BeOn1x Open Mind Music Festival brought something all new to Larnaca, on the southern coast of Cyprus across two special weekends.
It is a gorgeous location with lots of rolling hills and pine trees as well as great sea views. Lots of local bars were buzzing and as well as the music there was plenty to explore.
Boris Brejcha, Jamie Jones, Luciano, Paul Kalkbrenner live, Goncalo, Matador, Maceo Plex, Carl Cox and many more all brought their A-game and here are the pictures that capture the magic.
Amnesia is the home of music lovers all over the world and perhaps Ibiza’s most iconic club with a global reputation to match. First opened in 1974, Amnesia has become a leading light in one of the club scene’s key locations and is home to some of the best-known electronic music artists from around the world. After lying dormant for two years, the venue opened to a packed-out night in late May, which ran for an impressive 18 hours. Amnesia favourites such as Mar-T and Jamie Jones were in attendance, as were the club’s famed dancers, decked out in shiny metallic gear. The night was made even more special as it was also the inauguration of the brand new KV2 sound system in the Main Room – a much-anticipated event since KV2 was installed in the Terrace in 2019, taking the Amnesia sound experience to another level.
According to Amnesia’s artistic director and long-term resident, Martin Vega, aka Mar-T, there was never any doubt that the main room would eventually upgrade to KV2. “Like the Terrace, the system in the Main Room had been custom-built for us and served us well for over a decade. However, when we moved the Terrace to a KV2 system in 2019, we were blown away by the difference. Technology has changed and it was time for us to change too. We’d have renewed the system in the Main Room earlier, but the pandemic got in the way. However, it gave us the time to do things properly and now we’re back with a vengeance and loving it!”
The brief was simple – to deliver the same audio experience in the Main Room as for the Terrace – in short, the best club sound on the island. The system was designed by Stefano Trevisan from PLUSMUSIC INTERNATIONAL, a multinational sales and consultancy firm that specializes in event venue development though AV technologies. With headquarters in Switzerland and operations in Ibiza and the United States, PLUSMUSIC has a portfolio of world-renowned nightclubs, event venues and production partners to its name that made them a natural partner for the project.
The system is based around nine of KV2’s ultra-slim, wide dispersion, 3-way active SL412s coupled with four VHD8.10 low mid modules and no fewer than nineteen VHD2.18J subs from the company’s flagship VHD range for the main dancefloor area. A variety of EX15s, ESD10s and ESD12s act as fills for the balcony and VIP areas. “Our aim was to deliver the best possible sound throughout the venue, and especially on the dancefloor, projecting a strong bass presence where it is needed most,” explains Trevisan. “For the rest, the watchwords were unrestrained clarity, flexibility, and power. I think we have achieved that.”
KV2’s unique SLA technology delivers unprecedented levels of dynamic range, ultra-low distortion, extreme clarity and, crucially, unparalleled definition over distance thanks to the use of hybrid electronics matched to each of the fastest and lowest distortion transducers available today, and digital electronics with the highest sampling rate ever used in a professional loudspeaker system.
Amnesia’s regular and resident DJs have noticed the difference. Marco Farone has played the club more than most this summer, and he says, “One of the most important updates Amnesia did this year is the sound system. Both rooms are now sounding incredible – warm and dynamic. I was really surprised by the sound in the Main Room; it’s now one the best sound systems I’ve played on so far.”
CAAL is also a regular at the club, and he adds, “This is the perfect sound system for our Main Room. I love to be able to listen to music in its purest state, from low to high frequencies, without any processes altering the sound. That is exactly what KV2 delivers.”
ABOUT KV2 AUDIO Founded in 2002, KV2 Audio is a vibrant company with a passion for building high quality pro audio products that deliver performance beyond expectation. Built on the vision of modern audio pioneer George Krampera who has been building audio equipment for nearly fifty years, millions of people have experienced sound produced from equipment he has designed. Through his long and successful career, George’s vision has remained unchanged; to eliminate distortion and loss of information in the signal path, thus providing sound reproduction that has true dynamic range and real representation of the original source.
