Must Do Festivals in 2014
Friday 11, April 2014
Festival season is fast approaching and with increased choice for festival goers, all looking to experience something new or unique, the focus is on Europe.
From sizzling sunshine escapes to concrete playgrounds, there’s an adventure to suit everyone. For a once in a lifetime experience, soundtracked by some of the biggest names in music, make 2014 a year to remember by dancing the days and nights away at one of the following festival hotspots.
TIME WARP
When: 5 April 2014
Where: Mannheim, Germany
Who: Sven Väth, Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Tale Of Us, tINI, Recondite,Seth Troxler & more
Best for: Genre defining techno experiences, dazzling lighting and visual technology
Time Warp will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Over the last 20 years the festival has become an institution for techno lovers, with fans from all over the globe making an annual techno pilgrimage to witness the cream of the electronic music scene perform, surrounded by stunning lighting and visual technology. This year's line-up includes Sven Väth, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier, Tale Of Us, tINI, Recondite and Seth Troxler.
EXIT FESTIVAL
When: 10 - 14 July 2014
Where: Novi Sad, Serbia
Who: Disclosure, Rudimental, Damon Albarn, Carl Cox, Skrillex & more
Best for: Historic fortress location, major headliners and the legendary Dance Arena with exclusive B2B DJ sets.
Winner of the 'Best Major Festival' at the European Festival awards, EXIT was started by 3 students in 2000 against the Milosevic regime, fighting for political change and freedom. Taking place in the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia. EXIT has numerous stages connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels, with something for music lovers of all genres. Acts for 2014 include Damon Albarn, Disclosure, Rudimental, Skrillex and incredible b2b sessions including Carl Craig vs. Green Velvet.
MELT! FESTIVAL
When: 18 - 20 July 2014
Where: Ferropolis, Germany
Who: Portishead, Dixon, Jungle, Four Tet, Haim, Metronomy, Panda Bear, Mano Le Tough & more
Best for: Dancing ‘til dawn and witnessing the biggest breakthrough acts of the year
Germany's Melt! Festival returns to the 'City of Iron' in July. Located just over an hour from Berlin, Melt! Festival draws in a musically-savvy crowd every year with its cutting edge line-ups. The festival site is scattered with giant industrial diggers which come to life at night with an incredible light show. This year, expect monumental performances from the likes of Portishead, Dixon, Haim, Little Dragon, Jeff Mills, Jagwar Ma and Metronomy.
POSITIVUS FESTIVAL
When: 18 - 20 July 2014
Where: Salacgriva, Latvia
Who: Bastille, Ellie Goulding, MO, Kraftwerk, The 1975 & more
Best for: Beautiful coastlines and chart topping headliners
Positivus is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic states, taking place in the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva in Latvia. With three main stages, including the Red Bull Academy stage, Positivus brings a rich diversity of international chart toppers and underground emerging talent to the idyllic holiday location. Along with the large musical programme Positivus also offers exciting art and dance stages giving festival goers a variety of activities and plenty to explore across the three day festival. Taking place from the 18th to 20th of July, headliners for this year include Bastille, Ellie Goulding, MO, Kraftwerk, The 1975 & more.
OFF FESTIVAL
When: 2 - 4 August 2014
Where: Katowice, Poland
Who: Belle and Sebastian, Fuck Buttons, Holden (LIVE) Neutral Milk Hotel & more
Best for: A boutique festival experience where you can discover the boldest and eclectic alternative acts from around the world.
One for the indie / alternative music lovers! This boutique festival takes place in the lush greenery of the Three Lake Valley in Katowice, Poland. OFF Festival is a way of life, one that flies in the face of current trends and stays true to itself and the organisers and crowd have one serious finger on the pulse when it comes to music. This year the festival will serve up acts including Holden (LIVE), Belle & Sebastian, Jacques Greene, Fuck Buttons and Neutral Milk Hotel.
BARRAKUD
When: 9 - 16 August 2014
Where: Pag, Croatia
Who: Sven Väth , Dubfire, Guy Gerber, Mano Le Tough, Maceo Plex, Adam Beyer & more
Best for: Beach parties, world renowned DJ’s, unforgettable festival friendship
Barrakud invites you to the breathtaking island of Pag to experience the latest jewel in Croatia’s festival crown. Taking place from 9 – 16 August, the Barrakud Extended Experience brings together an impressive array of acts at the forefront of today’s electronic music scene, for 8 days of sun-drenched parties by the sea. This 2014 line-up includes Adam Beyer, Art Department, Ellen Allien, Guy Gerber, Mano Le Tough, Maceo Plex, Paul Kalkbrenner, Sven Väth and more.
SZIGET FESTIVAL - ISLAND OF FREEDOM
When: 11-18 August 2014
Where: Budapest, Hungary
Who: The Prodigy, Calvin Harris, Lily Allen, Jake Bugg, Tom Odell, Darkside & more
Best for: Multicultural festival/ holiday experience on the Island of Freedom
Proud winner of the 'Best Major European Festival' award in 2011, Sziget Festival is one of the biggest multicultural events of Europe, attracting almost 400,000 fans from over 70 countries to a beautiful island in the heart of Budapest. Sziget provides the ultimate festival-holiday experience with a week long non-stop party, great live acts and activities plus all the tourist attractions the city of Budapest has to offer. This years line-up boasts The Prodigy, Bastille, Imagine Dragons, Lily Allen, Tom Odell, London Grammar, Darkside, Bonobo, Jagwar Ma and Queens of The Stone Age.
AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT (ADE)
When:15 - 19 October 2014
Where: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Who: The A-Z of the dance music world
Best for: 24 hour party people, 4/4 beats, tech workshops for aspiring DJs
ADE is the ONLY way to end the festival season with a bang. The city of Amsterdam is taken over for 5 whole days and nights of electronic music. Over 80 clubs involved make it the biggest club festival in the world and with more than 2000 international DJs, spinning everything from house and techno to bass and dubstep or trance and hardstyles, you're guaranteed to see many of your favourite acts perform. Aspiring DJs can also dig deeper into the daytime program ‘ADE Playground’ where they’ll discover tech and gear workshops, artist Q&As, in-store DJ sessions and more.
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