Boomtown is less of a traditional festival and more of a living theater. Everyone who attends. Everyone who is working. Everyone on stage. Everyone involved is a character performing live and manifesting a story in the moment that can never be told again.




Following the expected woes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boomtown has seen fit to brand the 2022 edition as a complete reset. A new beginning. A fresh start. Chapter one.







One creative way the festival is shifting its consciousness for the upcoming edition is related to the lineup. In the past, Boomtown is known for bringing a hugely diverse roster of artists that’s included house and techno favorites like Amelie Lens, Carl Cox, and Patrick Topping as well as international headliners like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Prophets of Rage, and Gorillaz.




But this year they are approaching the lineup differently by waiting until the very last minute to release it.







The festival is set to take place August 10-14, 2022, once again at the Matterly Estate in Hampshire, and with just over a month until the event there is no lineup announced.




According to the website there were multiple factors in making this decision. Some were logistical in nature like radius clauses and other industry tenets that prevent artists from being announced within a certain time frame.




But other factors were more philosophical. By holding off on the lineup announcement, attendees are encouraged to buy a ticket for the full experience, not just a headlining act.







A central part of that full experience is the city Boomtown creates, and with two years off, the organizers have been able to put even more effort into curating an environment with multiple areas that will capture the wide-ranging personalities that flock to the festival.




There is the Botanica where nature and civilization become one. The Forest Parties will see excellent music provided amongst the trees. Copper County sees the genesis of the union between technology and humankind.







These are just three of the areas within the city of Boomtown, and each area has its own attractions, offerings, adventures, and activities where everyone can play their part in the living theater piece.




Just remember there is no script to follow, wherever you end up in Boomtown is exactly where you’re supposed to be.




Boomtown

Matterley Estate

Sasha +

Cova Santa

A Starry Night

Club Chinois

Shine

Eden

Music On

Pachá Ibiza

Street Parade is a colorful menagerie of DJs and party people. This annual event takes place in Zürich, Switzerland, and draws in thousands of dance music fans from all over the world. Street Parade is unique in that it includes both fixed stages as well as mobile platforms. Every year, colorful house and techno parade floats creep through the crowd of people gathered around Lake Zürich. Bright trucks equipped with giant sound systems and world-class DJs make this “the most beautiful day of the year” for some. Street Parade 2022 will take place on Saturday, August 13th.






2022 will mark the 29th anniversary of the Street Parade. Over 200 DJs will take eight stages and 30 “love mobiles'' partying deep into the night. The parade route is 2.4 km long (about 2.5 miles). It begins in the Zürich neighborhood of Seefeld before heading around the lakefront and arriving at Hafendamm Enge. The parties continue around the city and across the featured Street Parade stages until midnight. Like a massive raver’s block party, the entire Street Parade world is easily accessible on foot from central Zùrich.




Finally, after two years of cancellations, the Street Parade team announced in May of 2022 that the event would return. At the time of publication, no lineup has yet been released from the Street Parade team. However, the self-proclaimed “world's biggest event for electronic music” has featured some massive talent over the years. Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Monolink, and Joseph Capriati are only a few. The giant party also celebrates a yearly theme based on their ethos of love and acceptance. 2019 was “Colours of Unity.” 2018 was “Culture of Tolerance.” At the time of publication, no theme has yet been announced for 2022.






Thanks to The Street Parade Zürich Association, this event acts as a nonprofit organization. They stand behind their ethos of love, peace, freedom, generosity, and tolerance. As a public event, the Street Parade is financed almost exclusively by income from drinks and food stands. Though the event brings in millions for the city and the municipal costs are more than covered by the tax income they generate, no financial support has yet been granted by the City of Zurich. Those interested in supporting The Street Parade can donate here.




Street Parade

Zürich

Loveland Festival is a full-fledged techno and house playground by the water in Amsterdam's west end. The festival began in 1995, and this year's belated birthday has over 75 artists and an invitation for anyone in love with dance music and breezy, forested scenery. 

