In the last 15-20 years, the world has seen electronic music as a whole grow exponentially. With the likes of Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers and many more all reaping the benefits of the genre’s boom in the 90s & early 2000s, EDM (as it would be called later on) sky-rocketed and became the juggernaut fans know it as today. With monster mainstream festivals like Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival and Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) all rising to prominence, the plethora of smaller festivals often find themselves being overlooked by their larger, commercial counterparts. Read through the list below & see 10 of the world’s best electronic music festivals you wish you already knew about!
Your Paradise, Fiji
Located in the glorious island nation of Fiji, this nifty little 5-day festival is tucked away on a gorgeous tropical island where boat parties and island raves run rampant. Being so much more than just a music festival, organisers make excellent use of the picturesque location, with activities like bula biking, surfing and snorkelling all on offer for festival-goers. Like many festivals, the 2020 edition was postponed, but the 2019 edition’s headliners included A-Trak, Gorgon City, Terror Reid, The Blaze & What So Not. In previous years, Your Paradise has drawn big names including Skrillex, FISHER, Nora En Pure and Jauz.
Hangout Music Fest, Alabama, USA
Set right on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, Hangout Music Festival looks like something out of a movie. Much like Your Paradise, Hangout also takes advantage of its amazing location, with a plethora of activities on offer, including a roller disco, tropical spa, beach sports, a wedding chapel, a psychedelic bus and even a puppy kissing booth! Don’t forget though, this is a music festival! Past events have seen the likes of Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Illenium, Diplo, Zedd, The Chainsmokers and many more grace the stage. Hangout is set to return between the dates of May 20-22, 2022.
Festiwal Tauron Nowa Muzyka, Poland
Despite being crowned the best festival in Europe three times at the European Festival Awards, Tauron Nowa still flies under the radar. Held in the industrial Polish city of Katowice, the festival venue; Katowice Culture Zone, which is built on the now-closed coal mine, symbolizes the city’s transformation into the music capital of the country. Drawing more than 20,000 patrons each year (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), the clever combination of Nowa set to take place in June-July this year, fans will get to see the likes of DJ Tennis, Andy Scott, Gerd Janson, as well as plenty of local talent.
Festival Yeah!, France
Heading over to Western Europe, Festival Yeah! takes place in Château de Lourmarin – a beautiful, converted castle in the town of Lourmarin, Southern France. Co-created by legendary French DJ; Laurent Garnier, the funky Frenchman himself doesn’t quite classify the events as a “festival” per se. Instead, Garnier considers Festival Yeah! “a family event in a great setting, where you can enjoy delicious food and drink prepared by really friendly chefs, with plenty of variety, and where you can listen to great music.” Furthermore, the festival website states that children under the age of 13 receive half-price admission!
Dirtybird Campout, California, USA
Stepping across the pond, you’ll find the Dirtybird Campout in Waterford, California. Hosted by Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird Records, the “summer camp for adults” has a lot to treat festival-goers, with games & sports, swimming, arts & crafts all on offer. While the 2021 lineup hasn’t yet been announced, last year’s Dirtybird Couchout event featured the likes of Claude VonStroke, Mark Knight, Sonny Fodera, DJ Tennis, Carl Craig and many more. If that’s anything to go by, Dirtybird Campout this year is set to be amazing! Taking place between October 15-17, tickets for this year’s edition will go on sale on June 11 at 10am (Pacific Time).
Snow Machine, New Zealand
Alpine music festival ‘Snow Machine’ is taking to the slopes of Queenstown, New Zealand. Combining amazing music with an amazing location, Snow Machine looks like a thrill-seeker’s dream! Patrons will be able to hit the slopes, go sky-diving and even bungy jumping, before having the chance to see the likes of Bliss N Eso, The Presets and Flight Facilities perform right in front of their very eyes. Additional names include other Australian acts such as Late Nite Tuff Guy, The Avalanches and Sneaky Sound System. Snow Machine is set to take place from 8-11 September this year, with most, if not all packages already sold out.
Lost Paradise, Australia
The aptly titled Lost Paradise festival in Australia is a great way for festival-goers to ring in the new year! Taking place in the gorgeous Glenworth Valley, New South Wales, Lost Paradise will be on & rocking from December 28th 2021 – January 1st 2022. Like many festivals, its 2020 edition was cancelled, giving organisers more time to make the next one all the more better! Offering a wide range of activities including yoga, talks, workshops, healing arts and indigenous experiences, Lost Paradise isn’t the only festival on this list that provides a wholesome, fulfilling experience. The 2021-22 edition’s lineup hasn’t yet been announced, but 2019 featured the likes of Rüfüs Du Sol, Dom Dolla, Green Velvet, Hilltop Hoods, Honey Dijon, The Veronicas and many more.
HiJinx Festival, Pennsylvania, USA
Built to be a bass-head’s biggest fantasy come true, HiJinx Festival is definitely one to keep an eye on. Having debuted just 3 years ago, organisers have already reeled in AAA talent, with artists such as Skrillex, Bassnectar, Excision, Porter Robinson & GRiZ, all headlining previous editions. While 2020 saw the festival cancelled for the year, word on the street is fans just might be able to get up to their usual hijinks again this year, after the festival’s official Facebook page informing fans to start planning for this year’s edition. However, the post surfaced a little over a week ago, so fans might need to show some patience.
Positivus, Latvia
Despite being one of Europe’s premier music festivals and having been awarded the “Best European Festival”, this is one that can sometimes fly under the radar. Starting all the way back in 2007, the annual 3-day takes place in the third week of July each & every year. The campsite, which is situated directly across from the festival venue, reportedly offers complimentary coffee refills for campers throughout the duration of the event. Furthermore, festival-goers are also free to explore the surrounding meadows, forests, beach, and the local town of Salacgrīva.
While the 2021 edition’s lineup is yet to be announced, 2019 reeled in the likes of Disclosure, The 1975, Cut Copy, Elderbrook, Royal Blood and many more.
No Sleep, Serbia
Another award-winning festival on this list, No Sleep was crowned “Best European New Festival” at the European Festival Awards in 2019. Spread across 11 locations across the city of Novi Sad, No Sleep was created as part of the mammoth Summer festival; EXIT Festival. Like ‘Your Paradise’ in Fiji, the festival’s 2020 edition was postponed to this year. Having only started up in 2017, No Sleep organisers have brought in acts such as Fatboy Slim, Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz and Amelie Lens, just to name a few. For more information, see the festival’s official website.
