Bass Canyon 2025: Excision’s Festival Evolves With Stunning Crater Stage and Rising Stars

Evolution isn’t exclusive to the prehistoric beasts stomping through Lost Lands. Bass Canyon continues to evolve seven years in, with a major update and further musical diversification, while maintaining its core identity.

Excision’s marquee festival, an annual hotspot for headbangers in the Pacific Northwest, returned to the idyllic Gorge Amphitheater between August 15-17. This year’s major addition was The Crater, the viral 360° stage that debuted at the dubstep icon’s Lost Lands Festival last year. The new stage is a visual feat, showering crowds with lasers from every direction.

Bass Canyon’s shiny new toy hosted standout sets from One True God, REAPER, Capochino and EDM.com Class of 2024 artist Hedex, among others. The Crater risked overshadowing other stages, but instead brought balance. Its unrivaled production offered a value equal to, yet distinct from, the Canyon Stage, Bass Canyon’s mainstage.

Having two distinct attractions also elevated the Starlight Stage’s identity. The smaller stage, a testing ground for tomorrow’s bass legends, was a fantastic palette cleanser, highlighting experimental dubstep and showcasing rising stars.

Equipped with an electric guitar, drums, and rockstar swagger, Know Good delivered arguably the set of the weekend. Mr. Bill and HVDES were also among those who left strong impressions.

Zingara and ALLEYCVT, two highly in-demand bass music producers who performed at this year’s mainstage, got their Bass Canyon starts at Starlight. Their growth is a testament to Team Excision’s eye for talent and what Starlight represents.

“At the end of my set, I made sure to take a moment and take it all in,” Zingara said. “Seeing the support I had at that stage was very special. Standing on that stage, then looking out this way to see everyone there was a core memory.”

“It was one of the first festivals I ever played,” ALLEYCVT recalled. “It was a huge memory. I’ll always remember that.”

Canyon Stage challenges The Crater’s dazzle and inventiveness with Mother Nature’s gentle touch. The Gorge is a stunning backdrop for any festival, but something about groundshaking dubstep emphasizes the serenity of the sprawling canyons behind it. Bass Canyon’s community further evokes the contrast. Feral headbangers mean-mugging to SVDDEN DEATH’s sunset set might look intimidating, but they’re some of the kindest, most welcoming folks. It’s what makes Bass Canyon so special—duality in harmony. 

“It’s one of the most beautiful places in the country,” Liquid Stranger told EDM.com before his Friday evening set.

Liquid Stranger’s imaginative sound was a high point of the weekend, nothing unexpected to longtime listeners. Other mainstage standouts from the weekend included Wooli, Crankdat, Reaper, Tape B and Excision b2b ATLiens. 

Watching Wooli, Excision’s longtime collaborator, headline Saturday was a touching sentiment celebrating his growth over Bass Canyon’s history. 

Sunday’s headliners lived up to expectations and more. Excision and ATLiens’ respective appetites for riddim and trap perfectly complemented each other, keeping listeners on their toes. ATLiens transitioning from their remixes of Creed’s “One Last Breath” to Farukko’s “Pepas” must be living rent-free in people’s heads.

All said and done, Bass Canyon isn’t resting on its laurels. The Crater’s introduction, an innovative b2b and Starlight alums graduating to the main stage are proof. Excision and Company continue building on their vision for a better bass tomorrow as Bass Canyon’s 10th anniversary slowly approaches.

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