ABOUT PLUSMUSIC INTERNATIONAL PLUSMUSIC is a Swiss-based, globally focused specialist in maximizing the potential of event venues, nightclubs or any place art should thrive. Through careful attention to the needs of the customer, PLUSMUSIC relies on decades of engineering background to consider and offer solutions to its network of partners that propel them forwards and help realize their vision. PLUSMUSIC is Engineered Entertainment.
DCentralize Festival will put the power back in the hands of the music community by transitioning into a DAO, enabling token-holders to participate in decision-making of the festival.
By joining the DCentralize community, tokenholders will become part of a grand collaboration driven by shared values and transparent communications, which levels the playing field making access available to all.
Driven by blockchain technology, DCentralize is a hybrid music festival and conference that will be held at Prestwold Hall Estate in August 2023. The live event will be streamed simultaneously in a custom-built metaverse hosted by Passage.
DCentralize Festival is on a mission to empower artists and enact social change through decentralization as the first festival brand to be tokenized and fully-owned by its community.
Bridging the music and tech sectors, DCentralize aims to drive the evolution of the music industry using the latest Web3 technologies.
DCentralize and its partners will host a series of regular workshops – before and during the festival – to bootstrap artists and attendees with the knowledge of how to transition into Web3 with confidence. This is a clear demonstration of the team’s strong community focus and commitment to inform and empower people both within and outside the blockchain space.
DCentralize will ultimately transition into a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization), which will enable its tokenholders to participate in the management and decision-making of the festival in a fair and transparent way. Tokenholders will get voting rights on key decisions such as lineups, stage design, core management, festival expansion and more.
By joining the DCentralize community, tokenholders will become part of a grand collaboration driven by shared values and transparent communications, which levels the playing field making access available to all.
As part of a global promotional tour to drive awareness to the project, the DCentralize team will be hosting a series of events for some of the world’s leading Web3 summits and conferences. Supporting Web3 artists and musicians by giving them a platform to showcase their skills in a live environment is a key aspect of the DCentralize team’s mission.
Founder Ian Kerr has many years of management, event organization and logistics behind him and now heads into a bold new chapter with DCentralize. Ian says:
“DCentralize is already flying the flag for our beliefs. We work as a core community of professionals from the worlds of Web3, cryptocurrency, event management, travel, music, art and more. Working in a decentralized model means that the community can overcome the constraints of tradition, being supported by a network of specialist advisors.”
Technical and Creative Director Joe Crossley is the founder of Astral Projekt, an award-winning creative studio working in Web3 and immersive media. Joe is at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies. He specializes in augmented reality and projection mapping.
Music Coordinator Sarah Main is an acclaimed Ibiza DJ, producer, NFT artist and event organizer whose entire life has been spent submerged in art, music, and mixed reality.
Andy Raisen, Head of Community Engagement says “DCentralize is utilizing the forces of Web3 to change how we all live our lives, helping to build a better world that’s open to all, and where you can have a real influence on the cultural movements that matter most to you.”
Life and Death and Innervisions‘s collaborative party Rakastella is back with another diverse and eclectic musical offering in the historic and picturesque Virginia Key Beach Park, Miami on Saturday December 3rd, 2022. This passion-filled gathering features three tastefully eclectic stages covering a wide spectrum of international electronic sound headlined by AceMoMA, Dixon, TSHA, DJ Boring, DJ Tennis b2b Seth Troxler, Sofia Kourtesis, Moodymann, Jennifer Cardini, Or:la, Trikk, Ashley Venom, Will Renuart, Coffintexts, Powder, Quest, Yu Su and a very special guest. Get your tickets now at https://rakastella.com/.
Four previous editions of Rakastella have established it on the world stage as a leader in eco-friendly musical experiences. It is a mindfully curated, 15+ hour party that unites a thoughtful lineup of artists with diverse backgrounds. This year, once again, that diversity as well as the need to make the whole festival a safe space that is welcoming to one and all is in sharp focus. This year, Rakastella will abandon VIP tickets so that all dancers are equal as one on the dance floor thus bringing back the original community-minded spirit of early dance music culture.
