All photos used with permission of SSBD
I attended my first Same Same last year and witnessed the magic firsthand. As a journalist for Festival Squad and seasoned festival veteran (38 festivals in 6 years), I’ve had the privilege of attending some of the best festivals. I have to admit – Same Same is special.
Festival attendees have an overwhelming number of options to choose from, with festivals beginning early in March and running non-stop through Halloween weekend. Festivals have to be unique in order to set themselves apart and offer something other than music; immersive experiences are what festival goers are after.
Same Same But Different Festival (SSBD / Same Same) offers not only a ridiculously stacked lineup but a remarkable and memorable adventure. Mark your calendars for Friday, Sept. 9 to Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 and join me in Lake Perris, California for a weekend you won’t easily forget. Headlining this year are GRiZ, Tipper, Chromeo (live), The Glitch Mob and Vulfpeck. Other artists include Ahee, Emancipator, The Funk Hunters, Manic Focus, Maddy O’Neal, Hollywood Principle, Justin Jay, Ravenscoon, Sacha Robotti and Party Pupils. Check out the full lineup below.
A pre-party kicks off the weekend on Thursday, September 8 featuring LA based Genius Loci.
Set on a lake with daily beach parties, curated workshops, imaginative art installations and performers, an impressive array of musical genres and some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, Same Same sets itself apart from the rest.
Drawing from my own SSBD adventures as well as an input with festival co-founder and CEO Brad Sweet, I’ll detail out what you can expect for the 2022 chapter of SSBD.
Same Same But Daaamn – The Absolutely Fire Lineup
GRiZ
The genre blending producer GRiZ always brings the heat with his funky, high-intensity sets and infusion of instruments with live vocalists. The insanely talented and soulful queen Chrishira and talented rapper Probcause bring an unmatched energy to the stage. The Latenight Horns bring the soul and spirit and accompany GRiZ’s saxophone beautifully. I can’t wait to see my favorite producer throw down on the beach!
The Glitch Mob
Long-time crowd favorite, The Glitch Mob, has crafted an industrial and powerful bass sound. Producing music together for over a decade, The Glitch Mob always brings a fresh take to their classic songs and the crowd always goes wild. Each show is dynamic, powerful, and stupid fun—I’m eager to see if they play any new music for us.
Tipper
The British producer Dave Tipper has amassed quite the following of dedicated fans. Infusing glitch hop, nu break, and downtempo (among other genres), Tipper always surprises and delights fans. His visuals are out of this world as he takes you on a journey through sound. Brad reports the main stage will feature the same Funktion One speakers Tipper performed with at Red Rocks (which are being flown in from Pennsylvania), so strap in for one unforgettable performance. Tipper has cancelled all other performances for 2022 except for one other and SSBD.
Karen’s Must See Artists
Never have I been more thankful for the alternating stages as I am now – there are SO MANY GREAT artists to see and I’m excited to see practically all of them. Emancipator transfixes audience members with dreamlike and melodic songs for a spiritual experience. Fellow bass lovers will love Ravenscoon for his heavy-hitting basslines mixed with hip hop, melodic bass and wave. Ahee shows are always out of this world with his unique blend of bass focused new bounce and breaks tracks. Funky favorites Lettuce bring the soulful sounds of classic yet upbeat funk performed by insanely talented musicians who have been jamming together for the better part of two decades. Crowd favorites and genre blending masters The Funk Hunters always deliver the most ridiculously fun show riddled with bangers from bass, dubstep, funk, hip-hop, trap and even classics like “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles. Maddy O’Neal is a female powerhouse of funk, future bass, and a sprinkle of disco. She will likely be playing music from her new album, Ricochet. Atlanta native and rising Queen of Bass Canvas commands crowds with “Gut Music,” which she describes as “getting lost in the bass, surrendering to the moment, giving your all.” San Diego group Hollywood Principle will have crowds grooving nonstop with their upbeat and eclectic indie, electric-house set.
For info on more artists, click here.
The “Different” in SSBD
I asked Brad Sweet what he was looking forward to most this year:
“I’m excited to see the community grow and see friendly faces return. Our community is incredibly caring, which is important to our ethos; we like to think it’s a reflection of how we operate and how we want our event to operate. SSBD is a healing experience for people and we all need that right now.
I love seeing the massive shift in people’s energy from the beginning of the festival compared to when they leave. We all carry stress and emotional baggage in our daily lives and it’s wonderful to see them release that energy throughout the weekend; it’s a major mindset shift and evolution. We don’t play enough as adults and SSBD offers an escape to do just that. SSBD is a very cathartic experience.”