Loveland makes a grandiose return on August 13 & 14, 2022, at its home in Sloterpark. After you enter the gates, picture the vast festival terrain as trails, two peninsulas connected by bridges, and a lake where the musical experience extends offshore surround you. The Jupiter Cruise lets you dance on the water with a DJ booth in tow. 

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Loveland kicks off the weekend with a pool party and barbecue on Friday, August 12. Atop the Leonardo Hotel, catch sets by La Fleur, Dimitri, Miss Melera, and Sébastien Léger. Bask in the entrancing view of Amsterdam before a nonstop weekend of rhythm you'll keep close to your heart forever. 




The Lineup


On Saturday, Loveland welcomes heavy hitters such as sound connoisseur Enrico Sangiulliano, Booka Shade live, and Sasha, who in 2000 DJ Magazine was voted the #1 DJ in the world. Innercity, the Detroit duo that's lit up the scene since the 90s, perform with live drum pads, synths, and diva vocals to bring their classic house mixes to life. 

La Fleur fluxes and flows between techno and house with a flair for old-school acid. BBC Radio presenter and DJ Dave Clarke throws down his dark shades of techno. Berlin-based DJ and Innervisions record label founder Dixon will air out his minimalistic techno soundscapes. Hernan Cattaneo's Soundcloud is full of long mixes that resonate the feeling of basking in the sun and then watching it set, letting the orange light simmer. 

The super sleek Jennifer Cardini focuses her sets around punchy drums, and other signature sounds reminiscent of 80s electronic music. Lee Burridge's set will feel refreshing yet mysterious as he takes you on a sonic journey. Magdalena is a class act when it comes to deep melodic sets. 

Belgian bass arbiter Milo Spykers infuses his sound with a smoky, industrial edge. Paco Osuna is the type of DJ to have a lollipop in one hand and a joint in the other and can simultaneously manipulate a mixer and MIDI controller with ease. 

Eric Prydz blesses Sunday's lineup with his sleek, shadowy techno alias Cirez D emerging in the darkness. Tale Of Us and Nick Warren make their returns to Loveland. Drumcode Records founder Adam Beyer continues to supply audiences with cutting-edge techno releases. 

Zurich duo Adriatique float psychedelic beats on cool blue melodies. Anfisa Letyago serves ice-cold chill house with a warm smile. Richie Hawtin does the most with minimalistic tracks that explore the depths of tech house. Berlin techno queen Ellen Allien knows how to win over earthlings through futuristic transmissions over loudspeakers. 

Dutch locals include Amsterdam's very own DJ Odette, Luna Ludmila, and Speedy J, who has been Rotterdam's dealer of techno since the 90s. 




Location


Amsterdam has coveted the best and brightest aspects of dance music since the 80s. Once upon a time, Dutch producers were pushing gabber and hardstyle. Today the electronic music scene revolves around a blend of techno and house for its club and festival crowds. Out of the hundreds of dance music events held across the Netherlands, Amsterdam is home to dozens of the biggest annually.  

Sloterplas has been the home of Loveland year after year. Trees provide a shady, cottagecore backdrop, and with LEDs shining at dusk, the environment remains vibrant all day. Pull up a hammock and relax away from the mainstage crowd whenever you need. The lakeside park venue has swing sets, pedal boats, and other activities your inner child can't resist. 

Multi-tier hotel packages let you secure a comfortable stay in the area, a mere ten-minute drive away from the festival grounds. The silver and gold packages, offering exclusive rooftop after parties and backstage passes, are sold out. However, the anniversary package with all the comforts you need is available for €295 ($328 USD) for two nights or €375 ($417 USD) for three nights. The final batch of weekend passes are €89.50 ($100 USD), and single day tickets are also available. 




What to expect


The gates open at noon and DJs spin until 11 pm, with exclusive afterparties both nights. The skybar gives a 360 degree view of the city. Once you're at Sloterpark, you're immersed in greenery away from the city's typical bustling club scene. For those wishing to experience more of the nightlife the city has to offer, an I Amsterdam City Card is a must-have for sightseeing and getting around. 