Stage hosts this year include the free-thinking and inclusive clubbing collective HE.SHE.THEY. It is a record label, fashion brand and event series for people of all races, genders and sexualities with a cutting-edge house and techno soundtrack. Also hosting will be Where Are My Keys?, a Miami born, boutique underground brand that hosts unique international events with world class sounds.
One of the reasons Rakastella is so special is the location itself – Virginia Key Beach boasts scenic beaches and sweeping views of the bay which make for a unique backdrop. Next to the area’s raw natural beauty, environmental art will also be nestled amongst the tropical shaded groves that border the sea.
You can look forward to extended set times this year so that artists have the chance to really settle in and go deep into their sound. Headliners include AceMo and MoMA aka AceMoMA, whose futuristic blend of techno, footwork, and jungle has made them modern day heroes. There will also be deeply emotive house from Dixon, visceral techno from TSHA, a mix of everything from Chicago house to Detroit techno through to trance and funk from DJ Boring, a special coming together of two greats with DJ Tennis b2b Seth Troxler, leftfield house from Peruvian producer, vocalist and DJ Sofia Kourtesis, a masterclass from unique Detroit legend Moodymann, electro from Jennifer Cardini, high energy selections from Or:la, Innervisions artist and incubator of underground movements Trikk, Haitian American DJ and activist Ashley Venom, Electric Pickle’s Will Renuart, 140 bpm expert Coffintexts and Japan’s deep house innovator Powder,plus revered selector Quest andTechnicolour’s adventurous sound artist Yu Su.
Rakastella has worked hard this year to bring you an improved experience. Just a few of the ways they have done this include an increased number of washrooms which will be continuously staffed for cleanliness, water refill stations to keep you hydrated as well as bars that, after 3 am by law, will have a curated virgin cocktail list, pressed juices, and fresh options that will allow you to go late but feel good. Add in an ever-richer array of local food and you have all the fuel you need to last until that transcending sunrise moment.
Rakastella is an all-new kind of musical experience that nourishes the mind, body and soul. Make sure you are a part of the community by getting your ticket now at https://rakastella.com/.
MOGA Essaouira expands from a three- to five-day festival for the first time in 2022 as its celebrated MOGA OFFprogramme runs from September 28th and 29th throughout the gorgeous and historic city of Essaouira. For full programme details and to discover more head to www.mogafestival.com.
Establishing itself as a boutique festival where cultural experience takes precedence while celebrating the history of Essaouira, MOGA has developed its OFF programme in collaboration with key cultural institutions of the city.
Essaouira is a city that can be discovered from all angles. Its Medina – aka the Old Town – is protected by 18th-century ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which has been used as a set for various film and TV productions including Game of Thrones, Othello, Kingdom of Heaven, and John Wick, and since 2009 has been certified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Essaouira’s stunning Atlantic beaches are ideal for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing because of the powerful trade winds that have made it so famous over the years. The city has a bohemian spirit inherited from the past when it was a bastion for hippies in the late 60s and 70s – a city bathed in spirituality and inhabited by colorful characters. Today, Essaouira draws on that chic hippie spirit as an essential destination for digital nomads and lovers of surfing and yoga from around the world.
It is on this basis that the MOGA OFF programme is built, featuring “free ride sessions” on the beach, rental of free surfboards and kite boards for festival-goers, an opening concert at the Game Of Thrones filming location, DJ sets in the best Souiri clubs in town, an a photography exhibition in the alleys of the Medina, traditional Moroccan cooking classes, music production and writing workshops, talks at the House of Memory, and so much more.
Says Matthieu Corosine, co-founder of MOGA, “We are very proud of this brand new OFF programme which highlights the different aspects of the city. It was important for us that this festival be inclusive by introducing Essaouira to the world, but also by offering residents free events so that they can share the MOGA experience. Sharing and exchange are the keywords of this edition.”
