After taking 2025 off, SD Union Daydream is officially back. And if you’re part of the San Diego drum and bass scene, you already know this one hits different.

On Saturday, April 25, United By Bass brings the city’s premier Drum & Bass day party back to life at the Encore Event Center in San Diego, running 12PM–10PM with a lineup stacked from top to bottom. Tickets are already moving fast, and if past years are any indication, this one will sell out well before the doors open.

From legendary international headliners to the backbone of the Southern California DNB community, SD Union Daydream is more than just another show. It’s a reunion, a celebration, and one of the most important Drum & Bass events in San Diego each year.

The ultimate Drum & Bass winter massive

If you care about proper low-end and a crowd that actually knows its history, Jungle Bells is the winter event you clear your calendar for. What started as a grassroots DnB throwdown has, in under three decades, grown into one of North America’s biggest drum & bass takeovers — and in 2025 it goes two nights across all four Masquerade stages (Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Altar).

What Is Drum & Bass? (A Quick Intro)

Drum & Bass isn’t just a genre—it’s an ecosystem. Born from the jungle rave era of early ’90s London, it’s splintered into dozens of subgenres that stretch from soulful liquid rollers to neurofunk’s sci-fi brutality. Each lane has its own culture, its own sound, and its own heroes.

Whether you’re new to D&B or a die-hard head, knowing the difference between foghorn jump-up, Brazilian sambass, and halftime hip-hop hybrids will level up how you hear the music. This guide breaks down every Drum & Bass subgenre in 2025—what it sounds like, who made it iconic, and the essential tracks you need to hear.

San Diego, CA — May 2025 — United By Bass, the team behind the city’s premier DNB event, SD Union, and the boutique label United By Bass Recordings, is proud to announce the official launch of United By Bass Talent Agency (UBBTA). This move marks a major milestone in the company’s evolution as it extends its footprint into artist management and bookings, setting the stage to further elevate artists across North America and beyond.

UBBTA combines the forces of the undeniable success of United By Bass founders Brandon Garva and Tyler Rosier, alongside seasoned lead agents Emily Widuch and Melissa Fezell, and with the expert support of Erin Bailey, the agency promises to deliver a dynamic, artist-first approach to talent representation — championing a roster stacked with internationally acclaimed artists and rising stars alike.

San Diego Drum & Bass heads, get ready for a legendary night of music and energy! London Elektricity is making his way back to Southern California for one night only, bringing his signature sound to SD Union on Friday, February 14th. Presented by United By Bass, SD Union is San Diego’s largest Drum & Bass event, and this special edition will take place at Spin Nightclub from 9 PM to 4 AM

Joining the iconic Hospital Records founder on this massive lineup is fellow label artist Polaris from Canada and Reid Speed, the renowned DJ and label boss from Los Angeles. The night will also feature local talent Ghost M.D. and DJ Desi, ensuring a full spectrum of DNB vibes throughout the event. In addition to world-class music, live artwork will be created by the talented Derty Keven, adding a unique visual element to the experience.

San Diego is gearing up for a night to remember as SD Union—the city’s biggest drum and bass event—celebrates its 14-year anniversary on Friday, December 6th, at Spin Nightclub. Known for consistently bringing the best names in drum and bass to Southern California, United By Bass is once again delivering a stacked lineup featuring not only crowd favorites but also an exciting international debut: Andromedik, the rising Belgian star who has taken the drum and bass world by storm.

Joining him on the decks will be Hospital Records’ very own Degs and Unglued, two heavyweight talents whose infectious energy and boundary-pushing tracks have been tearing up the scene. Handling the direct support duties with a special back-2-back set will be two of San Diego’s best DJ’s and SD Union residents Garva & Charles Rebellion. And as if that wasn’t enough, a second area will be hosted by Pirate Pandas, one of San Diego’s own crews known for bringing underground vibes to every event they touch.

For fans of the genre and newcomers alike, this anniversary promises a night where the euphoric melodies of liquid drum and bass meet the heavy-hitting beats that keep the dancefloor moving all night long.

Experience Drum & Bass History:

Drum and Bass fans in San Diego are in for a treat this October as legendary DJ and producer Danny Byrd makes his long-awaited return to the city. Known for his infectious blend of high-energy beats and melodic, soulful vibes, Byrd is set to take the stage at SD Union on Friday, October 18th, 2024. As one of the genre’s most beloved figures, his performance is sure to be a night of dynamic rhythms and unforgettable moments. You can grab your tickets here.