Pack your best all-black outfits and find out for yourself why this festival has remained in the hearts of house and techno fans for over two and a half decades. If you want a taste of the long-lasting vibe of Loveland, they upload many of the sets from previous years to Soundcloud. Complete lineup and ticket info can be found at https://loveland.nl/festival/. 

words by Aurora Zboch

Loveland

elrow Growenlandia

Amnesia

A beautiful mix of forests and fields in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, is set to be the new home for the illustrious Elements Music & Arts Festival. After years of hosting the event at Lakewood in Pennsylvania, this change in scenery brings new hope for bigger and better production. Slated to take place from August 19-22, 2022, this live music event is the perfect summer festival camping experience for passionate thrill-seekers.

What started as a one-day adventure in 2013 on the Brooklyn waterfront, from the wonderfully inventive minds of co-founders Timothy Monkiewicz and Brett Herman, has grown to be an immersive, majestic, and self-sustaining three-day music and arts festival. Through the year,s Elements has remained purely independent and has established itself as a staple name of the festival circuit. In 2018, DJ Mag nominated Elements as one of the best boutique festivals in North America. This accolade serves as a testament to how much this event has grown. It is currently the Northeast’s only car camping and dance music festival, and its new location is conveniently close to all major cities on the East Coast.

This year Monkiewicz and Herman are capitalizing on their spacious new home by building larger stages equipped with more mesmerizing sound systems, production, and theatrics than ever before. 


The four eponymous Elements stages are returning, each designed to represent Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. In addition, larger-than-life interactive art installations and 3D video projection mapping will accompany each stage, coupled with the music, to create authentic and unforgettable experiences.


Driven by exploration and excitement, The Fire stage keeps the party blazing. Those who seek intense beats with dirty bass drops and funky rhythms can find them at this sizzling, red-hot stage.




For guests who want to embrace the symbiotic relationship between festival and nature, Earth is where you’ll want to be. This natural landscape of a stage will take over your entire body with bass music, psychedelic tunes, world music, and jam bands.

Air, the dreamiest element of the festival, will allow you to enter a state of interstellar consciousness with techno, house, afrobeat, and ambient music. This setup allows fans to groove to the music while participating in a yoga or meditation class or tickle your creative spirit by immersing themselves in the interactive art.

And finally, the Water stage will feature the sounds of disco, house, funk, and reggae. This colorful stage will have you embracing your playfulness as you fluidly sway along with costumed performers with the musical backdrop of the forest and lake.


Elements stands out among small festivals for their ability to blend different music subcultures, as reflected in their bookings. Their lineups are known for being all-you-can-eat buffets for four-on-the-floor fans. But also deliver dubstep, ambient, experimental, jam, and much more. 


Event organizers involved their fans in this year's decision-making process in creating a more synergetic experience. They emailed surveys asking for input about which DJs festival-goers wanted to see on the lineup, genuinely making it a fan-led experience. Early this year, Elements released a statement thanking fans for their input, sharing that some of their top picks were already booked, and more were added to the list after receiving their suggestions.

At the top of the bill, playing at the Fire Stage sits Kaskade, who will be performing a special Redux set. The deeper sets are a nod to an earlier era of his career when he was a resident at San Francisco's early 00's deep house night, Remedy. He's joined by tech-house superstar Fisher, heavy-hitting Canadian duo Zeds Dead, a hybrid set by the experimental Sofie Tukker, dreamy, beguiling sounds by the dazzling masked Claptone, and the technical prowess of J. Worra.

The Earth stage will feature a hypnotic set from Rezz, heavy bass from TroyBoi, and wobbling bass and dazzling rhythm from The Floozies. Fans can dance along at the Air stage to a mesmerizing set from Seth Troxler, music by MOOD Records owner Nicole Moudaber, and a light ambient set from Lauren Flax. Dominating the Water stage is Dirtybird imprint owner Claude Vonstroke, along with breakout Miami duo Black V Neck, the soulful brother-sister pair Shermanology, and master of bootleg remixes, The Golden Pony. This is only a taste of the entire lineup, boasting over 100 artists.

