Why Excision’s Thunderdome Isn’t Just Another Rave

Excision’s Thunderdome, typically held in the first weeks of February, has quickly become a favorite among dance music enthusiasts. In an era when electronic music festivals have become repetitive and mundane, this event refuses to blend in with the crowd. Whether for the hard-hitting bass music or the stunning visuals, ravers flock to Tacoma, Washington, at the beginning of each year to attend an event that sets the standard for electronic festival boards.

Thunderdome presents an experience unlike any other. Continue reading below to understand why Thunderdome isn’t just another rave.

Top Tier Acts

Featuring top-tier artists in dubstep, riddim, and experimental bass, the Thunderdome lineup is curated by Excision, ensuring a high-energy experience filled with a blend of established acts and rising stars. The 2025 edition of the festival showcases bass music superstars, including SPACE LASES, PEEKABOO, ALLEYCVT, Levity, Emorfik, HEDEX, and SIPPY. Previous lineups have highlighted the talents of HOL!, Black Tiger Sex Machine, PhaseOne, Kompany, and Wooli.

Aside from outstanding solo acts, Excision has become acclaimed in the electronic music world for establishing some of the best B2B sets in EDM history. Excision typically chooses an artist to go back-to-back with himself each year, but this year’s B2B is still unannounced. In previous years, we have seen B2Bs from Liquid Stranger, SVDDEN DEATH, and surprise guest Marshmello.

The festival has evolved into a sanctuary for electronic music producers to experiment with their sounds and collaborate with like-minded visionaries. Thunderdome is a highly anticipated event for DJs to debut featured B2B performances and engage fans with their aliases, as demonstrated when Sullivan King and KAI WACHI showcased their house project, Meal Prep, at the event in 2023.
This is to say that Excision has perfected the bass music lineup, meticulously marrying sets that crowds crave to see with those they didn’t know they needed. With a finely focused lineup on bass music, fans and artists can lean into the niche without boundaries or expectations. DJs lay it all on the table and leave no crumbs, setting the standard for electronic music sets in the upcoming year.

Visuals

Anyone who has attended an Excision event, such as Lost Lands or Bass Canyon, can confirm that he delivers a state-of-the-art show featuring deafening bass drops, unique visuals, and an uncountable number of lasers. In 2024, Excision transformed the electronic music scene with his three-dimensional visuals depicting a demonic Shrek, haunting skeletons, and three-headed dogs—an unprecedented sight in dance music.

Excision’s visuals dominated the internet during and after the event, amplifying the excitement among ravers who could not attend. The electronic music artist even attracted mainstream attention from American rapper, singer, and songwriter Kanye West, also known as Ye, who praised the creativity behind the visuals. 

This attention demonstrates that Excision and his team work tirelessly to create an authentic and exceptional set showcased exclusively at Thunderdome annually.

February Festival

The festival season traditionally experiences a lull after New Year’s Eve before ramping up again in early summer, making February an ideal time to rejuvenate and reengage. Thunderdome perfectly occupies the gap in the early months of the year when the festival roster appears sparse and the excitement of festival season has yet to begin. Thunderdome injects high energy into the cold and snowy part of the year, allowing the rave community from across the country to reconnect and providing relief during a time when festivals are scarce.

Having an early spot on the calendar often positions Thunderdome as a benchmark for what’s expected from domestic festivals each year. Excision has consistently been a frontrunner in electronic music trends, unveiling new remixes, VIPs, visual displays, and stage productions that subsequent festivals are expected to emulate. Bass music enthusiasts eagerly await the groundbreaking performances that Thunderdome brings each year. Attendees not only launch into the new year with one of the heaviest bass music festivals globally but also receive an exclusive preview of what to expect from upcoming festivals.

Tacoma Dome

The Tacoma Dome hosts many diverse events, such as elite wrestling and Monster Jam, but has recently become a sought-after venue for electronic music festivals. Since Thunderdome first launched in 2018, Subtronics has dipped his toes in the Dome by presenting Cyclops Dome in 2023 and 2024, while VOYDOME, hosted by SUDDEN DEATH, is set to debut later this year.

Electronic music artists compete to play at the Tacoma Dome for good reason. The indoor venue boasts an immaculate platform that can host over 20,000 attendees for two- and three-day events. Uniquely spherical, the Dome can manipulate lasers in a way impossible at other venues—something Excision masterfully takes advantage of.

Offering both standing room and seated options, the venue presents an exclusive opportunity to experience an Excision production from multiple perspectives. Witnessing the lasers and visuals that Excision creates from above and below provides two distinct journeys, adding to the experience and allowing bass heads to enjoy two premium shows in one event.

Overall

Thunderdome is a powerhouse in the bass music scene. It delivers an electrifying experience in a venue that sets the gold standard for dance music events. This festival is more than just a gathering—it’s a sanctuary for bass lovers, offering an immersive atmosphere where pulsating beats, mind-blowing visuals, and unmatched energy create an unforgettable experience.

With a lineup featuring the most influential names in bass music, Thunderdome invites bass enthusiasts to lose themselves in a world of heavy drops, thunderous soundscapes, and euphoric moments. Attendees can dance, headbang, and reconnect with like-minded ravers beneath a mesmerizing spectacle of neon lights, strobes, and cutting-edge laser displays, all set against a backdrop of unrelenting energy.

Unlike many events that slow down during certain seasons, Thunderdome thrives, providing a much-needed space for dance music to reign supreme even when other festivals take a hiatus. As it continues to push boundaries and elevate the bass music experience, Thunderdome remains a premier festival destination—one set to dominate the scene for years.

Featured image courtesy of Excision Facebook