PHILADELPHIA, PA – Hijinx Festival has been a standout on the East Coast since its debut at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia back in 2018. Known for its stacked lineups focused on bass music, as well as awe-inspiring lasers and visuals, this one-stage festival continues to be a magnet for bass music lovers. The 2024 edition was no exception, with high-energy performances and jaw-dropping visuals cementing Hijinx’s reputation as one of the must-attend events of the holiday season.
The Crowd
There’s no denying that Hijinx draws a pumped-up crowd, with a mixed bag of people who are there just to party and truly dedicated ravers and bass heads. The people I met in the crows were overall friendly, with some pushing and shoving but not as much as other, more packed events I’ve been to. The crowd was very lively, full of headbangers in the front with plenty of room the dance towards the back.
The front of the massive dance area was pretty packed, hot, and sweaty. It was quite difficult to get past the first row of columns near the stage, which was unfortunate because this is where the sound quality was the best and you could feel the bass in your chest. As a single-stage event, the dance floor was wider and larger than any other indoor festival I’ve been to.
The Music
I am blown away every year when I see the HiJinx lineup drop. They consistently bring in some of the biggest names in EDM, particularly in the bass music scene. This was my first year attending, though I wasn’t able to go all in due to delays in receiving my media credentials. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive my press pass until late on Saturday evening, so I could only attend the sets by LSZEE and Subtronics b2b Zeds Dead. Despite the limited time, both performances were did not disappoint.
LSZEE played several tracks off their new debut album, as well as some standalone tracks from LSDREAM and CloZee. I arrived halfway through their set but still got to hear one of my favorite tracks, “DESTINY (ft. Born I).” They also dropped CloZee’s track with GRiZ, “Color of Your Soul,” which was a highlight. The psychedelic, rainbow visuals and lasers accompanied the music perfectly.
Subtronics b2b Zeds Dead was a high-energy set that had the crowd going absolutely bonkers. The set started off with of the Rocky theme song (“Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti), accompanied with the iconic visuals of Rocky running up the stairs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, likely an homage put together by the Philadelphia-native Subtronics. The intro led into an electrifying announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, please welcome dubstep heavyweights, Subtronics and Zeds Dead!” From there, they unleashed filthy bass that had everyone in the crowd going wild.
Their set fluctuated between Subtronic’s signature trippy trappy dubstep sound and Zed’s Dead slow, dark wubs as well as a 15-minute breakdown of some drum and bass. Subtronics played unique reworks of multiple collabs like “Gas Pedal” and “Griztronics” that I’d never heard before. Zeds Dead played several of their anthems like “Lost You (OMAS x Wub Flip)”, “Ecstacy of Soul”, and of course they finished their set with their collab track “Gassed Up (ft. Flowdan)”. They even included Flux Pavilion’s remix of “Gold Dust,” which brought me right back to 2008. Overall it was a perfect way to end the festival, and was a highly anticipated b2b set that many were waiting for.
Sound Quality
The sound quality near the back was abysmal, with the audio sounding drowned out by bass. Even near the front, while the bass felt great, the audio was so loud that I couldn’t really hear the higher notes at all. It wasn’t until I went back to view the videos I took on my phone until I could recognize some of the higher-pitched melodies in the music. As a primarily bass-fueled event, I can see why attendees would want the speakers to be as loud as possible, but I found it hard to find a well-balanced spot where the audio was just right. Even in front of the sound booth, where audio is usually the best at concerts, there was a large column blocking the speakers, which made the audio sound slightly drowned out and echoey.
Lights & Visuals
The stage design at Hijinx was visually striking, featuring five rectangular LED panels in a row, with two long horizontal LED displays on each side and another LED panel in front of the decks. LED strips extended from the stage, hanging over the crowd, further enhancing the immersive experience. The front wall of the convention center was adorned with stunning laser arrays that illuminated the space during almost every drop. Overall, the visuals were impressive and elevated the entire festival experience. Inflatable monster and tentacle-themed decorations added to the fun, making the atmosphere even more immersive.
Accessibility
The Pennsylvania Convention Center excels in accessibility. The venue is well-equipped with elevators and ADA-friendly facilities, making it easy for pretty much everyone to navigate. The ADA viewing area, located near the front of the stage, provided great sightlines to the action, allowing those with special accomodations to enjoy the festival comfortably.
VIP
While Hijinx did not provide VIP passes for media credentials this year, I noticed a large VIP section to the left of the stage. It was less crowded than the GA section, and standing near the VIP rail, I could tell the sound quality good there. The $400 VIP price tag might be worth it just for a more comfortable spot closer to the stage. However, I prefer to experience shows from the center of the crowd. For a truly premium experience near center stage, festivalgoers could opt for “Ultra VIP,” which cost over $700 and included drink tickets, meal vouchers, merchandise, lockers, and other perks. This is a hefty price for a two-day festival, though the additional amenities could be worth it for some who have the cash. There were also GA+ options, which provided access to a separate viewing area and other perks.
Overview
With their signature motto of “FULL SENDS ONLY,” I hope that in future years the HiJinx team will be more responsive to media inquiries and perhaps give us a preview of the VIP experience to provide a more comprehensive review. Although I was disappointed I couldn’t attend the full festival and missed some of my favorite artists like Madeon, San Holo, and Kaskade, the Saturday night experience was still well worth it. Despite some challenges, I would highly recommend Hijinx to any bass enthusiast on the East Coast, especially with its stacked lineup each year. It’s a true staple in the Northeast EDM scene and an event that continues to impress every year.