Memories are certain to be made in many ways at this festival, from the interactive art installations and gorgeous murals to tiny enclaves of relaxation, curated activities, and dedicated spaces for wellness. Elements’ will bring out the best of dance music culture, in all its weirdness and wonder, out to rural Pennsylvania. This three-day, life changing event will electrify all six senses, and might even leave fans with a new outlook on life. 


In the words of Elements’, “Whatever you wish to call this phenomenon, Elements Festival is so much more than just a party.”

Words by Melisa Yuriar.

Elements Music Festival

Elements Music & Arts Festival

French-born house music producer Shiba San returns to New York for an intimate gathering on the roof of Superior Ingredients. Ever since he released his iconic rubbery bassline-fueled 2014 hit "Okay," he's continued to slay the house music game with wonky tech house bangers like "Let's Go Dancing" and "All I Need" that dominate the Beatport charts and leave dancefloors in awe around the globe.



He'll be fresh off his appearance at Green Velvet's La La Land show in Los Angeles, and stopping in to get the weekend started as the sun sets over New York. The Parisian-born, Miami-based producer's sets are always a marvel. With almost three decades of experience behind the decks, he's a singular force who unleashes track after track of dancefloor gold. 



His Basement Leak imprint is one of the foremost tech house labels and a fertile proving ground for homegrown talent. Releases from Gettoblaster, Tim Baresko, Luke Andy, and Will Clark are heavily supported by the industry's biggest names. Shiba will be bringing some of his label mates to set the party off, so don't sleep on your chance to catch the labels' one and only showcase in New York this year. 







Basement Leak New York With Shiba San and Guests

Superior Ingredients (Roof)

elrow Horroween

Sonus is more than a rave. It's a dream summer vacation coupled with open-air dance parties. From August 21st – August 25th, 2022, thousands will converge on the shores of Pag Island, Croatia, to enjoy the music of fan favorites and underground prodigies. 

Zrcé Beach has been the home of Sonus since 2013 when Robin Ebinger launched the seminal festival. Ebinger, founder of the popular production company, Cosmopop (owner of Time Warp, Love Family Park, Festival Son, and more), deemed Croatia an exciting market for festivals because of its beautiful landscape and proximity to the Adriatic Sea. The location is a paradisal escape from everyday life, where fans can take pleasure in parties underneath the warm sky on the beach, on the water, or in some of the best open-air clubs in the world. Zrcé beach has everything that the perfect summer dance party needs!


The Clubs of Sonus

Aquarius has been a prime hotspot since the early days of techno. The beachfront venue has a quality sound system and two floors of space to maximize the comfort of party-goers. Aquarius also caters to VIP ticket holders with plush waterside cabanas. 


Papaya is a regular on DJ Mag's best nightclub list. Dance beneath the backdrop of the Velebit mountains and the towering palm trees. Papaya's massive beachfront dancefloor and stunning panoramic views of the Adriatique make it the best way to rave your face off.




Sonus will also take over Kalypso. The club that started as a humble beach bar celebrates its 35th birthday in 2022. This venue has a circular pool right in front of the stage, giving fans a front-row view as they splash around in the water.







Party on the Water

While Zrcé beach might be the event's focal point, the music doesn't stop there. Sonus' boat parties are an essential part of the Sonus experience. Every new day comes with multiple boat parties, each hosted by a different crew curating a lineup of solid-gold talent. Previous parties were hosted by the likes of Resident Advisor, XLR8R, Chicago-based OG TRAX Records. Typically, the parties happen in the evening, so fans can coast along the clear blue waters of the Adriatic Sea while they catch the majestic site of a Croatian sunset.

Ravers will embark on their boat journey through sea and sound with a hundred or so other party-goers, making it a more intimate experience than that of the outdoor clubs. 

In the past, boat parties have lasted up to four hours, so if you are prone to getting seasick, maybe stick to dry land or at least make sure to pack motion sickness medicine. Keep in mind that spaces are limited and cost an additional fee, so make sure to sign up ahead of time to guarantee a spot for you and your friends.




By Ravers for Ravers


The producers of Sonus regard it as a festival that is put together by ravers, not by businessmen. As a result, Cosmopop keeps the community in mind when they put together their bill of master selectors and smaller, sometimes local, acts. In the past, fans have said they've been able to catch sets by relatively unknown DJs that later went on to blow up in the dance music scene.




