Lake Perris, CA – Same Same But Different (SSBD) returned to the beautiful Lake Perris, California for the 6th time in 2024. Founded in 2017, SSBD has very quickly elevated to one of the premier festivals in California. Between having a gorgeous clean lake, mild weather, running water from built-in bathrooms, a capped attendance size of 7,500 people, art as far as the eye can see and a lineup featuring some of the best artists in EDM, there is so much to love about this festival.
After missing SSBD for the last three years and hearing all the hype, I promised myself that I wouldn’t miss it this year for anything—and I’m so glad I finally did! Having attended Lake Perris before at Desert Hearts Festival, I knew this venue was one of the best, and I was excited to see what SSBD had to offer.
Before attending SSBD, I heard many people say, “This festival is designed by festival-goers for festival-goers,” and that is a fitting description. As soon as I opened the map, I read this message: “SSBD was founded and is still owned by a group of friends—local musicians and artists who came together with the intention of creating the kind of festival we always wanted to attend. We envisioned a festival that was intimate, without massive crowds. We wanted open areas for attendees to paint, jam, dance, and be part of the show. We wanted a place to explore, where you could feel a sense of true freedom.” I can definitively say that this festival embodied that vision.
The vibes were on point, the music was amazing, the sound quality was great, the workshops were fun, and the vendors offered a wide variety of options. It’s perfectly sized and full of so much to see and do. This festival lived up to all the hype, and I have nothing but positive things to say about it.
The Music
The music at SSBD was easily one of the first things that attracted me to this festival. Without knowing anything about it in 2021 other than its lineup, it immediately caught my attention. In 2024, the lineup was absolutely alluring once again. With six stages, great sound, some of my favorite artists, and no clashing headliner times, the music is done the right way here.
The two main stages were aptly named the Same Stage and the Different Stage. These stages featured the biggest artists, with carefully spaced times so that they never played simultaneously. With amazing sound, captivating visuals, lasers, and plenty of room to dance, these stages offered everything one could want at a festival.
The Same Stage showcased artists from a wide range of genres on an incredible sound system that could be heard from anywhere, complemented by a massive visual display. Starting at dusk, I enjoyed artists like Honeycomb, known for his infamous beatboxing and looping style; Dirtwire, a band famous for their “back-porch space cowboy sound” and Ganja White Night, the bass duo that is setting the tone for the bass community.
I also caught Mindchatter, whose vibey sound is making waves, and live music from the band Eggy. However, the artist I discovered at SSBD who really stole the show for me on this stage was Artifakts, whose ever-evolving audio/visual project blurred the lines between electronic, hip-hop, and soul.
The standout sets for me on the Same Stage included Daily Bread with his electro-soul sound, Big Gigantic, who closed out Sunday night with a mind-blowing performance merging live instruments and electronic sound, and LSDREAM, who has long been one of my favorite artists. With an incredible visual component behind him, he played classics but especially thrilled the audience with new music from the LSZEE album he and Clozee released that same weekend.
The Different Stage also featured a diverse range of artists. It started earlier in the day and included acts like Bad Snacks, who played a violin-infused electronic hybrid set. Andy Frasco and the UN, whose rock and roll set was as fun as it was hilarious. And The Strawberry Disco Circus, which wowed the audience with a spectacular performance of music and circus shenanigans. The most surprising discovery for me on this stage was Balkan Bump, who skillfully blended trumpet and electronic music, keeping me on the dance floor for the entire set.
I wasn’t at this stage as much as I would have liked because it had conflicting set times with the other smaller stages. Nevertheless, it featured memorable performances from emerging bass artists like Wreckno and Zingara, both of whom delivered incredible sets. Bass music veteran Mersiv also treated the audience to a special slowed-down set. My favorite performance here was by Ravenscoon—definitely one to watch out for in the bass community!
The other stages also delivered amazing performances and unique vibes. I spent a lot of time at the Coconut Cove Stage, where I found house music throughout the day and night, right along the beautiful Lake Perris beach. I caught amazing performances from emerging house artists Casmalia, Spuke, Angrybaby and Techno Tupac, who kept the energy high during the day. Although I unfortunately missed sets by Kyle Walker and Mary Droppinz, I heard they were great from people who caught them, and I’ve always enjoyed their performances.
The vibes at Coconut Cove were always fantastic, but I had my favorites. Justin Jay delivered some of the best performances of the weekend, with both a daytime and a late-night set b2b with special guest Big Gigantic. His unique blend of music never fails to impress, I can’t recommend his sets as they are consistently fresh and innovative.
One of the sets I was looking forward to the most for the weekend was the Desert Hearts takeover. As much as I love the wubby stuff, nothing keeps me dancing like house music, and seeing the DH crew is always a treat. Featuring sets from Lee Reynolds, Marbs, Porky, and Mikey Lion, who finally brought their iconic house, techno, and disco sounds back to Lake Perris after moving Desert Hearts Festival to Flagstaff, AZ this year. The DH crew delivered an amazing 4 hour late night beachside set.
The Inner Space Stage hosted workshops during the day and turned into a late-night venue for wonky sets. It featured artists like A Hundred Drums with a hard-hitting performance and Cam Steen with a unique multi-instrument set. The Monster Cat takeover, which included Slippy with two sets and Whipped Cream. My favorite set at this stage was by Yheti, who consistently delivers weirdness in the best way.
There was plenty of music to be found even outside the larger stages. Stages like The Dome and Burning Man-style art car stages like The Giving Tree offered renegade vibes for attendees during the hours that the other stages weren’t going. Additionally, there was an open jam space in the Groove Grove where festival attendees could jam out with provided instruments, and it served as a perfect late-night spot for jam bands in attendance.
