Exploring international music festivals this summer

by Jackie Willson

Festival season is upon us and all of you music lovers have some major decisions to make. Whether you desire to dance in a sky high igloo in Austria or soak up the sun all day on a beach in Croatia, there will certainly be something in one of these festivals to suit those needs (yes, needs). With appearances by the biggest names in music and breathtaking scenery, festival goers are promised the time of their life. So, starting in Europe, here is a list of some of the most amazing international festivals and the reasons why you need to hurry up and choose. Enjoy!

TIME WARP 

Mannheim, Germany 

APRIL 5^TH 2014 – With six floors of DJs ranging from deep house to techno and Detroit dance, Time Warp is “A jaw dropping party”. Celebrating their 20^th anniversary, this festival focuses largely on maintaining the best technology and staging possible to create an unforgettable and visually appealing experience for everyone. Many refer to Time Warp as a movement rather than a festival and with their dedication to the electronic scene and popularity over the years it is sure to be a raging good time. It also only takes place on one night, so depending on time and budget, this could be perfect for those partiers that need to get back to work!

WHO – Adam Beyer, Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, Ben Klock, Laurent Garnier, Luciano (to name a few).

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SNOWBOMBING 

Mayrhofen, Austria 

APRIL 7-12th 2014 – If your kind of vacation involves snowboarding on the world’s finest mountains, partying inside igloos and listening to internationally renowned DJs, then Snowbombing is for you! The name says it all. A week long festival in stunning Austria, this festival is truly one of a kind. Celebrating fifteen raging years, this event hosts “the greatest show on snow”, with open-air raves, secret backcountry barn dances, an artic disco and nights that deliver cutting edge performances. This festival is perfect for the active partier.

WHO – The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Carl Cox, Foxes, Chase and Status, Anthony Naples, Artwork.

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THE GARDEN FESTIVAL 

Tisno, Croatia

JULY 2-9^th 2014 – Perfect for the partier who wants all of the advantages of an international festival, but without all of the fuss. Amazing weather and beautiful scenery, The Garden Festival has a laid back party vibe, where your only obligation is to decide whether you want to dance on a beach or a boat. Hosting the best of disco and house DJs, this week long festival is a little slice of paradise.

WHO – Andre Bratten, Crazy P Soundsystem, Genius of Time, Kink, Paqua, Session Victim, Adam Aalias, Big Danny Kane and more.

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EXIT FESTIVAL 

Novi Sad, Serbia

JULY 10-14^TH 2014 – Winner of the “Best Major Festival”, EXIT Festival is truly something special. EXIT initially started as a student initiated project against Milosevic in 2000, to bring young people together and give them a voice to stand up for what they believe in, in a positive light. This festival has a nostalgic feel that has a whole lot of heart. With previous appearances by the likes of Snoop Dogg (Lion), David Guetta, N*E*R*D and Arcade Fire, this festival is not to be missed. It is the perfect combination of passion and music. Oh, and the Panoramic views and beautiful beaches don’t hurt either.

WHO – Disclosure, Carl Cox, Rudimental, Afrojack, Skrillex and Stromae.

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MELT! FESTIVAL 

Ferropolis, Germany 

July 18-20^th 2014 – Located in Germany’s ‘City of Iron’, MELT! brings in the musical savvy crowd and cutting edge performances. The festival site is scattered with giant industrial diggers, which come to life at night during an incredible light show. Perfect for a weekend getaway and a change of scenery, this festival promises a monumental good time.

WHO – Alle Farben, Erol Alkan B2B Daniel Avery, Baauer, Bombay Bicycle Club, Breach, Chet Faker, Boys Noize.

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POSITIVUS FESTIVAL

Salacgriva, Latvia 

July 18-20^th 2014 – One of the most diverse festivals around the world, Positivus offers three separate stages, chill vibes and a range of activates to take part in. With performances by some of the most noteworthy contemporary artists, vintage shopping, sports and even yoga classes, this festival is a histpers dream. It is the largest festival in the Baltic States and offers the perfect opportunity to visit a part of the world you may have never seen before.

WHO – Ellie Gouding, MØ, Bastille, Kraftwerk, The 1975, The Kooks, Kid Karate.

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BARRAKUD FESTIVAL 

Pag, Croatia 

August 9-16^th 2014 – Surrounded by the sun, the sea and the stars. Any more questions? Set in beautiful Pag, this festival is eight days of fun in the sun. Similar to The Garden Festival, Barrakud is nothing over the top, but passionate nonetheless. It is pretty much all about the music and the scenery. Pack light partiers; the only requirement for this festival is dancing and making sure you #ravetheworld.

WHO – Art Department, Dubfire, Ellen Allian, Sven Vath, Adam Beyer, Danny Daze.

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AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT (ADE) 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

October 15-19^th 2014 – The ADE is not JUST a festival for listening to amazing music from around the world. It is also about embracing the music from around the world. Held right in the city of Amsterdam, it is five days and five nights of conferences, film screenings, presentations, art shows, promotional activities and, of course, concerts and live pop-up performances from the best electronic artists in the world. The ADE brings the international music industry together and allows them to bridge the gap between the artist and the listener and truly focus on communicating and sharing life experiences through the music. It is the top festival of the year, with over 2000 DJs, 300 events and 80 clubs. This festival should be on your to do list, whether it be this year or next. DO NOT MISS IT.

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ISLE OF DREAMS

Turkey, Israel, Switzerland 

Isle of Dreams is a new festival that will be arriving in a big way. With three different locations around the world, it is three separate electronic festivals, inspired by the music and culture of the Isle of Ibiza. Isle of Dreams focuses on highlighting the simple pleasures of life: nature, music and people coming together. From the top DJs in the world to aspiring artists, it will explore all of the genres of electronic music. They also plan and design each individual stage to look and feel like the ‘magical isle of Ibiza’. Though it is hard to tell what it will be like exactly, the line up so far is promising to say the least. Now all you have to do is choose which amazing location you want to visit…

August 5-7^th 2014 (Turkey) – designed as the ultimate electronic beach festival.

August 7-9^th 2014 (Israel) – Dancing by the biblical Sea of Galilee.

August 8-10^th 2014 (Switzerland) – Inspired to be the biggest electronic party in Switzerland and beautiful scenery.

WHO – Above & Beyond, Alesso, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Chuckie, Fedde Le Grand, Gareth Emery, Jamie Jones, NERVO, Paul van Dyk, Pete Tong, R3hab, Sebastian Ingrosso, Steve Aoki (and that’s just the beginning).

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