The Incredible Lineup

The 2022 lineup boasts an impressive list of names in the house and techno space. Richie Hawtin is at the top of the docket, with his influential techno sounds that have transformed the genre over the last three decades. You'll be able to catch a set by the globally recognized superstar Black Coffee, known for his inventive and soulful style. Fighting in the same weight class, the king of Ibiza himself, Carl Cox, will be gracing the stage with his indelible techno.

In addition to the heavyweight talent, there will also be equally stirring artists taking the Sonus stage for the first time in their careers. Making their Sonus debut in 2022 are Anfisa Letyago, ANNA, Ann Clue, Deborah de Luca, Desiree, Fisher, Fjaak DJ, Giorgia Anguili, Imogen, Joyhauser, KiNK, Michael Bibi, Paula Temple, and Trikk. This eclectic, hand-picked lineup isn't done handing out surprises. More artists will be announced as the event draws closer.

Sonus

Pag Island

elrow Bowsque Encantado

With every year that passes, lineups are looking more and more identical, especially in the world of dance music. Because this genre is far less dependent on music releases, the same 20 or 30 names are floating around the same events every year. Guaranteeing nearly the same experience every year.




One festival that is breaking this mold, however, is Dimensions. As its name suggests, this event takes listeners into a new dimension of sonic exploration, rejecting cookie-cutter headliners that ensure profitable margins and replacing them with music that is nuanced, suspenseful, and intricate.






The festivals last from September 1-5, 2022, and in total there are more than 125 artists performing throughout the five days. Dimensions will take over The Garden Resort in Tisno, Croatia, a seasoned hot spot for dance music that’s hosted Defected Croatia among other renowned events.








The resort includes three primary stages rocking throughout the day along with three separate boat parties that run consecutively on Friday through Monday. That’s 12 total boat parties. Then after the music concludes at the main stages, Barbarella’s nightclub will host after hours until sunrise.




Some of the more prevalent names performing include the dubstep icon, Mala, a special back to back set between Helena Hauff and DJ Stingray 313, the enigmatic Gene On Earth, and a live set from the electro stalwart DMX Krew.









All of this epic music is going down off the gorgeous waters of the Adriatic Sea for a truly heady European festival experience. Croatia is known around the world as one of the dance music’s top destinations and Dimensions will do more than uphold that reputation.









Dimensions will expand the reputation into a hotspot for musical exploration and discovery as opposed to another vacation hotspot. A mecca where experienced dance music fans come to be surprised, intrigued and enthralled.




Dimensions

The Garden Resort





All house and techno lovers are congregating at the same place this Labor Day Weekend. Thanks to its successful debut last year, on September 2-4, Chicago’s Union Park is hosting the greatest international house acts for ARC Music Festival. Incredible world-renowned artists, including Fat Boy Slim for a rare stateside festival appearance, the smooth deep house sounds of Nora En Pure, the king of techno Carl Cox, and acid techno maven of Charlotte de Witte.



We’re also excited to see the Spanish experiential party brand elrow returning for another full stage takeover. Last year the elrow tent was decked from top to bottom in neon, and the vibes (and confetti blasts) were thick all weekend long.



The lineup includes a diverse mix of homegrown talent, industry legends, and today’s brightest stars in underground dance music. From Get Real to Carl Craig, Ann Clue to Honey Dijon, Maine to Wax Motif, the lineup represents a cross-section of the many intersecting elements of modern and classic house and techno culture.



ARC’s curation is second to none. Seldom do we see lineups like this stateside. And they’ve made the deal sweeter by adding a bevy of tantalizing B2B sets that you may not see anywhere else. Back-to-back sets are an art form, and these selectors are primed and ready to give the dancefloor an education in proper dance music. The B2B lineup includes Derrick Carter b2b Mark Farina, Skream b2b Eats Everything, Öona Dahl b2b DJ Three, Gene Farris b2b Mike Dunn, and Hiroko Yamamura b2b DJ Hyperactive.



