Thanksgiving weekend in Long Beach was extra memorable with Apocalypse: Zombieland taking over the Queen Mary Waterfront. As a certified bass girlie, Apocalypse brought the energy I needed. From bass bangers to graffiti shipping containers and wandering zombies, the event brought the feeling of the apocalypse to the rave community.
A Haunting Venue: The Queen Mary Sets the Stage
I’ll get into the music in a minute, but I want to highlight the venue and general experience first. The RMS Queen Mary, a massive ocean liner from the 1930s, added an eerie atmosphere, especially given its spot on TIME Magazine’s Top 10 Haunted Places list. The festival took place on the waterfront and the afters were held onboard the ship. With four stages plus the Beatbox Art Car, the waterfront was converted into a scene from a world in ruin, with graffitied shipping containers, eerie lighting, a wrecked semi truck, and wandering zombies.
The effort of the organizers paid off, with incredibly friendly staff and minimal lines to get into the festival. Popular rave brands like Loose Lucy, Daytripper, and Dreamcream Co. set up shop, alongside diverse food options, including vegan dishes, gyros, acai bowls, and even a s’mores stand. The VIP area took the experience to another level, with interactive booths such as a trading area and zombie makeover station. The crowd was super fun and PLUR felt very present. This sense of community made the experience even more special for me, especially since it was my parents’ first festival. They were warmly welcomed with thoughtful trades and genuine conversations.
The Soundtrack to the End of the World
Now let’s get into the music. The lineup was every basshead’s dream, with no bad sets and endless headbanging. Over two days, I danced so much that I hit 90,000 steps, earning the nickname “Energizer Bunny.” Day one started Apocalypse: Zombieland off strong and I managed to catch sets from Space Wizard, Level Up, HOL!, Caspa B2B Rusko, Kai Wachi, BTSM, and Subtronics.While day one was incredible, day two took things to another level. I got the day started with sets from YDG, Samplifire and Kompany, before managing to catch part of The Widdler’s. I can now say that I fully understand the hype. Bear Grillz blew me away, with Zomboy and ATLiens keeping the vibes going. My favorite set of the weekend was VOYD, who I’ve been trying to see for years. I don’t think the set could’ve been more perfect, with contagious crowd energy and the best heavy dubstep you could ask for. We finished out the night with Tape B followed by Crankdat, making it a flawless finale.
If you’re a basshead, don’t sleep on Apocalypse: Zombieland next year. It’s easily one of the best festivals I’ve attended, blending incredible music with an immersive adventure. Let me know if you experienced it this year or plan to next time—this is the end of the world worth raving for!
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