MOGA also partners with many Souiri establishments such as restaurants, activities that offer discounts to MOGA pass holders, hammam, quad, camel rides, catering and more. Find a full list of these ‘hotspots’ at www.mogafestival.com.
MOGA IN PROGRAMME
Three days of celebration for MOGA pass holders at the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador with two pools, 60 artists, a creators market, yoga classes, gong ceremony, and more.
FRI 30 SEP
Acil – Adam Dirk’heim – Ahm Red – Ayyu – Del Amico – DJ Vibe – Funktonio – Hisham – Kawtar Sadik (live) – Kich – Nawfal – Parallells (hybrid) – Polo & Pan (dj set) – Req Teq – S/_ash – Saib. – Sassy J – Sébastien Léger – Vlada – Yahya (live)
SAT 1 OCT
Acid Arab (dj set) – Bel ge – Bloko – Diass – DJ Python – Habibi Funk – Hassan – Jan Blomqvist – John Talabot – Khalid Sansi – Ladygoule – Lala Tamar – Lee Burridge – Meibi – Moon.wav – Moullinex – Mr. ID – Nomads – Retro Cassetta – Simo Jettou – Timinu
Essaouira, first called Amogdul (“The well-kept” in Berber) then Mogador following the passage of the Portuguese and Spanish conquerors. The medina of Essaouira, the old traditional city, with its ramparts and its souks, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was also the setting for Game of Thrones and many films (Othello, Kingdom of Heaven). It is now a popular spot for surfers and kite surfers from all over the world who appreciate its relaxed lifestyle and its inherited hippie lifestyle. Indeed, the libertarian movement of the 1960s experienced a great boom in Morocco. These young travelers in search of enjoyment, coming from all over the world, have found in Essaouira a favorable place to live their libertarian dream. Among them Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens found refuge there.
ABOUT MOGA
MOGA is a boutique festival dedicated to electronic music and inspired by bohemian culture, the Atlantic and its laid-back, surf-oriented lifestyle. The singularity of the festival lies in its unique experience connecting festival-goers from all over the world of different cultures and origins around dance, music, art and well-being but also values of sharing, openness, exchange and interculturality. MOGA has created a tribe over the years — a strong community of nomads, the #mogatribe now stretches from Portugal (MOGA Caparica edition in June) to Morocco (MOGA Essaouira edition in October) and soon beyond. MOGA is the discovery of a place, a culture, a city at the heart of the concept of the festival, in association with the local tourist offices in both Morocco and Portugal.
My incentive to create music is the idea of freedom that underlies a rave. I’ve been to many of the greatest festivals in the world, not only as an artist but also as a spectator.
The world always looks different to me afterwards, even as many days later the more prosaic reality catches up to me. The rave experience represents an alternative model of society and lifestyle; one characterized by tolerance and willingness to share selflessly. Experiencing this world together, music and dance doesn’t compare to anything. If outsiders think you’re “crazy” because you’re a disciple, this can only be considered an honor. For this vision I composed and produced Rave22.
Before the track was finished, I played it at different raves for almost a year and the track got better and better. When people started asking to hug me after my sets, this is when I knew the track was finally finished and ready to be released.
EventsFrame has reinvented itself and now unveils their blockchain-based NFT ticketing solution
As it embraces this new world and taps into the untold potential of the latest technology, EventsFrame’s offering is set to become the mainstream standard for NFT ticketing.
The event industry is on the brink of big change as new blockchain technology is set to cause a paradigm shift and create new sources of revenue for organisers. With this move, EventsFrame is right at the forefront of the revolution.
The exciting start up was well established as a ticketing platform having worked with clients such as TikTok, UN, TEDx events and AppEvents but during the pandemic the platform decided to reinvent its traditional ticketing model. It is now focussed on opening up new opportunities to significantly improve event goers’ experience and improve monetisation options for event organisers and sponsors.
