This Week's Parties in Ibiza (June 6 - June 12)

Spain

Amnesia Ibiza

Pyramid Opening Party

Pyramid

Ultra Miami Unveils the Resistance Lineup for 2022

When “Ghetto Kraviz” dropped in 2011, no one knew a superstar was about to be born. Nina Kraviz is a Russian producer, DJ and vocalist who’s taken dancefloors across the globe by storm. Born in Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia, Kraviz fell in love with house music while listening to the radio as a young girl. She immediately developed a love for music and singing.

She moved to Moscow to study dentistry while simultaneously racking up gigs as a songstress in Moscow nightclubs. She developed a bit of fame as a nightclub singer, but knew she wanted to produce her own music too. In 2005, Kraviz was accepted to the Red Bull Music Academy in Seattle, Washington. However, issues with her visa kept her from attending. She attended formal music training in Melbourne instead.

In 2007 with the trio MySpaceRocket, Kraviz appeared on her first house track, “Amok.” The minimal house track showcased her signature, breathy vocals. Less than two years later, however, she found herself going solo. She released a handful of singles, most regularly with Rekids, a UK-based independent record label. Rekids would eventually release the long-lasting club track, “Ghetto Kraviz,” as well as her 

“Ghetto Kraviz” showcases the singer and producer’s trademarks: wispy vocals that are totally improvised. After recording her vocals, Kraviz usually chops, loops and edits them to fit her minimal tech house style.

Kraviz founded her own label трип (Trip, in English) in 2014. She took a stab at music writing for video games in 2020 for Cyberpunk 2077, and in 2021 she gave a song to the compilation album 

 The album was a techno compilation with the intent to raise awareness about the social unrest in Colombia. Her latest release, the single “This Time,” features both an original and instrumental version.

Russia

electra

minimal techno

russian electronic

russian techno

Nina Kraviz

latin tech house

tech house

Dennis Cruz

United States

deep disco house

house

Green Velvet

garage house

Honey Dijon

Italy

italian techno

techno

Joseph Capriati

CAAL

Mar-T

italian tech house

Luca Donzelli

dark techno

Marco Faraone

Amnesia Opening Party 2024

Romania

Raresh

Chile

german techno

microhouse

Ricardo Villalobos

Türkiye

O.Bee

spanish techno

Anna Tur

minimal dub

nu gabber

Héctor Oaks

acid house

canadian electronic

detroit techno

Richie Hawtin

United Kingdom

Jonny Rock

Tomas Station

Pyramid with Ricardo Villalobos, Anna Tur, Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz and more!

Argentina

house argentino

Franco Cinelli

Switzerland

Luciano

acid techno

999999999

Adiel

Pyramid Closing Party

Tunisia

Cera Khin

Netherlands

Gashouder

Awakenings ADE Hard Opening Night - Gashouder

deep tech house

Cuartero

uk tech house

Ben Sterling

uk dance

Danny Howard

Fleur Shore

deep house

Jamie Jones

Seb Zito

Belgium

belgian techno

Charlotte de Witte

Deborah de Luca

Enrico Sangiuliano

Amnesia Closing Party 2023

Sweden

raw techno

schranz

swedish electronic

swedish techno

Adam Beyer

melodic house

melodic techno

swiss house

Adriatique

deep minimal techno

Alan Fitzpatrick

afro house

Alex Wann

Germany

electronica

german house

minimal tech house

Âme

Andres Campo

Anfisa Letyago

Bart Skils

Ben Böhmer

Ben Klock

DJ Gigola

 is a legendary name in electronic music, especially for techno lovers. What began as a humble techno night in Amsterdam over two decades ago has exploded into the Netherlands’ leading techno event, now renowned worldwide.

It was founded in the late 1990s by Rocco Veenboer, who felt a void in the Dutch scene for pure techno amid the prevailing house and hardcore sounds. The very first Awakenings party in Amsterdam’s Gashouder venue sold out and proved he was onto something big. Since then, Awakenings has blossomed into a globally recognized festival brand, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually from all corners of the world. For many fans, Awakenings is a pilgrimage and a symbol of the Netherlands’ influential role in techno culture.

From its early days as single-night raves, Awakenings quickly grew into multi-day extravaganzas. Before long, those one-off parties turned into weekenders and then full-blown festivals, as demand from the techno community kept rising.

Today, Awakenings spans multiple events a year, including an iconic spring gathering near Amsterdam and a summer weekender in the woods of Hilvarenbeek. At the current festival grounds in Hilvarenbeek, up to 80,000 attendees from more than 80 countries come together for a three-day techno marathon. The scale is immense - over a hundred artists perform across eight stages, ranging from intimate tents to gigantic open-air arenas. Every year the organizers up the ante with groundbreaking stage designs, jaw-dropping laser shows and even carnival touches (a luminous ferris wheel, for example) to immerse the fans in “techno madness”. The result is an almost surreal rave wonderland: crazy visuals, booming sound, and fireworks that light up the night sky.

Despite growing bigger and bolder, Awakenings has stayed true to its roots. It remains fiercely focused on techno music rather than chasing mainstream trends, a commitment that earns it huge respect in the scene.

One of Awakenings’ biggest draws is its consistently incredible line-ups. The festival is essentially a “who’s who” of techno DJs, featuring legendary pioneers alongside fresh talent. Dance music icons like 

 or Detroit’s Derrick May have all graced the Awakenings stage over the years, cementing its reputation for top-tier bookings. At the same time, newer generations of techno stars, from drum-machine wizards like 

The programming balances the genre’s underground purists and big-name crowd-pleasers in equal measure. Fans love that mix; many attend annually knowing they’ll see their favorite DJs who return year after year, as well as discover cutting-edge acts. This loyalty goes both ways: artists often speak fondly of the “Awakenings vibe” and how energetic and dedicated the crowds are. The festival’s commitment to true techno has nurtured a loyal community that keeps coming back for more.

