What can be better than world class music in a superb setting?
Nothing. And many of those happen in Eastern Europe, an emerging and affordable market with great beaches.
We look at some of the best to get you reaching for your passport.
Lovefest
August 4-6
Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia
https://lovefest.rs/
This year, at the well-known location in the park of Vrnjacka Banja, DJs will perform on five music stages. They include Marco Carola, Joseph Capriati, Jamie Jones, Kölsch, Rødhåd, Folamour, Danny Tenaglia, and more than 100 other performers. This year is special because the festival will celebrate 15 years of creating the highest quality entertainment, as well as numerous accompanying programs and projects, and thus mark a great jubilee.
Epizode Albania
September 15-19
Albania
https://www.epizode.eu/
This is a new sister festival to the first event in Vietnam. It is all about heady underground names in the fast rising Albania. Five days of first-class music and blissed-out vibes in Shëngjin make it a must-visit for those who like to keep it classy.
Hideout
July 3-7
Zrce, Pag Island, Croatia
https://hideoutfestival.com/tickets/
Go hard or go home is not the official slogan of Hideout but it should be. Its one for those with lots of energy and it takes place on Zcre Beach’s best clubs. Boat parties, after parties and beach parties all make it a classic. Mike Skinner, Sonny Fodera, Andy C, Jamie Jones, Jayda G, Eats Everything, Skream, Sherelle, Shy FX, Bad Boy Chiller Crew and more all play.
UNUM
June 1-6
Rana e Hedhun, Albania
https://unumfestival.com/
This year the event ran Wednesday until early the following Tuesday so technically ran for seven superb days. The crowd is made up of eager locals and a few people from various spots around Europe who had to navigate restrictions to make their way here. They were in loud voices on the Beach Stage which had many big moments including killer sets from Radio Slave and Shimza with others like Seth Troxler, Jamie Roy, Gene On Earth and more all playing.
BSH Island
June 29-July 3
Noa Beach Club, Croatia
https://bsh.events/bsh-island-festival-2022/offer/24
This festival was one of very few if any others at all that happened in summer 2021 when the pandemic was peaking. It has hosted off-events with Amnesia from Ibiza and now is back bigger than ever for 2022. Providing the sounds will be Spanish techno titan and long time pioneer Paco Osuna, Cocoon’s wAFF, UK stars Archie Hamilton and Ben Sterling, Italian Hot Creations associate Blackchild, Dennis Cruz and a host of local support
Dimensions
September 1-5
Tisno, Croatia
https://www.dimensionsfestival.com/
This one moved from a famous fort to the tranquil and tasteful Garden Resort in a beautiful bay. It boasts Barbarella’s Disco, one of the world’s best open air clubs with a killer sound system. This year more acts than ever will play and include Bradley Zero, DJ Storm, Karenn Live, DJ Stingray, Detroit in Effect and Marcellus Pitmann, with many more greats like Dr Banana, Francesco Del Garda, Tama Sumo, The Ghost, Eris Drew & Octo Octa and tens more.