The Coconut Club
Festivals that are water centric are inherently better than those on dry land. Instead of sitting and sweating at camp waiting for the music to start, you could be playing in the cool water and making new friends. It took me several years to find a fest with water, and after this I was SHOOK – I had no idea that festivals could get better.
[Same Same has entered the chat]
Instead of having water activities be a separate activity, SSBD offers a dedicated stage right on the water’s edge called The Coconut Club. You read that correctly – you get to party in the water while your favorite producers throw down. Everyone brings their favorite floaty to one of the wildest parties I’ve been to, the Floatopia Party.
Floatopia Fever
Every day from 12:00 – 4:00pm during the hottest part of the day, the party is at the Coconut Club. With nothing else going on, it’s easy to splash and dance in the lake to beat the heat. Additionally, every year there’s a Funky Floatie Competition with the winner receiving a ticket to next year’s event. Check out details here. The stakes are high and the competition is fierce yet fun—choose your floatie wisely!
How can it get better you may wonder? Two words: cold coconuts. Of course the beach bar at the Coconut Club sells coconuts; they aren’t barbarians. New this year are Cocolectros drinks, or frozen coconut water treats with infused electrolytes to keep you hydrated so you can dance longer.
After the main stages finish at 2:00am, music resumes at the Coconut Club and goes until 4:00am.
FOMO Free Zone
One of the most disheartening and frustrating feelings for festival goers are scheduling conflicts. The lineup drops, and you get excited to see your favorite artists! You buy tickets, assemble your crew, make travel plans, take off from work, and then a week before you see that you’ll have to miss half of them due to overlapping set times. Not at Same Same. After the party at the Coconut Club concludes, the two main stages fire up but take turns. The Same Stage alternates artists/producers with the Different Stage, with attendees moving back and forth a short distance between the two. This stage and schedule layout ensures you see most of the artists you came to see. No more tough choices or FOMO.
New for 2022
Sweet filled me in on the new and improved elements for 2022. The festival will be held at a new location in the same park to give attendees more space, shade, grass and an all around better experience. The CannaBass Oasis, powered by Kind Delivery, is a shaded and misted beachside cannabis lounge where attendees 21+ can order prerolls, flower, gummies and cartridges to be delivered to them at the festival. Guests can lounge on the beach in the shade while checking out interactive programming, such as cannabis-inspired VR experiences and more. After 10:00pm the space turns into a bass music haven and will continue slinging bangers until 4:00am. This is where you’ll find me. House music lovers can get their after hours fix at the Coconut Club.
VIP Lounge
SSBD is taking the VIP Experience to a whole new level this year. The new location features a larger, grassy space between the two main stages and with several lounge areas, added amenities, a dedicated VIP Bar and separate viewing areas at each stage. SSBD is working with a designer to transform the VIP Lounge into a beachside oasis that channels Tulum’s energy and aesthetic with a San Diego twist.
“We’re excited to have someone put intention into curating a gorgeous space and can’t wait to share it with you all,” Sweet added. “We’re dedicated to creating an elevated experience that will focus on the little things that make a difference and our ticket holders will appreciate. Our VIP Lounge will be a relaxing space to kick your feet up before heading back out to dance the night away. Thanks to our friends at SoundBoks Speakers we will have the lounge grooving. With the addition of frozen treats, outdoor lawn games, and air conditioned bathrooms, you won’t find the VIP Area uneventful.”
Camping Options
SSBD has expanded the camping options this year, with car camping (and more camping in the shade), electric hookups, RV sites with full hookups, and glamping options. Attendees can reserve air conditioned Shift Pods and have the option to have them furnished. A dedicated concierge will be available as well as a shaded lounge area to beat the heat and connect with neighbors. For more info on camping options, click here.
Stay Connected
Wifi will be offered this year for you to stay connected and upload your epic photos to Instagram from the weekend. SSBD will be a cashless event again, with vendors accepting Apple pay and credit/debit cards. The integration of RFID wristbands will allow you to connect to your credit cards and pay using your wristband, so no need to bring your wallet. Out on the water but want a drink? No problem. Want to order some pre-rolls at the CannaBass lounge? Swipe your wristband. Note: you will not need to pre-load/add money to your wristband – connect your credit card before the fest and spend only what you’d like.
Ultimately, I can try and persuade you that SSBD really is different, but the real test is to see for yourself. Tickets are still available here and more info is available here. I hope to see you dancing on the beach at The Coconut Club!