The music isn’t the only thing you’ll want to come for. Curated production and art elements will be scattered throughout the festival, so even when you’re stage-hopping, you’ll be immersed in the ARC experience. And if you’re like us and food is one of the main reasons you like to go to festivals, ARC will be serving strictly local cuisine for your elevated palate.



Since you love house and techno as much as we do, you’re probably already familiar with the headliners, but there are many more acts to dig into. We chose a few you should check before heading to ARC.







Chicago local Hiroko Yamamura stays true to their roots by spinning classic Chicago, influenced by The Warehouse, technology, and straight-up techno. Yamamura was dubbed one of XLR8R’s Top 10 Chicago DJs, and that didn’t slow down during lockdown. Yamamura played virtual sets in those two years, including one for Beatport Live’s Movement Festival At Home.







Sama’ Abdulhadi is representing Palestine at ARC Festival this year. Co-signed by Boiler Room, New York Times, Red Bull, and even landed a cover on DJ Mag, AbdulHadi is hardly underrated. However, she represents the thriving techno scene in Palestine—and is even nicknamed Palestine’s queen of techno—so if you haven’t had a chance to catch a set, this is your time.







Chicago’s house music queen is DJ Lady D, and since you’re in Chicago, you have no choice but to pull up to her set. She’s played at events including Lollapalooza, SXSW, and Wanderlust, but a set at ARC is the perfect match. You can expect the best house, techno, and disco from one of Chicago’s trailblazing selectors.




Dutch DJ Chelina Manuhutu comes from a musical family. Her father, Johnny Manuhutu, was part of Latin funk band Massada. There’s a bit of that Latin funk in her lively tech house sound. The powerhouse artist has appeared on stages worldwide, including Creamfields, elrow, and all over Ibiza. When Chelina takes the stage, expect the energy to flip into high gear with big basslines and spicy rhythms.



The three-day, four-stage festival has so much to choose from, you’re bound to run into some set time conflicts. But with out-of-this-world production, first-class music acts, and exquisite culinary choices, no matter what you pick, you’re going to have the best Labor Day Weekend that Chicago has to offer.



ARC Music Festival

Union Park

DGTL Barcelona is aiming to be the very first circular, climate-neutral event in the rave space. Led by the Dutch production company DGTL, this two-day festival is hosted in coastal Spain on the first weekend of September. DGTL Barcelona aims to unite their attendees through high-class house music, art and sustainability.






On September 2nd and 3rd, the Parc Del Forum–a public park located between Sant Martí and Sant Adrià de Besòs–will be overtaken by the DGTL team. Their stages are minimal and industrial, allowing their all-star lineup of artists to shine. You might not find the ornate, whimsical stage stylings of other famous festival brands, but you will find an absolutely killer bill of the best artists in modern house and techno. With a stacked lineup squeezed into a short two days, the DGTL team says they strive for a balance between top-tier headliners, exciting up-and-comers, and impressive local talent.




Lofi house pioneers DJ Boring and Mall Grab will showcase their dusty sound, layered over drowsy, throwback four by four beats. Ukrainian progressive duo ARTBAT will bring their energetic melodic house, which earned a nod from superstar David Guetta in 2020. And the Grammy-nominated happy house of Jayda G and eclectic funk of Palms Trax will surely keep festival-goers dancing all night long.






DGTL events started out in Amsterdam, but has spread their events to Barcelona, New Delhi, Mumbai, Santiago, São Paulo, and Tel Aviv. In addition to bringing top-tier music and art to their events, they also have an impressive sustainability platform. They strive to make their events as sustainably minded as possible, eventually hoping to become the first circular, climate-neutral event. The DGTL team is working hard to reduce the carbon emissions of their events. They’ve done everything from reusable “hardcups” and solar solar energy to meatless food vendors and an algae shot bar, powered entirely by festival-goers' breath. Their impressive “Circular Foodcourts” have eliminated nearly all of their food waste with the use of composting, proving that even large-scale food consumption can become completely circular.




With such an eco-friendly ethos and a powerhouse lineup, DGTL Barcelona has definitely caught our eye for the 2022 season.




Events