Danny Byrd has been a key player in the Drum and Bass scene since the late ’90s, earning widespread acclaim for his innovative sound and ability to bring uplifting, rave-inspired energy to the dancefloor. Hailing from Bath, England, Byrd was one of the first artists signed to the renowned Hospital Records label, a driving force in the rise of Drum and Bass to global prominence. His early works like “Do It Again” and “Shock Out” set the stage for his signature style—melodic, vocal-driven tracks that balance heavy basslines with euphoric atmospheres.

The definition of the word “hospitality” is “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” As Americans traveling to Europe for a drum and bass festival, you would think that we might feel like strangers sailing into uncharted waters, but as soon as we arrived at Hospitality on the Beach, they made us feel a lot more like family. From start to finish – the Hospital Records crew went out of their way to accommodate our needs in a way that is almost unheard of in the US event industry. It might have also been the familiar, soul-stirring music that we know and love, or the temperate climate that is so similar to Southern California– either way: dancing on the beach with so many like-minded individuals made us feel right at home.

The 7-day festival kicked off Tuesday, July 2nd, which allowed the crowd to make their way to the small beach town of Tisno, Croatia from all parts of the globe. The So-Cal crew touched down late Tuesday night, so by midday on Wednesday, we were more than ready to start dancing and hit the beach. The festival venue “The Garden,” is nestled in a small cove just South of Tisno and is home to various events throughout the year. The owners acquired the property in 2012, and it’s truly a hidden utopia outside of the charming, yet antiquated neighboring Croatian towns. Both Tisno and Pirovac were quiet, yet pleasant communities on the water, with narrow, winding one-way streets lined by sleepy marinas, and visited mostly by families with young children or older European couples on holiday. Yet just a few minutes outside of town, a week-long festival full of rowdy ravers and up-front electronic music raged every night until the early hours of the morning.

Summer is never-ending here in San Diego and it’s no secret that our recent Daydream events have been heating up our beloved Drum and Bass community this year! That being said – there is nothing like a proper vacation (or “holiday” as they say across the pond)! For the first time ever, the United By Bass squad is excited to be heading to the coast of Croatia this July for Hospitality On The Beach. We are so excited to spend seven days under the sun, soaking up the sounds of some of the world’s top drum and bass producers against the scenic background of the Adriatic coast. European DnB festivals are truly a whole different style, and we are excited to represent stateside and California junglists on this adventure!

Some background for the newer heads: Hospital Records was founded in 1996 in South London by the legendary London Elektricity. You’ll understand if you were lucky enough to witness his amazing performance at SD Union Daydream in March. (Plus, who could forget that epic b2b2b that closed out the night?) London Elektricity has paved the way for the drum and bass genre in many ways, but the foundation of Hospital Records might be one of his most influential moves. The independent label has signed some of the most influential drum and bass acts in the world including Camo & Krooked, Danny Byrd, S.P.Y, High Contrast, and more. Aside from releasing top-tier tracks, Hospital Records has managed to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of electronic music distribution. In 2023 the label announced their partnership with Believe UK to increase digital distribution of its extensive catalog to a global network of DSPs. Hospital Record’s artist roster spans multiple nationalities and supports the very best in a range of sub-genres of Drum and Bass music.

Experience Drum & Bass History:

As the beat-heavy world of Drum & Bass prepares for a seismic event, the anticipation mounts for the highly awaited US debut of electronic duo Phibes. On Saturday, April 13th, the dynamic pair will unleash their electrifying sounds upon the dancefloors of Spin nightclub in San Diego, CA, as part of the renowned SD Union event series, promising an unforgettable night of bass-driven euphoria. Bolstered by the reinforced sound system courtesy of Darkmatter Loudspeakers, this performance is set to redefine the very essence of live electronic music experiences.

Phibes, a powerhouse in the realm of Drum & Bass, have carved a distinct niche for themselves within the rave scene by seamlessly blending various forms of bass music into their signature sound. Since their inception, the duo has captivated audiences with their unique fusion, garnering a devoted following of 80,000 on SoundCloud and beyond. Their journey to prominence began with a series of self-releases on platforms like SoundCloud, paving the way for numerous chart-topping successes.