leap for bass music and festival culture as we know it.
It is no secret that EDM and the festival circuit have been hijacked in a ferocious corporate takeover. Tickets are overpriced, venues are oversold, and odds are your favorite longstanding festival has been bought out and stripped of its soul.
Yet in an era where chasing views has replaced the moment, me-culture has replaced community, and profit stands over experience, Seven Stars Music Festival was far more than a much-needed breath of fresh air, but a bold rebellion against the corporate invasion of our beloved scene.
GRiZ Fam marches into The Valley Of The Seven Stars
On the second weekend of October, an army of over 20,000 GRiZ fans marched into The Valley Of The Seven Stars. But our army doesn’t drop bombs, we drop bass, and maybe a little acid… Allegedly.
As we infiltrated Oak Ridge Farms in Arrington, Virginia, it didn’t matter what your background was, what you looked like, or what you believed. We were all there for the same reason.
We are GRiZ fam. We show love and spread love. We say excuse me, we look out for each other, and we don’t judge. We make friends with our neighbors and chase the golden hour with heavy doses of funky, face-melting bass. And when it’s all said and done, we pick up our trash, and we leave no trace.
We showed up to party, but it was far more than an excuse just to rage. We showed up to connect, escape, and most importantly, celebrate the return of the KING.
The vibes at Seven Stars hit another level
You can tell a lot about a festival by the song that was played the most throughout the weekend. No matter what the festival is, there is always one song that makes it into almost every set, and typically, it’s a mainstream hit from whatever is popular at that specific time.
But Seven Stars be hittin’ different. The most played track of the weekend was not a pop hit or a viral trend, but Pretty Lights’ timeless 2008 hit, Hot Like Sauce. Everyone from Effin, Wooli, Disco Lines, Levity, Steller, The Sponges, and more played a variation of the record. (Shout out Wooli.)
You may be thinking, “It’s just a song,” but it’s much deeper than that. Not only is Pretty Lights one of GRiZ’s biggest inspirations, but Hot Like Sauce is a track that introduced a lot of us to the type of bass music that speaks to your soul.
It’s an anthem that transcends generations of bass music fans, and nearly 20 years after its release, it defined the essence of GRiZ’s first festival.
Seven Stars wasn’t some money grab trying to appeal to the masses. It was a festival built for us, by one of us. It was more than a celebration. It was a love letter to bass music culture and the community we created, all written by one of the best to ever do it.
With all that’s wrong in today’s scene, it’s easy to succumb to negativity going into an event, which can have drastic effects on your festival experience, even before it begins.
But with Seven Stars, all of those problems, worries, and concerns were left at the door. For the first time in a long time, the festival actually felt like a festival. It wasn’t just a moment here or a moment there. It was a magical experience from start to finish.
As it goes, life is too short to have sorrow. You might be here today and gone tomorrow, so my friends and I didn’t just go hyphy in this b!tch, we let the good times roll!
The Seven Stars crowd is unmatched
If you’re at a festival with a not-so-great crowd, it’s no secret that finding space near people with artist merch and a pash will give you a sense of comfort, whether you interact with them or not. Of course, this is not an attack or cast of judgment on anyone who doesn’t wear merch or “festival attire.” Festivals are a place for freedom and self-expression, where people of all backgrounds come together as one, and you don’t need to dress like a wook to belong. Anyone and everyone is welcome as long as you respect the values of the community.
However, if you stumble upon some homies rocking a Wakaan jersey, a Deadbeats hoodie, a GRiZ tee, or even just an Of The Trees beanie, odds are they’re there for the music and are keen on the culture. That being said, entering the gates of Seven Stars was like walking into another world.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, was dripped out in merch. The bass heads weren’t spread out into sections of the crowd. We were the crowd. We were infinite. Every person walking by said excuse me, every interaction was welcoming, and everyone looked out for each other.
Whether you were raging with your fam or sidequesting solo, there wasn’t a moment you felt unsafe or that you needed to be on guard. Instead of worrying about phone thieves or someone barreling through the crowd, we were just lost in the moment. We were gettin’ high, havin’ fun, and when the bass dropped, we burned up the dancefloor.
Top Tier performances
The Seven Stars inaugural lineup was nothing short of iconic. Directly booked by GRiZ himself, the lineup featured over 60 of the most innovative names in the scene. Whether it was early in the afternoon or late at night, every performance was catered to Seven Stars and felt deeply intentional and unique.
Wooli got super wubby and experimental, while Daily Bread unsurprisingly showed up with an endless supply of beats.
Disco Lines channeled his inner bass head, while Manic Focus took us on a soulful journey through a fusion of bass and jam.
Effin and ALLEYCVT brought the hometown show vibes, while Subtronics closed out Saturday night with a one-of-a-kind performance grounded in emotion, with moments of heavy dubstep sprinkled throughout.
Artists like Cool Customer, Levity, Tape B, Maddy O’Neal, and ProbCause also stole the show, but honestly, you can make the same case for anyone on the lineup.
Then, of course, there was GRiZ. With three sets spread throughout the weekend, you could feel the energy in the air from the moment you crossed state lines into Virginia.
With each Friday act, that energy kept on building and building and building.