Awakenings has left its mark on several locations, each adding to its character. Its spiritual home is undoubtedly the Gashouder in Amsterdam, an immense circular industrial gas tank turned party arena often nicknamed the “Temple of Techno”. Many of Awakenings’ legendary nights have happened under the Gashouder’s wrought-iron dome, with its spider-like web of lights beaming across the ceiling. For years, the brand’s flagship outdoor festival took place at the scenic Spaarnwoude recreational area just outside Amsterdam - a green park that was transformed into a techno playground every summer.

As the festival grew larger, it eventually moved to an even bigger outdoor site in Beekse Bergen (Hilvarenbeek) in the south of the Netherlands, providing more room for its expanding stages and audience. Beyond these mainstay venues, Awakenings has also ventured into other Dutch cities; at times it staged events in Rotterdam’s warehouses and Eindhoven’s Klokgebouw, showing it can bring the party anywhere.

The Awakenings experience has even gone international on occasion, with one-off shows popping up in places like New York and London to spread the techno gospel abroad. Still, the heart and soul of Awakenings remains firmly in the Netherlands, where its combination of iconic venues, enthusiastic crowds, and uncompromising techno sound continues to thrive as a cornerstone of electronic music culture.

Awakenings

Hilvarenbeek

Awakenings Summer Festival 2025

Dax J

Helena Hauff

DVS1

Ireland

irish electronic

KETTAMA

Job Jobse

float house

lo-fi house

Palms Trax

experimental house

Sofia Kourtesis

 has carved a significant space in London's electronic music landscape, becoming synonymous with top-tier underground house, techno, and electronic sounds. More than just a series of performances, this festival offers an immersive experience, highly praised for its exceptional sound quality and its distinctive, atmospheric setting. The brand has a strong and well-defined identity within the competitive festival scene, appealing to those who appreciate a curated, less mainstream electronic music experience.

The festival's origins lie in the vision of its founders, driven by a deep passion for electronic music and a desire to fill a perceived gap in London's festival offerings. Their aim was to recreate the energy and spirit of London's renowned club culture in an open-air environment. This core principle of prioritizing the music has been central to the festival's growth, influencing everything from artist selection to the intricacies of its production. Initially, Junction 2 focused heavily on techno, aiming to bring the intense and immersive atmosphere of London's underground nightlife to a larger festival scale. This clear musical direction in its early years was crucial in establishing its identity and attracting a dedicated following.

Musically, Junction 2 is primarily celebrated for its deep exploration of house and techno. These genres form the foundation of the festival's sonic identity, consistently featuring prominently in its lineups. This unwavering commitment has cemented its reputation as a key destination for fans of these specific electronic music styles. While house and techno remain central, the festival has also shown a willingness to explore a broader spectrum of electronic music, occasionally incorporating genres such as drum and bass and more melodic forms of electronic music. This gradual expansion indicates an effort to appeal to a wider range of electronic music tastes while staying true to its foundational principles.

Over the years, Junction 2 has welcomed an impressive roster of internationally acclaimed DJs and live acts, solidifying its position as a major player in the global electronic music scene. The festival has consistently drawn some of the biggest names in the industry, including influential figures like 

. Beyond these established legends, Junction 2 has also been recognized for its dedication to showcasing emerging talents, creating a dynamic platform that celebrates both the pioneers and the future of electronic music. This blend of established and rising stars ensures a vibrant and forward-thinking atmosphere for attendees.

Since its inception, Junction 2 has undergone a significant evolution in its scale and duration. Starting as a smaller, one-day event, it has grown into a multi-day festival, reflecting its increasing popularity and ambition. This expansion has allowed for a more extensive lineup of artists and a more immersive overall experience for festival-goers.

Throughout its history, Junction 2 has consistently been held at Boston Manor Park, a location that has become intrinsically linked with the festival's identity. A particularly distinctive feature of this location is the presence of the M4 motorway flyover, beneath which one of the main stages, often referred to as "The Bridge," is situated. This unique integration of urban infrastructure into the festival setting has become a defining characteristic of the Junction 2 experience.

The atmosphere at Junction 2 is frequently described as open and welcoming, with a strong sense of community among electronic music enthusiasts. Despite attracting a dedicated and often "cool" crowd, the overall vibe is one of shared enthusiasm for the music and a celebratory spirit. Contributing significantly to this immersive experience are the festival's renowned staging and production elements. Beyond the iconic "Bridge" stage, Junction 2 has introduced various creatively designed areas, such as "The Woods" and "The Warehouse," each offering a distinct visual and sonic experience. More recently, stages like "The Grid," "The Quad," and "The Blackout" have further enhanced the festival's unique aesthetic. A consistent emphasis on cutting-edge sound systems ensures that the music is delivered with power and clarity, creating an unforgettable auditory experience.

Junction 2 stands as a significant and continually evolving force within the electronic music festival landscape. Its unwavering commitment to showcasing quality underground music, coupled with its distinctive atmosphere and innovative production, has cemented its place as a must-attend event for electronic music enthusiasts seeking an authentic and immersive festival experience. The festival's journey reflects a dedication to its core values while embracing growth and adaptation, ensuring its continued relevance and appeal within the dynamic world of electronic music.

Nina Kraviz

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