Welcome to the raging waters of Splash House 2016, the desert soiree that encapsulates summer all in one weekend. Where the pools are at the heart; and world-class house sets make the beat that keeps it pumping and bumping.
For its June installment of the summer, Splash House hosted headliners such as Odesza, Justin Martin, Jai Wolf, and FKJ, drawing in an eclectic crowd to the sun and sands of Palm Springs. KSDT got the opportunity to peep the party. Here are some dets for any crew thinking about heading to desert for Splash House weekend-two.
The two-day event consisted collectively of two venues, three pools, three stages, and a number of shuttles for easy mobility between the festivities. In its entirety the Splash House pool/house- party is the epitome of summer.
Venues:
To start the iconic Saguaro Hotel stands as the flagship venue for Splash House experience. With color and charisma attendees are welcomed into a crowd of creatives. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own personified pool gear, in addition to creating their own crew themes and balcony scenes. The Saguaro has become the main-hub for the weekend’s “Bitchin’ Balcony” competition. Balcony décor ran rampant this June from “Over the Rainbow (unicorns)” to “Baewatch” lifeguards to good ole Golden State Warriors fans reppin’ for the finals.
The Riviera Palm Springs provided a fresh playground for seasoned Splash House festival-goers; boasting two unique-secluded pools, The Riviera was an impressive addition to the Splash House roster.
The Tiki pool, the smaller of the Riviera’s two pools seemed to be a secret to most attendees. Surprisingly, the pool was empty by comparison making for lax lounging, swimming, and easy-listening. It served as nice spot to process and recharge between plunges in the “party-pools”.
The Riviera Main was an oasis with tropical trees shading the perimeter of the grand pool. Designated as the main stage, the space hosted the headliners of Splash House. DJs that graced the Riviera stage garnered the premier view of the entire weekend. Perched on the edge of the pool sets cascaded straight into the water wading crowd making for the most splash + house milieu.
What to Bring:
Less is more, unless it’s a unicorn floatie. Water- proof your gear and you are in the clear. Besides the essentials such as phone, keys, and funds, add to the fun by bringing pool accessories to use & share. These summer items might not survive the weekend or make it back to your possession; but Splash House is the natural habitat for inflatable party animals so let them go wild and free.
Sun (Pro)tection. Sunscreen and shades are a must. Nothing kills a good-time quite like a sun burn. Reapply the screen throughout the weekend and your future self will thank you.
What to Wear:
Live that life aquatic. Whether or not you plan to go in the water give yourself the opportunity and wear a swimsuit or trunks. With temperatures in the 100s (Fahrenheit) keep any additional articles light and airy.
Whatever floats your feet. High heels to flip-flop to water booties, there seemed to be one consensus to leave the socks at home. As the excitement rises, so does the waters of Splash House. For weekend one a few sought the higher heel, but many embrace the H2O.
Notable performers (June):
The Tiki stage was casual allowing for the audience and DJs to interact on more personal level. It was home to the event’s freshest- faces to the festival circuit. The stage was presented by #FREELIFE the lifestyle brand of the DJ duo Bixel Boys who performed both Saturday and Sunday. They included a vinyl set filled with throwbacks to close. The Los Angeles based group has performed at Electric Daisy Carnival on multiple occasions and HARD Summer. For Splash House they invited their #FREELIFE community and friends to DJ the intimate Tiki Stage.
KSDT bumped into Lewis from the DJ duo Just Kiddin’ once again at the Tiki pool. KSDT was first introduced to the British group when they performed in San Diego at Bang Bang earlier this year – read our review here. Just Kiddin’ performed at the Saguaro Stage midday Saturday. Splash House festival seemed to personify their laidback and humorous music stylings.
French Kiwi Juice, better known as FKJ performed at the Riviera Main. The French DJ played a number of blissed out beats. With his unique blend of electro-soul, FKJ had the attendees moving and flowing like the pool waves. FKJ notably remixed a throwback from the French indie-rock band Phoenix to closeout his set. Timed to end near sunset FKJ was a smooth transition into the summer night.
Odesza was the final set of the entire weekend. The DJ duo from Seattle performed and headlined San Diego’s own CRSSD Festival this last spring. Odesza seemed to be enjoying their time at the Riviera Main- remixing 2000’s hits such as Gweni Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”, Justice’s “Dance”, and Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. The Splash-Housers swooned when Odesza remixed their own hit “Say my Name” mid-set. The duo’s up-beat combo of alternative and dance music made it hard for attendees to say-goodbye to Splash House 2016.
Don’t miss Splash House this August for their second installment of summertime madness. With Gorgon City, Bondax, MK, and Snakehips, Splash House round two will once again attract audiences to dance under the desert sky. Interested in attending? Click here for more information on Splash House!
Photos: @splashhouse & KSDT Radio // Article: Susan Bystrom
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