NFTs and blockchain technology has so far been out of reach of the mainstream masses but EventsFrame changes all that by making it accessible to and useable by all: NFT tickets can serve as collectibles as well as secure tickets, and EventsFrame will also focus on digital merchandise which brings an almost infinite number of options for event monetisation.
Pavel Helstyn, head of business development at EventsFrame, believes there are massive opportunities in this sector. He explains, “Imagine your typical Championship game or your favourite show where visitors will buy physical goods such as scarfs, mugs, magnets. I just visited Back to the Future last week where I bought some of those goodies. In the future, visitors will buy this in the digital format as NFTs to showcase on social media and in their virtual as well physical world. Personal virtual “trophy rooms” will represent where you’ve been and most importantly your treasured memories. We launched our first version of NFT ticketing last week and we’re working hard to bring value and utility to this area which is typically still very hard to understand to the uncommitted. Our biggest mission is to popularise this concept with the industry.”
The benefits of NFT tickets include the ability for event organisers to control the secondary market and collect royalties from future resales as well as the ability to embed content from video highlights to 3D Logos, live recordings to photographs and so much more, all inside a secure NFT.
EventsFrame has four years in the industry under it and provides the tools for all this using next generation blockchain technology with a vast ecosystem of solutions. It’s now looking to capitalise on this new emerging market especially in the sports and music world and has recently received funding to help it disrupt the industry.
Featuring P. Money, Jamie Duggan, Axel Boy, Cajama, Michael Sparks, Hemera, Katalyst, Upgrade, Gino, Start The Vibe, Problem Central, Skepsis, Darkzy, Kanine, Window Kid
The Crucast tour kicks off in Liverpool on September 24th and takes in parties in Oxford’s O2 Academy and Newcastle’s Digital as well as an epic Indoor Festival at London’s Printworks that covers every facet of bass music in explosive fashion on 15th October. Get your tickets now at http://www.crucast.com.
CruCast is one of the most influential and respected brands in all of bass music. The label is known for its cutting edge sounds, the roster includes all the very best talents in the game and the brand’s essential live events and festival stage takeovers are always a guarantee of a first class party. They have hosted them at places like a 10,000 capacity party at Warehouse Project, the Radio One dance stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals and more legendary venues like Amnesia, Ibiza and Printworks.
And it is to Printworks where the party heads in supersized fashion on October 15th: CruCast’s Indoor Festival will transform the famous halls into mesmeric party spaces with next level lights, lasers and all consuming sound. The line-up is suitably massive with Special Guests Problem Central and CruCast regulars including Skepsis, Darkzy, Kanine and Window Kid joined by an array of talents.
They include cult hero, grime MC and rapper P. Money, Sheffield bass don Jamie Duggan, young Bristol bass prodigy Axel Boy, special back to backs between Cajama and Michael Sparks, Hemera and Katalyst, Upgrade and Gino plus Start The Vibe aka Sub Zero b2b Original Sin b2b Taxman. Window Kid will also line-up for a DJ set.
Around that hugely anticipated celebration, CruCast parties around the UK are sure to serve up plenty more high energy bass thrills with much loved regulars and scene-innovators Skepsis, Darkzy, Kanine, Window Kid, Zero, Lazcru and MC AD all bringing the freshest mix of bass, grime, garage drum & bass and plenty in between. Each of those stars lines-up at all three parties which start at Camp N Furness in Liverpool on September 24th. Then it is to Oxford’s cavernous O2 Academy on 15th November and the cutting edge space that is Digital in Newcastle on 2nd December.
The nights might be drawing in but CruCast has plenty to look forward to for bass lovers.
After a memorable Spring edition, Love Machine is set to return this autumn with three more dream-like days of carefully balanced music, health and wellness tucked away in the sun-soaked Jacumba Hot Springs, near San Diego, California. From November 11th – 13th 2022 the likes of Dixon, Pan-Pot, KiNK, Denis Sulta, Doc Martin, wAFF, DJ Heather, Innellea, Sébastien Léger and many more will play and tickets are available now from https://lovemachine.live/.
