CHANDLER, AZ ― Decadence Arizona featured the hottest New Yera’s Eve EDM lineup in the Southwest US this year, but that wasn’t the only thing that the 2-day festival had going for it. From being outdoors, to having various attractions like the RYNOBUS art car, a rollerblading rink, and a silent disco with 3 simultaneous DJs, Decadence went above and beyond my expectations for a NYE experience. 

Having been to various NYE events in warehouses and other indoor venues, I much preferred the outdoor setting that Rawhide Events Center provided. Being outdoors provided a freedom that reminded me of summer festivals. The weather on day one was a brisk 50 degrees at night, but I stayed perfectly comfortable donning a rave-ready and cozy unicorn onesie. Day 2, New Year’s Eve, was a bit colder with drizzles of rain. Luckily the venue was paved, which meant no mud. VIP had heaters and most of the stages had megastructures built over them so it stayed very warm and dry on the dancefloor. 

The main stage, or “Grand Palace,” featured acts like Seven Lions, Alesso, and DJ Snake. This huge stage was an arena underneath a half-dome. Massive LED screens, lasers, and lights decked out the entire length of the roof structure, which made the production phenomenal no matter how far from the stage I was standing. There were also VIP viewing areas in high decks on each side as well as close up to the stage, which featured full-service bars and comfortable couches. Skilled acrobatic performers in shining outfits hung and danced from suspended hoops, and dazzling flow artists mezmerized the crowd from atop the stage. 

Madeon, Nore en Pure, and Purple Disco Machine threw down at the smaller, but still spacious, “Royal Ballroom” stage. This stage featured more house artists than any other. The production at this stage was also superb, with more big lights and every-colored laser shows. On the first night in the crowd I actually ran into the guy running the lasers off his iPad, and he let me push a button. That was pretty clutch.

Smaller stages included the RYNOBUS art car, a bedazzled 15-foot tall bus, and “The Playhouse,” a silent disco tent. RYNOBUS, also dubbed “The Jester’s Court,” featured 4 retro gaming screens, with multiplayer classic playstation, nintendo and sega games preloaded. Never before had I headbanged to rambunctious dubstep while topping my high score in super mario. The silent disco tent featured 3 DJs playing at the same time, all night. The headphones featured channels that changed the color of the LEDs on them, so you could tell who was dancing to which DJ.

Wandering around the festival, I stumbled across several other delights, like a roller rink, various vendors with unique goods, a free kandi bracelet crafting area, live painters, several bars, an axe-throwing arcade, and a platinum VIP tent with gourmet meals and large leather couches. Suffice to say there was not a moment that I was not entertained, even when stepping away from the stages for a breather. 

I would definitely attend Decadence Arizona again at the end of this year. From having a wonderfully open and spacious venue in the desert, to enjoying top-notch music paired with state-of-the-art production and attractions, Decadence was the best NYE show I’ve ever been to. I recommend that every EDM enthusiast check out this event at least once in their lifetime. 

Written by Colin Eldridge