While most of the week was spent struggling through a massive heatwave with flex alerts and temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees, the Same Same But Different Festival’s official opening day started with cooler temperatures.
The multi-day fest, which takes place on the shores of Moreno Beach in Lake Perris, experienced strong winds, gray skies and off and on rain on Friday, but that didn’t keep attendees from coming out in festival-style swimwear and jumping into the lake. People also wore raincoats over their festival outfits and used their floaties as covers while moving from stage to stage. Others huddled under some of the tents set up for the festival and a few others sought shelter on the covered benches and tables.
The lineup over on the But Circus stage was delayed due to the weather and didn’t begin until 4 p.m. rather than the scheduled 11 a.m. time slots. Still, those ready to dance got their chance to show the weather who was boss with acts over on the Coconut Club stage, where artist Justin Jay had fans along the shoreline jumping up and down.
Once the But Circus stage got rolling, Helena Holleran got people moving and fans danced to the melodies of Moon Panda. The circus-themed stage lived up to its name with a makeshift 50 cent kissing booth and loop fixtures that offered festival goers a chance to climb them.
The Groove Grove had its own mini show happening with some impromptu music under a disco ball and low lighting. The space had a built in piano, guitar, bass and a set of homemade drums, which consisted of a bucket and barrel.
A group of men jammed out to some of the tunes they knew such as the Beatles’ “Elanor Rigby,” Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” which had bystanders clapping and humming along. They had a lot of chemistry and performed well together, so well that another group of people confused them for festival performers and asked bystanders who they were on the lineup.
After the sunset, the Hemp Recharge lounge hosted a guided meditation for those who were looking for a calming atmosphere. People laid on blankets with their eyes closed as the guide spoke of rebirth and made different noises like a jaguar and an eagle, just to name a few.
Back at the Coconut Club, people danced in the dark with glow sticks and other lights to some house music and thumping bass. Paul Sherwood, 29, of Detroit, Mich. shared that he didn’t mind the rain and prefers it over weather that’s 110 degrees or more.
Fans rushed to the Different Stage for Neil Frances. The performers said that didn’t get to play the live set how they hoped to because of the rain, but they made the best of it with a DJ set, and the crowd didn’t seem to mind. All of the different lights reflected off of the rain and Neil Francis had the steadily growing crowd dancing, hula hooping and swinging lit-up pixel whips and buoys.
After Neil Francis’ set, the festival director announced Washed Out would not be performing due to weather conditions and recommended catching Brothertiger at the But Circus Stage while Chromeo set up.
Moonboots also didn’t perform on the Same Stage, but as the rain stopped, festival organizers said they would try again and have it up for Griz.
Brothertiger benefited from the rain stopping as his set began. The electro-pop and synth-packed set from the performer served as a change of pace from the back-to-back dancing. Some people laid on the grass and sat at the tables adjacent to the stage, which was lit up by strands of alternating color lights. Others swayed back and forth with his more mellow beats.
The festival Gods did not abandon their believers just yet, the clouds withheld the rain for Chromeo to bring their funk to the crowd. The duo, based out of Montreal, Canada and New York, came out with an energetic set from start to finish. As Chromeo said goodbye, Griz hopped up on the Same Stage with his saxophone in hand. He opened with a heavy bass track that had rows of people headbanging while he jumped up and down in sync with the crowd. He transitioned into a more funkier sound, throwing in some saxophone with his beats.
Though Same Same But Different didn’t get to benefit from Southern California’s typical sunny summer weather, the fans still showed up and danced with smiles on their faces.
Same Same But Different
When: Friday, Sept. 9-Sunday, Sept. 11
Where: Moreno Beach, Lake Perris
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