Infinite amounts of heart and soul go into every single aspect of Love Machine. It is a carefully curated and intimate retreat with inspirational music, art, mindful and holistic workshops, yoga, sound baths, meditation and healthy lifestyle awareness, all in the sun-bathed, boulder-strewn mountains of Jacumba California, just 75 minutes outside San Diego. The whole site becomes a feast for all the senses with meticulously designed production, performances and workshops, large art installations, delicious healthy food and a focus on socially minded experiences.
The classy resort for all this encompasses a restaurant with two pools and a spa with many natural features including its unique desert environment, hot spring and clean air in the Mountain Empire area of southeastern San Diego County. It takes you away from everyday life and into a new, unforgettable world.
All new for this year is a special Tent Stage that will feature the next level production Love Machine is renowned for and that makes the main Mountain Stage so immersive and breathtaking. It will feature lush day beds, special mood lighting, an array of boho plants, carpets and futurist Moroccan vibes and much more to make for something beautifully escapist.
As well as the world class musical offerings, Love Machine is a place to rest, recuperate and rejuvenate the soul. As such there is a complete program of workshops, yoga, meditation and more that help strike a perfect balance between music, health and fun. Meanwhile, a newly designed and fully enhanced area will offer camping in a secluded spot away from the main festival.
Friday will see house shaman Dixon joined by future techno star Innellea, German tech titan Tiefschwarz, house legend DJ Heather and Ofier, with Saturday headlined by the acclaimed Pan-Pot pair, a live show from Bulgarian techno wizard KiNK, the immersive sound of Sébastien Léger, complemented on direct support from master producer Ruede Hagelstein and more from Dink! b2b Rybo. Sunday brings big time party starters Denis Sulta and wAFF, plus West Coast legend Doc Martin who has become a staple of the enchanting festival, accompanied by the stylish sounds of Francesca Lombardo and Lost Desert.
There is no experience quite like Love Machine. Get your tickets now for this essential winter retreat at https://lovemachine.live/
Summer 2022 has proved one of the best in recent memory for Amnesia, but soon it must come to an end. In true Amnesia fashion, though, the last hurrah is not just another party, it is an epic Closing Festival that will match the monumental event that was the opener. Starting at 6pm on October 15th, this final musical adventure features an Ibiza-exclusive DJ set from The Chemical Brothers, an extended session from Jamie Jones and plenty more from Nina Kraviz, Kobosil, Marco Faraone, Luca Donzelli, Cuartero, Eats Everything, Mar-T b2b CAAL, Paul Woolford vs Special Request and Vintage Culture plus many more to come. Move quick to secure one of the very limited tickets now from https://amnesia.janto.es/es/espectaculo/amnesia-ibiza-closing-festival-2022/CLOSING151022
The world’s most iconic super club doesn’t do things by halves. This summer it has pushed the boundaries once more with an exclusive live show from Bicep and residencies from Joseph Capriati, elrow, Paradise and He.She.They, many memorable Pyramid parties, standout sets from influential DJs like Ricardo Villalobos and Sven Väth and so much more. But the fun isn’t over yet: this biggest ever Closing Festival will take you into another dimension with a marathon soundtrack and mind-boggling visuals across the club’s celebrated Main Room and Terrace.
For three hours from 9pm on The Terrace, global dance legends The Chemical Brothers take you on a journey through their sounds past, present and future with the club’s famous production adding extra sensory stimulation. Jamie Jones also lines-up on the Terrace for one last set in a very special extended morning slot after a season of much talked about performances at Amnesia.
In the Main Room, it is techno all the way with the trailblazing Nina Kraviz mixing up acid and IDM influences, and Berlin regular Kobosil bringing his powerful grooves next to Amnesia resident Luca Donzelli.
The rest of the line up packs just as much of a punch with much loved party starter Eats Everything, rolling beats from Marco Faraone, an all Spanish affair with Mar-T b2b CAAL, an electrifying mix of house, jungle, bass and rave as Paul Woolford faces off against his Special Request alias and some characterful and colourful house from Brazilian superstar Vintage Culture with many more to come.
