Festivals In Far Off Places.
A collection of dance parties in some beautifully remote locations.
Everyone’s been there. You’re trawling Instagram and stumble across a photo of someone you know at some wondrous festival location. It could be an abandoned castle in France, the opening to a cave in Iceland or high in the mountains of Bulgaria. It doesn’t matter where it is…the response is universal, “Why didn’t I know that this was going on?”.
Well, we’re here to help get your finger on the pulse. Below are five festivals we’re hoping you’ve never heard of and would love to attend.
Awake, Romania | 15th-18th August 2019
Buried deep in the Transylvanian countryside comes Awake. I mean at this point our interest has already piqued. Hosted on the gorgeous Teleki Estate, which comes with 18th-century baroque style castle, a glistening pond and 16 hectares of fertile land to explore, you’re already in a whole new realm. This is an authentic trip back in time, with the castle still scattered with original pieces like Murano chandeliers, fireplaces, wood doors, murals and stucco works.
Beyond these regal walls, there’s also a hidden forest library, a ‘feed your mind’ program all about helping better our brains, interactive theatre and outdoor artwork, all in the lush surrounds of the Romanian countryside. Take a peek at who’s performing this year.
Kolorádó, Hungary | 19th-22nd June
Heard of the Buda Hills before? If not, it’s about time you discovered what they’re all about. On the outskirts of Budapest, Kolorádó Festival sets up shop here each summer, bringing a kooky blend of slack rock and hard techno to nature. There’s a homegrown feel here, with local communities responsible for curating the stages and choosing what art installations to feature. From what we’ve heard the dance barn buried in the woods is a sight to behold. Why not get weird in Hungary with the likes of Kurt Vile, Ben UFO, Yves Tumor this June?
Waking Life, Crato, Portugal |14th-19th August
If warm temperatures, lakes and top notch dance are what make you happy, then how about Waking Life? Only two and a bit hours from Lisbon, this little sanctuary boasts a buffet of electronic sounds and experiences. Be it soothing ambient tones at sunrise or charging house that goes late into the night. There is no doubt, you’ll be serenaded by absolute pro’s here (CC: Four Tet, Move D, Skatebård, Seth Troxler).
“You’ll discover the many sounds of different people, instruments and machines having conversations. Feel free to join them!” Read into this what you will but it all seems like a damn good time. On top of all the class music on offer, Waking Life has alternative medicine workshops, a cinema as well as meditation and kungfu training. This is the sort of festival you might dream about, wake up and find you only remember fragments. Make it a reality this August!
Horst, Vilvoorde North, Belgium | 13th-15th August
Horst is one of those festival’s we’ve been hearing whispers about for a long while now. This year, they’ve moved the idyllic green paradise to Asiat, a 6-hectare military space, full of warehouses, rolling hills, a labyrinth of corridors and two cooling towers. Although we wave goodbye to the stunning Horst Castle in Holsbeek, this mysterious Asiat location is a blank canvas for organisers to get super creative.
This year’s edition will feature some celeb back-to-backs including Craig Richards + Marcel Dettmann and Call Super + Objekt (for these two I can personally vouch). There’s a new initiative on the menu this year too…simply called The Lab. Split into The Music Lab, The Design Lab, The Art Lab and The Architecture Lab, all four are being born to bring new life into the now deserted space. I think once Horst 2019 is over, things will be a whole lot different here.
Houghton Festival, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, UK | 8th-11th August
I’ve got this one friend Jack and ever since I arrived in Europe last September, he has not shut up about Houghton. Buried in the woodlands of Norfolk, this 4-day masterpiece exists for the most loyal of ravers. Organised by famed DJ Craig Richards and the Gottwood team, this extravaganza is known for having one of the most incredible vibes. This is thanks to its hideaway location, lack of phone reception (so people stay off their screens and dance), it’s 24-hour music policy, it’s artists and last but not least an attitude where almost anything goes :). 2019 will be no exception. See you there…?
Ever heard the expression ‘hidden gems’? Those hard to find spots that require digging but are worth their weight in gold. We’ve just brushed the dirt off a few, so best start planning that dance in a faraway land now.
