NEON Retrofest 2018 alumni Bonggita returns to the stage! A talented producer with a innovative and dynamic sound, we are thrilled to have him back. A true pioneer of progressive Synthwave, he pushes boundaries while creating a sound that is both innovative and timeless.

Born in the #80s in a small town in Eastern Europe, Bonggita grew up surrounded by the sounds of classic Synthpop and new wave, which would go on to influence his music in a big way. In 2017 his outstanding release Neon Marble would solidify his position as a top-shelf composer.

Bonggita’s instantly recognizable sound is characterized by its intricate synth lines, atmospheric pads, and driving basslines, all of which are infused with a sense of nostalgia for the sounds of the past, and the future. Listen to more at bonggita.bandcamp.com

The spotlight is on Vampire Step-Dad. He makes synth-soaked soundtracks influenced by 80s TV, movies, and culture. From action packed car chases, to candle-lit love scenes that never quite show the goods, Vampire Step-Dad covers the gamut of emotions and leaves you wanting more.

Some say it's best to be fashionably late. Vampire Step-Dad took that to heart and arrived about 25 years after the party ended. Listening to a Vampire Step-Dad release is like sneaking into a movie theater in 1986, and finding a John Hughes film that never made it to VHS.

All of this can be experienced first hand at NEON Retrofest 2023 where Vampire Step-Dad takes to the stage to bring with it not only an amazing performance, but also a bit of step-fatherly advice, and plenty of dad-jokes. Want to know more? Of course you do: www.vampirestepdad.com

Second Hand Rose is the radical brainchild of husband & wife duo Patrick & Deena Phillips, born out of a love for #thrifting, #nostalgia, and a taste for the eccentric! Their store leans heavily into the bomb styles of the #80s & #90s.

They offer vintage clothing, collectibles, toys & more! Their products' wild patterns & visuals evoke the fly looks of the #80s, #90s, and beyond. Whether it's a killer blouse or an electrifying windbreaker, their store has got you covered both on the net and IRL!

We're honored to announce that FORGOTTEN_VCR will be a guest at NEON Retrofest 2023! A master of slicing and dicing #VHS genre film, we are huge fans of his work; he is right on the NEON wavelength.

Cutting through miles of VHS footage like Richard Harrison in Ninja Terminator, FORGOTTEN_VCR is an editor, archivist, and enthusiast of analog ephemera. He creates VHS mixtapes from a variety of analog sources and streams them on Twitch since 2019. He will be a featured speaker as well as part of our #retro #TwitchStreamers meetup. If you're among his 16K+ followers, come see him in person at NEON, and check out his Twitch channel at www.twitch.tv/forgotten_vcr

Watch Out For Snakes is 8-bit chipwave from #Atlanta geek Matt Baum. Layering NES chip sounds, he creates darkly energetic tracks that pay homage to old video games and #80s films without taking things too seriously.

In 2021, on the heels of his single, “Fight Those Invisible Ninjas,” Baum restored his pre-quarantine performance momentum, touring and supporting acts Com Truise, Arcade High, Street Cleaner, and Tim Capello with his high-energy #keytar stage show.

Unable to choose between playing music or playing video games, Baum split the difference sampling the old #NES and #Atari systems of his youth and synthesizing these samples to build a unique sound: part #chiptune, part #synthwave, all #retro. Hear more at https://www.watchoutforsnakestheband.com/

We're thrilled to announce that Florida's own Syst3m Glitch will be bringing his mix of 80s nostalgia, powerful vocals, wistful vibes, and some of the smoothest synthwave we've ever heard to the NEON stage. He is one to watch; this sound is going to be huge!

A one-man powerhouse from DaytonaBeach, Syst3m Glitch is just getting started. Already making his mark in the scene with multiple NewRetroWave featured tracks, his first major release Beyond Stars boasts some top-tier collaborations with acts like Turbo Knight
& DimiKaye

It goes without saying that he represents everything we love about Florida Synthwave, and no matter what he does next, we're certain that he will soon be a star in the retrowave scene. Listen to System Glitch at https://syst3mglitch.bandcamp.com/

Tickets for NEON Retrofest go on sale tonight, so It's the perfect time to announce the incredible Robert Parker as a headliner in an already killer live #synthwave lineup! He's bringing back his electrifying live performance all the way from Stockholm, Sweden to NEON.

NEON wouldn't be the same without him being part of it again. One of the original giants of the #synthwave sound since '09, his debut album Drive is an early cornerstone of the genre. In 2016 he released Crystal City, a French House and Disco-infused masterpiece.

Robert's more recent releases The End of the Night and Club 707 have thrilled listeners as well, as he continues to spearhead the high-energy European sound of retro-inspired electronic music. Listen to more via New Retro Wave here: https://newretrowave.bandcamp.com/album/crystal-city

Tickets go on sale this weekend, so it's time to drop our first headlining act: BETAMAXX, a true synthwave legend who will be taking over the NEON Retrofest stage along with a number of other pioneers of the classic Retrowave sound. You NEED to be here for this.

Responsible for some of the most recognizable releases in the genre, Betamaxx helped shape what we know as Synthwave with earthshaking LPs in the early 2010s like Lost Formats and Sophisticated Technology, setting the pace for a rapidly evolving sound and scene.

After a brief retirement, Betamaxx reemerged and was a surprise guest headliner at NEON 2018, capping off one of Retro's most unforgettable weekends. Nick grasps the subtleties of the #analog lifestyle better than anyone we know. To hear more, visit https://betamaxxmusic.bandcamp.com/

The #neonretrofest2023 spotlight is on Sferro! One of the #synthwave artists who started it all in 2010, he's bringing a special DJ set of his own legendary releases to Neon Retrofest 2023. Hold on tight, because tickets go on sale this week and there's lots more to reveal!

The founder of Girlfriend Records, one of #synthwave's first music labels, Sferro's foundational sound helped to define the fledgling scene with EPs New Output and Wetware Computer, giving us some of the earliest #retrowave jams of a rad new genre.

And Sferro hasn't stopped. Remaining active throughout the years with numerous singles, albums, and collaborative releases, he'll be part of an evening showcasing some of the classic legends of retrowave at #neonretrofest2023. Listen more at https://girlfriendrecords.bandcamp.com/