Having evolved from the recurring beat commonly heard in dance clubs to a blanket term for all things rave, EDM has spiked in popularity over the recent years together with the emergence of new sub-genres in the electronic dance music scene.
Longtime fans would know of big names like Nicky Romero and Tiësto, who specialise in different kinds of house music to get the crowd grooving, while emerging artists such as Kygo paved their way to success with new forms of music such as tropical house - a mix of tropical instruments like marimbas and pan flutes, blended tastefully with a rhythmic beat that reminds you of a sunny day at the beach.
Immerse yourself in a whole new world with 5 of the biggest and most memorable electronic dance music festivals across the globe:
1. Ultra Music Festival in Miami (March)
Started in 1999, The Ultra Music Festival (UMF) proved to be popular in just the first year that it was organised alone, drawing a crowd of more than 10,000. Winning consecutive awards for “Best Dance Event” and “Best Music Event” from the International Dance Music Awards, the spirited nature of natives who make every festival a blast, combined with booming music from headlining DJs has caused the popularity of Ultra to surge beyond the rocky waves of Miami’s shores! Announcing in 2012 that they would be going worldwide, the huge news caught on with diehard EDM fans everywhere - now, UMF has graced the lands of South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, and even the tiny shores of Singapore! Jump into the heart of all the action with this after movie of UMF Bali in 2015, where headliners like Alesso, Skrillex, and Kygo are bound to have you screaming for more!
Ultra Music Festival
Address: Worldwide
Price: from 299 USD
Website: Ultra Music Festival
2. Tomorrowland in Belgium (July)
Blowing up in 2011 from a one-day event to a three-day dance festival, tickets for Tomorrowland almost always sells out within days of its release - and it’s not hard to see why!
The unique themes draw thousands of tourists to Belgium every year. Decked out in colourful props and massive stage set-ups, quirky themes such as The Tree of Life in 2011 and The Secret Kingdom of Melodia in 2015 set the mood for wild party-goers, some even going as far as planning corresponding outfits and makeup styles each year - all in the name of fun.
Living up to their slogan of ‘Yesterday is history, today is a gift, tomorrow is a mystery’, the festival invites bigger and better artists every year. With acts like Avicii, David Guetta and Afrojack who have graced the stage more than once, you can unravel the future with a hearty BANG! at the next Tomorrowland festival!
Tomorrowland Belgium
Address: PRC de Schorre Schommelei 2850 Boom – Belgium
Price: from 150 USD
Website: Tomorrowland Belgium
3. Mysteryland in the Netherlands (Last Saturday of August)
Yup, that’s right: everyone stands on equal ground regardless of where you’re from in Mysteryland, one of the oldest dance music festival in the Netherlands. Featuring an exciting stage set-up every year, the flurry of colours that assault your vision will have you jamming out to the sick beats in no time! Following themed festivals, the flamboyant designs are part of what gives Mysteryland their place on the dance festival podium.
Immerse yourselves in the world of Nicky Romero, Porter Robinson, and Steve Aoki, as they take you up to cloud 9 with their mind-blowingly amazing music!
Mysteryland in Netherlands
Address: Paviljoenlaan 1, Haarlemmermeer
Price: from 200 USD
Website: Mysteryland in Netherlands
4. Stereosonic in Sydney, Australia (Early November)
Held in the heart of summer, let your hair down and party till sundown with Stereosonic, Australia’s pride and joy when it comes to vibrant dance festivals! Attracting crowds of over 60,000 people, many tourists are known to fly in for a weekend in Sydney to join the party. Hosting some of the biggest names in the EDM scene, you can expect to see headliners such as DJ Snake and Major Lazer taking the stage, together with emerging acts like Flight Facilities and Disclosure who will sweep the dance floor with their raving beats! Although cancelled in 2016 due to rumoured financial difficulties, Stereosonic promised to be back in 2017 “bigger and better”. We can’t wait to see what they’re going to come up with - better get your sunscreen out, because you’ll be staying for the music and leaving with sun-kissed skin (and a hoarse voice!)
Stereosonic Music Festival
Address: Sydney Showground
Price: from 150 USD
Website: Stereosonic
5. Sunburn Festival in Goa, India (End November/Early December)
Spanning across 4 days, join the locals and visiting sightseers at the Sunburn festival for a weekend of non-stop partying! What could be better than a combination of good music, a unique marketplace, and tons of activities for you to try out? Feed your adrenaline rush with thrilling outdoor activities such as the cheeky slippery volleyball, or bungee jumping off a cliff, and head over to the massage lounge to reinvigorate yourself with a soothing massage session - all with live music playing in the background!
Sunburn Festival
Address: Kesnand, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra
Price: from 120 USD
Website: Sunburn Festival
Get to know your favourite city better
Beyond the serene sights and developed metropolitan views lies a city filled with thriving night owls, waiting for dusk to come alive once again. What better way to explore these hidden parts of your favourite city than to join them yourself? Who knows, you may get to meet people whom you click well with, and you may return with a new friend made!
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