September and October are two months when, at least ideally, you can travel around the world following electronic music. From New Zealand to Greece, via the United States, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Morocco, South Korea, Egypt and the Netherlands, the festival season continues with events bringing together major international names, distinctive locations and different sides of the scene. Here are ten festivals, plus one, to mark in your calendar.
Snow Machine gets things started in Queenstown, New Zealand, from September 8 to 13. Set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps, the festival brings together electronic music and live acts, with Chet Faker, Hilltop Hoods and Restricted among the names announced for this year’s edition.
From September 11 to 13, the focus moves to George, Washington, for ABGT700, the major celebration marking Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy milestone. The line-up includes Above & Beyond themselves, together with Ben Böhmer and Jody Wisternoff, for a weekend dedicated to the more melodic side of electronic music.
Those same dates also see Voodoo Village return to Grimbergen, Belgium. The festival combines electronic music with a setting surrounded by greenery, with &ME, Carlita and Vintage Culture among the leading names on the programme.
On September 19 and 20, Ultra Japan returns to Tokyo, bringing the Ultra format back to one of Asia’s most important electronic music markets. Afrojack, Sara Landry and The Martinez Brothers are among the artists set to perform.
Italy takes centre stage from September 24 to 26 with Vision Open Air at Milan’s ex Macello. Michael Bibi and Solomun lead the line-up, while a third headliner is still to be announced. The event continues the Milanese series that has established ex Macello as one of the city’s key locations for large-scale electronic music events.
On September 26 and 27, the action moves to San Diego for CRSSD, one of the most established festivals on California’s electronic music calendar. Chris Lake, Disclosure and Mochakk are among the artists confirmed for the two-day event.
From September 30 to October 4, MOGA heads to Essaouira, Morocco, bringing electronic music to the Atlantic coast. ANOTR, Jamie Jones and Silvie Loto are among the artists announced for an edition that combines club culture with the distinctive setting of one of Morocco’s best-known coastal cities.
The first weekend of October brings EDC Korea, taking place in Incheon on October 3 and 4. Argy, ALOK and Nico Moreno are among the names confirmed for the Korean edition of the Electric Daisy Carnival format.
On October 9 and 10, Starlight by EXIT brings electronic music to Giza, Egypt. With the pyramids providing the backdrop, Adriatique, Indira Paganotto and Pete Tong headline a line-up that brings together different generations and styles of the international electronic scene.
The biggest date on the calendar comes later in October with Amsterdam Dance Event, running from October 21 to 25. For five days, Amsterdam becomes the centre of the global electronic music industry, with clubs, venues and other locations across the city hosting an exceptionally broad programme. Among the artists announced are Armin van Buuren, David Guetta and Jean-Michel Jarre.
Finally, from October 22 to 25, Bateleur returns to Elounda, Crete. Held at a five-star resort with a limited-capacity format, the festival features Dennis Ferrer, OMRI and Rafael, offering a more intimate alternative to the large-scale events taking place elsewhere during the same period.
Eleven events, eleven different ways of approaching the electronic festival format: from major international gatherings to more intimate settings, from major cities to natural landscapes, with one common thread — a scene that continues to move across borders without losing its variety.
