Flow Festival [9th – 11th August 2019]
Renowned Flow Festival brings together art and music once again in a historic power plant area in Finland’s capital city Helsinki. The urban festival offers a wide selection of music varying all the way from indie rock and soul all the way to contemporary club music. For the lovers of hypnotic techno, the absolute not-to-miss moment of this year’s edition is Donato Dozzy‘s set at the Resident Advisor Front Yard stage. Also The Other Sound stage hosts interesting contemporary and experimental performances, such as Finnish Tuomas A. Laitinen‘s concert-like audiovisual show as well as Mexican Ana Gutiezca, serving hypnotic and brain-melting noise from self-made analogs that the she combines with broken techno beats from drum machines.
Isotoop x Tikita present: Under the Desert Stars [27th – 28th of September]
On the surface of the Agafay Desert in Morocco, emerges Under The Desert Stars. A collaboration between the Isotoop and Tikita collectives that will be taking place during the 27 – 28th of September. This remotely brilliant festival will be hosting only the most unique trapeze of tonal excellence from all walks of life. Enjoy special Hybrid sets from Neel and Kangding Ray, as well as a mind altering performance from The Transcendence Orchestra featuring Anthony Child (Surgeon) and Daniel Bean.
Event organizer Van Anh had a few words to say about the event: “I’m really looking forward to hear what the artists have prepared for this unique landscape. A few said that they thought this could be the perfect setting for them to play. This is when you know that the music is going to be special.”
Festival Forte [22nd 25th August 2019]
Since its start in 2014, Forte Festival brings together electronic music and arts, in the magical settings of Montemor -O-Velho, located at the beautiful heartland of Portugal. With the aim of creating a three-day intimate experience exploring the connection between techno, generative arts and digital performance, Forte Festival presents once again a consistent line-up, made of some of the best names on the scene. Don’t miss the opening ceremony by Murcof and Malo Lacroix, Scandinavian master Anthony Linell and Neon Chambers, newly born project by Kangding Ray and Sigha. For the tireless ravers, Freddy K, Luke Slater and Oscar Mulero will keep you going. Find the full line up and get your tickets here.
Nation of Gondwana [19th – 21th of July]
Since 1995 in Grünefeld – North of Berlin; Nation of Gondwana has been always an oasis for fans of electronic music and this year won‘t be another exception. Among the huge line up, Parabel‘s heavyweight Joel Mull will kick off some powerful techno beats over the impressive main stage alongside Parisian based DJ Anetha, vinyl-only hero Freddy K, and Dystopian’s label chief Rødhåd. From techno, to house and disco, everybody will find the perfect fit for the own musical taste. One of the musical highlights is the fantastic female choir of the nearby village Grünefeld.
What makes this festival is the feeling of being on a wonderful and unique hippie camp; where everybody is dancing, laughing and having a good time. Located in a beautiful forest, the german festival will take you into a magical weekend of joyful people, great electronic music, and a wonderful hippie-like feeling.
Waking Life [14th – 19th August]
The festival is located near the medieval town of Crato, Portugal (14th – 19th August).
While the overarching theme of the festival is unity and sustainability, Waking Life avoids the oversaturated aesthetic of psychedelic utopia. The soundscape will include dark hypnotic techno (Ateq, Vril, Efdemin, A.Brehme,Takaaki Itoh), some dubby beats (Alpha Steppa), floaty house tunes (Four Tet), experimental acts (Baby Vulture), as well more classical compositions (Masayoshi Fujita / el fog). This is a festival which welcomes dark techno sounds, yet is not defined by them.
Waking life is for true melomans who are open to different genres of electronic music, or for those who want to broaden their musical horizons. Fans of dark hypnotic techno will be treated to live performances of two Giegling label representatives: Vril and Ateq. Efdemin is an absolute must for the techno fans, and it will be exciting to see him outside his natural habitat – Berghain and dark basements. Live performance by Sebastian Mullaert is a real treat for the fans of more ambient techno, as well as the opening concert by Circle of Life – a group of artists led by Sebastian Mullaert.
For dancers who need a break from stomping to the music in intense heat, the festival also offers a rich schedule of other activities such as performances, film screenings, debates, installations and workshops. Because of this, Waking Life is better described as music/arts festival. The location itself is special, as it is one of the most deserted regions in southern Europe. The land is surrounded by blue waters, but the heat and isolation from civilization creates a feeling of being trapped on an uninhabited island. Come and let your concepts of time and space be dismantled!