Then, just 30 minutes after Wooli, the night sky lit up with beams of light, while an orchestra of drums and trumpets hypnotized the crowd. Then, like a crack of thunder, the words “Guess Who’s Back?! GRiZ Yeah!” echoed through the festival grounds, and as the bass dropped, pandemonium hit. After two years, GRiZ was back.
Transporting us back to the era of that underground sound, GRiZ refreshed us with iconic edits of the past, Rainbow Brain bangers, a collection of new tunes he’s released since making his return, and introduced us to the latest member of the GRiZ fam, Kaleena Zanders.
Saturday, we got back on our Funk Sh!t with a Chasing The Golden Hour set filled with funky grooves and soulful jams.
Then, on Sunday, GRiZ took us to another dimension with a massive close-out performance. Playing everything from unreleased IDs to new collabs with artists like Effin, Mersiv, and Tape B, GRiZ took us on a bass-fueled journey that made you laugh, cry, and hug your friends while simultaneously melting your face, delivering the perfect finale for a truly magical weekend.
Seven Stars was extremely organized
Seven Stars was extremely organized, especially for a first-year festival, and many already established festivals should take note.
The porta-potties were always stocked and cleaned. Food, water, drinks, and garbage cans were easily accessible. It wasn’t oversold, so there was always room to dance and move throughout the crowd.
Entry into the festival from the campgrounds was seamless, and security treated you like a person instead of a suspect. A recurring conversation within our group, and I’m sure many others throughout the weekend, was, “This is exactly how every festival should be.”
For the first time in a long time, a festival actually cared about its attendees, which in turn had a trickling effect. When people aren’t disrespected by security, jammed like sardines on the dancefloor, forced to wait in long lines for food, or use a bathroom so disgusting it’ll give you PTSD, they tend to have a more positive experience, which they carry throughout the weekend.
The Seven Stars crowd wasn’t what it was solely because of who attended, but also because of how we were treated. Seven Stars showed us love from the moment we arrived, and we spread that love through every interaction we encountered.
Areas for improvement
As I said, for a first-year festival, Seven Stars could not have run any smoother. However, the line for merch was unbelievably long, which forced attendees to choose between buying merch or waiting for hours and missing sets. Having more than one merch booth would be a huge upgrade.
There were also numerous reports on Facebook and Reddit involving challenges for ADA, including long wait times for shuttles, inaccessibility issues, and other concerns.
But based on the overall experience, I know GRiZ and his team will not take these issues lightly and will take the necessary steps to resolve them as the festival evolves.
Seven Stars was a family affair
At the end of the day, Seven Stars was an incredible experience fueled by good music, connection, and community. But don’t just take our word for it. We’ll let the community speak for itself.
What artists had to say.
Maddy O’Neal
Ravenscoon
ALLEYCVT
Steller
Jantsen
ProbCause
What attendees had to say.
“Being at Seven Stars was like being with 20,000+ of the most beautiful, genuine, kind, cool, amazing humans all having the best moment/day/week/month of their lives all at the same time and bouncing off of each other’s energy. Imagine those immaculate vibes, and we all got to live it!”– Monica, Englewood, CO
“It was the most magical, awakening experience I’ve ever had at any show/festival I’ve been to. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much before (all happy tears!).”– Heather, Dayton, OH
“7 out of 7 stars. An experience of a lifetime!”– James, Wilmington, NC
“Seven stars was the most well-thought-out, LOGICAL, and organized fest I’ve ever been to. The improvements I would suggest are so minor; overall, it was an incredibly planned weekend with so much thought put into every square inch of the valley.” – Caitlyn, Virginia Beach, VA
“I had the Absolute best time at this festival! It felt like a giant homecoming of friends, new and old!”– Jacob, Golden, CO
“Nowhere has ever become home so quickly as the grounds did at Seven Stars. GRiZ came back to remind everyone what this community is all about, and he knocked it out of the park.”– Chipper, Chicago, IL
“My Seven Stars experience was filled with nothing short of unconditional love, amazing music, and positive vibes! Thankful to be part of something new and it still managing to feel like home!”– Amanda, Reading, PA
“Absolutely magical, the energy- the vibes, the people- the scenery. Such a beautiful, cherished weekend.”– Damaris, Norfolk, VA
“This festival realigned the cosmos for me. Experiencing Seven Stars Festival filled me with hope for this community.”– Sasha, White River, Vermont
“The weekend was absolutely magical! I’ve never felt so much love and community in one place. We are all so lucky that GRiZ has created a space where that energy is so palpable.”– Abby, Durham, NC
Seven Stars signals a new direction in festival culture.
Seven Stars wasn’t just a life-changing experience. It signaled a clear shift in direction for festival culture as a whole. While large-scale events look at us and see dollar signs, GRiZ sees a culture and a community worth fighting for.
With festivals like GRiZ’s Seven Stars, Liquid Stranger’s Wakaan, Of The Trees’ Camp Alderwild, and now Ganja White Night’s recently announced Cloud City, artist-curated events aren’t just the future. They’re actively keeping the scene alive.
These festivals aren’t built around maximizing profit or chasing trends. They’re built around intention, trust, and respect for the people who show up. They remind us that when artists lead with heart and community, the culture thrives.
Seven Stars didn’t just bring GRiZ back. It reminded all of us why we fell in love with this scene in the first place.