With such a plethora of stages and an interesting range of music, it’s easy to see why this festival is making waves in the community. If you want to discover great new emerging artists, SSBD excels at showcasing talent doing remarkable things.
What Makes It Same Same, But Different?
The lineup at SSBD is great and certainly what put this festival on my radar, but the overall experience is what will make me keep coming back. The vibes are so well curated that they seem to attract the best people. As much time as I spent listening to music, I equally enjoyed just talking to other attendees. I walked away from this festival feeling very warm with many new friends.
In the map booklet handed to me at the beginning, there’s a page that says, “Stay up late. Try the workshops. Talk to someone new. Be kind. Be open. Be vulnerable. Sing. Dance. Run around like a kid again. Talk to the moon at 3 a.m. Most of all, be fearlessly yourself.” At SSBD, I did all of that with ease, thanks to the immaculate vibes. Every interaction I had was enjoyable and fun. I came alone and was instantly welcomed by a group of nearby campers (shoutout to all my new friends), and that positive energy continued throughout the entire weekend.
There was a kid-friendly component that I didn’t get to experience since I don’t have kids, but it is family-friendly. For the more adventurous types, there was Nakey Island, which I also didn’t get to check out but heard was fun from other attendees. The festival offered games like dodgeball, complete with a tournament, floaty races, and even a treasure hunt. Some attendees attempted to set the record for the longest massage train.
Beyond the amazing people, there was plenty to experience. Fire spinners performed nightly on the beach, and theme nights encouraged attendees to dress as pirates, grandparents, or in Las Vegas styles. An incredible art gallery showcased captivating artwork and live painters, and attendees could even rent a hot air balloon for a bird’s-eye view of the entire festival grounds.
Art
No festival is complete without art, and there was plenty at SSBD. The Creation Station offered attendees with many ways to tap into their artistic side, including an inner child playground essential to the SSBD vibe. It included workshops on intentional journaling, poetry, painting, and body painting were available, along with a talent show and live music at night.
Visually stunning art installations were abundant, allowing attendees to get lost in creativity. Interactive art pieces included “But Vegas,” a Las Vegas-inspired installation with Elvis impersonators, a quirky casino, and a vibrant chapel. Guests could even get “divorced” from anything holding them back or tie the knot with a cutie they met on the dance floor.
Workshops
SSBD also brings a transformational aspect, complete with workshops, yoga, meditations, and sound baths. I attended a couple of workshops, including “How to Save The World” with Cody Harrison, where we envisioned a world with a regenerative economy that values each other more. With over 75 workshops available, there was plenty to choose from including mushroom growing, relationship building, and even introductory flow art courses.
I made sure to catch LSDREAM’s LIGHTCODE, where he led a guided meditation experience. I always recommend this, as it was what first introduced me to meditation. There were many opportunities to elevate your mind and consciousness while promoting mental and physical health, which is an important aspect of the SSBD experience.
Vendors
The vendor village offered an array of enticing options, making it hard not to spend all my money. I ended up with some fresh new festival clothes from the festival classic vendor Kritter Klips and a stylish pair of Flavoralls from NOiiCE DYES. The merch booth also had clothing that caught my eye, especially the SSBD kimono shirt.
Many festival vendor regulars were present, such as Third Eye Pinecones and Kimono Dave. Additionally, there were 15+ food vendors offering vegan and gluten-free options, shout out to Ma’at Vegan Soul Food. Overall, it was a well-curated vendor selection with tons of options to level up your festival wear.
Vip Experience
To provide a complete review, I knew I should experience the amenities offered in the VIP area. The VIP experience was exceptional, including a gluten-free and vegan breakfast every morning, which I really appreciated as a vegan. Guests could also enjoy complimentary ice baths, saunas and access to massage parlors. Additionally, VIP guests had exclusive viewing points for the stages. Overall, it was well worth it, especially considering the price tag of only $568.
Overall Assessment
For me, a big part of the experience is the intimacy of this festival and its community. With an intentional cap of 7,500 attendees, SSBD creates a small family atmosphere. I personally love this; small festivals are where I meet the best people. SSBD also honored Lucidity and Desert Daze ticket holders by allowing them to use their tickets to attend after those festivals had to unfortunately cancel this year. This gesture shows that the festival organizers genuinely care about their culture and community.
The setting is something not easily recreated—not just the music and art but the actual location. Lake Perris is a gem of a venue. The weather is mild, there’s grass and trees, and the lake is clean enough to swim in. Located just outside of Riverside, it’s close to many major California cities. It’s a campground equipped with bathrooms, running water, free showers, and clean drinking water. The walks between the stages are short, and if you opt for GA camping or up-front camping, the walk to your camp is quick. However, I will warn you that if you choose car camping, the walk back to camp can be quite long.
If I had to suggest any improvements, it would be that attendees mentioned difficulties finding recycling and trash points, but this is not something that would deter me from attending the festival, after all, we should all be capable to pack in and pack out our moop. I was told that they have a 5 year plan to make SSBD waste free by 2029 which makes me love them even more.
Ultimately, SSBD checks all the boxes for me, and it’s hard to find anything negative to say about it. I cannot recommend this festival enough, and I would place it high on my priorities for next year. SSBD shines with its unique atmosphere, appealing to both experienced and new festival-goers alike.
With a consistently great lineup showcasing some of the best in the festival circuit and an intimate group of people dedicated to creating a festival worth loving, I see great things for the future of SSBD. I’m so happy I finally got to go, and I would confidently give it a 5/5. It embodies everything I want to see in a festival, and my experience in 2024 was absolutely perfect. The love and care at this festival is felt far and wide.
Don’t miss out on next year’s Same Same But Different experience! GA and VIP tickets for the 2025 edition will be on sale soon, and community ticket sales are on sale now at ssbdfest.com.
