RECAP | The 10 Best Sets We Saw At Lightning In A Bottle 2025

There is really no festival quite like Lightning In A Bottle. Put on by the Do Lab and held at Buena Vista Lake in Bakersfield, California, this year’s edition was my 4^th time experiencing its magic, and I’m even more convinced that this is one of the best festivals in the world.

LIB is truly a playground for adults; a sprawling wonderland of interactive art and installations designed to be touched, climbed, explored, and played with. Everywhere you turn, there’s something unexpected and whimsical. People bartered candy for secrets at a 1930s-style general store, danced in an ‘80s living room stacked with cassette tapes and a vintage sound system, skated through showers of bubbles at the roller rink disco, and jumped on trampoline art cars. LIB really encourages you to embrace your inner child.

Being weird isn’t just accepted, it’s expected. One night, I ran into a guy fully dressed as Guy Fieri. Frosted tips, flame shirt, the whole shebang. When we complimented his outfit, he lit up and said we were the first people to mention it all night. At any other festival, he would’ve been a walking spectacle. At LIB? Just another face in the crowd.

The best part of LIB, however, is without a doubt how incredible the crowd is. Year after year, LIB consistently attracts the best people. If you look around at any set, you’ll see barely any phones. Festivalgoers are present, fully committed to losing themselves in the music and connecting with the people around them. In a scene where concert etiquette seems to be disappearing, it’s such a relief to experience a dancefloor community that reaffirms that PLUR is still alive and well.

I think my favorite memory of the weekend came during a side quest through one of these installations. We stumbled upon a treehouse that held a piano in its center. As I started thinking about how cool it would be for someone to play it, a guy walked up and starting playing a stunning rendition of “Say My Name” by ODESZA. This is exactly the kind of experience that defines LIB and separates it from the rest of the festival pack.

Now, onto the music. I didn’t see a bad set all weekend, but these ten stood out from the rest:

---

John Summit: This was the best John Summit set I’ve been to. While he has a reputation for attracting frat boys with no sense of PLUR, the LIB ethos came through as always – there was a true sense of community in the crowd as he threw down an especially bass heavy set. He closed the festival with the Griz remix of “Where You Are,” which really highlighted his ability to read the energy of the dancefloor. After, we were lucky enough to catch a rare SubJohnics (Subtronics + John Summit) surprise set at stacks, where the two spent an hour getting truly wooky. It was the perfect end to the festival.

Subtronics: This was my first time seeing Subtronics, and I can see why he commands such a loyal fanbase. He did not take his foot off our headbanging necks, running through one electric VIP flip after another, some of which he mentioned he had made only hours before. He toured through almost all subgenres of bass music, balancing fun DnB with pure chaotic dubstep. Even some of the bass skeptics of my group were converted by the end of his set.

TroyBoi: I actually was sitting for a breather at the beginning of TroyBoi’s set after going hard at Sammy Virji beforehand, but his global-inspired trap selections were simply irresistible. I found myself sprinting to the Thunder stage to take part in the absolute dance party that was taking place. The special feeling was mutual; at the end of his set, he told us it was his favorite of the year so far.

Sammy Virji: Sammy Virji is one of my favorite DJs in the game right now. He always transforms the dancefloor into an absolute party with his signature bouncy UKG beats, and this performance was no exception. Virji was one of the few performers who brought out a special guest: Flowdan for a special performance of their collab “Shella Verse” as well as “Rumble.” He also brought Salute up as he played what was clearly a new surprise collab ID cooked up by the two of them.

Salute: I saw Salute in October when he toured for his excellent 2024 album True Magic. During that set he primarily played his own songs, so I was pleasantly surprised by how wide-ranging his LIB set was. He sprinkled in so many unreleased IDs, some of which were his own, but others that belonged to Chris Lake, Disclosure, and Interplanetary Criminal, which gave a nice preview for all the heat coming out this summer. He drew one of the best crowds of the weekend – we were jumping from start to finish.

Hamdi: I was first introduced to Hamdi when I saw him at LIB in 2023 when he’d only had a few songs out. Two years later, and he’s only gotten better. He treated us to his signature mix of hard-hitting bass drops and gritty wubs, occasionally switching up the tempo with some perfect UKG selections. And I don’t think anyone likes a spinback as much as Hamdi. Everytime he did it, the crowd roared their approval – he really knows how to build a connection to the audience.

Khruangbin: Not even audio difficulties could keep Khruangbin from grooving. Despite their sound completely cutting out numerous times, they still brought a dreamy, psychedelic-funk oasis to LIB. Amidst all the bass heavy electronic acts, it was a nice moment of respite, a perfect sonic reset.With their reverb-soaked guitars, groovy bass, and tight, jazzy rhythms, they transported the audience to another era, with a sound that was both nostalgic and timeless.

Underworld: Underworld proved why they’re legends in the electronic world, delivering a set that felt an old-school rave. The duo gave a live vocal performance against a backdrop of hypnotically trippy visuals and lasers. “Born Slippy” was, of course, a massive highlight, but their newer material kept the energy peaking.

Mary Droppinz: As a longtime LIB attendee, it’s been so cool to see Mary Droppinz journey. After serving as one of the opening DJs at Woogie in 2023, this year she got a prime time slot on the dedicated bass stage, Thunder, where she played to a packed crowd. She lived up to her name with a super wubby set filled with infectious energy. When the act scheduled after her failed to show, she stayed on, ultimately blessing our ears with three hours of stanky beats while the sun set.

Hybrid Minds: My group sprinted from Jamie XX to catch the end of their set, and we were so glad we did as they injected a dose of straight euphoria into our night with their brand of liquid drum & bass. DnB music has been massive in the UK for years, and they were the perfect ambassadors for this sound: Their MC perfectly hyped up the crowd, reminding us all to enjoy ourselves and respect one another.

The post RECAP | The 10 Best Sets We Saw At Lightning In A Bottle 2025 appeared first on This Song Is Sick.