Festivals

Looking for the latest lineup, date, ticket information or latest news about your favourite festivals, look no further.  Summer Festival Guide’s Festival News section covers all your needs!

We Are FSTVL announce stage partners for 2015

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Award-winning UK dance festival We Are FSTVL returns to Upminster, Essex onSaturday 30th and Sunday 31st May 2015 to showcase the latest and greatest innovators from across the dance music spectrum. Gaining international recognition after only two years on the scene, We Are FSTVL are proud to announce their 2015 official stage partners. Next year’s edition will feature a host of leading dance labels and powerful clubbing brands including We Are FSTVL, Cocoon, Defected In The House, Toolroom Live, Hospitality, Paradise, MK Area 10, Hannah Wantsand Used + Abused.

Once again playing host to the flagship main stage across Saturday and Sunday, the We Are FSTVL  stage will showcase everything that the festival stands for: the best DJ talent in the world, spectacular production and a once in a lifetime experience for all.

2015 Saturday Stage Breakdown

The first of many new additions to the field of dreams is Loco Dice's Used + Abused party, its debut appearance at a UK festival since first launching in Ibiza in 2013. For more than a decade, Loco Dice has been at the very forefront of underground electronic music, and his Used + Abused party promises to explore the darker corners of the festival’s techno warehouse.

Another first for 2015 comes from lady of the moment Hannah Wants, the face of Saturday’s Big Top Bass stage. Over the last three years, Hannah has risen to the centre of a scene that is fast becoming global and is certainly no stranger to headline slots, after gaining worldwide recognition for her summer residency at Amnesia in Ibiza and countless sets at a number of major UK festivals in 2014. With her latest collaboration alongside Chris Lorenzo, ‘Rhymes’, set to cause serious heat on UK dancefloors, Hannah will ensure that the We Are FSTVL party never stops.

After 10 years in the game, Mark Knight recently unveiled his latest clubbing concept in the form of Toolroom Live, which takes over the festival’s luxury VIP village stage. Focusing on credible and quality house music, Toolroom Live is an exciting development in the label’s history and with a new core artist roster, We Are FSTVL is proud to be part of its journey.

Defected In The House will once again host their own stage after receiving incredible reactions in both 2013 and 2014. After celebrating their 15-year anniversary this year, Defected has successfully carried house music’s legacy into the 21st century as an institution for generations of music lovers and clubbers worldwide. With the new, Very Big Top serving as their home for the day, Defected are sure to impress with an a first rate line-up of exciting house talent.

2015 Sunday Stage Breakdown

A firm favourite since the festival’s debut, world leading electronic brand Cocoon will return to We Are FSTVL on Sunday 31st May – led by the undisputed figurehead of German club scene Sven Väth – and will now feature as part of the festival’s techno warehouse.  Since its inception in 1999, Cocoon’s universally recognised brand of techno has welcomed thousands of faithful followers and remains a perfect fit for We Are FSTVL.

Reflecting the festival’s diversity, Hospitality is also back by popular demand to deliver a high-grade drum & bass experience in this year’s Big Top Bass Arena.The worldwide club event of drum & bass imprint Hospital Records, Hospitalityhas grown to become a key part of the scene’s fabric and is guaranteed to showcase the best in heavyweight producers, DJs and MCs.

Also returning to We Are FSTVL and playing host to Sunday’s Very Big Top, is Jamie Jones’ Paradise. After its launch back in 2012, Paradise has become the stand out residency of the Ibiza season, showcasing the latest and greatest in underground house and techno. With a seemingly endless list of world-class DJs, Paradise is set to deliver another hedonistic and memorable musical experience to We Are FSTVL.

Returning to the VIP Village for 2015 is MK’s Area 10, as his influence as a house pioneer continues well into a third decade. Renowned for his bouncy, peak-time groove, punchy drums and clever vocal samples, Marc Kinchen’s productions are at the heart of the biggest renaissance house music has seen in a generation. Having debuted his ‘Pleasurestate’ project with Lee Foss and Anabel Englund exclusively at We Are FSTVL this year, MK’s stage at next year’s festival is set to be even bigger and better than ever before.

Hideout 2015 announce massive 5th year lineup

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Croatia's Hideout Festival announce its long-awaited fifth outing and the most monumental year yet. Taking place from June 28th – July 2nd 2015, Hideout will return to its home on the island of Pag and will unite musical regulars from the past five years including Jamie Jones, Skream, Heidi, Loco Dice, Eats Everything, MK and Gorgon City, for an unforgettable anniversary showcase. The fifth instalment will welcome back iconic guests such as chart-topper Duke Dumont, vinyl Queen Nina Kraviz, man of the moment Ten Walls (Live), and recent Red Bull Culture Clash winners David Rodigan MBE and Shy FX. Making their debut on the heavenly Zrce Beach will be serial chart-toppers Sigma, BBC Radio 1's Monki and Jungle icon Roni Size. With Hideout 2014 selling out in just two weeks, the Croatian event anticipates smashing records yet again with another sell-out year. Registered ticket holders are able to purchase tickets immediately through the Hideout Festival website while general tickets will be on Thursday 6th November 2014. 

As Hideout Festival enters it's fifth year the week-long showcase of electronic music has become the must attend event of the summer, putting Croatia on the map as the perfect music destination. Gearing up for what will be their most exciting celebration yet, Hideout will once again take over the stunning Zrce beach to welcome the most exciting names in House, Techno and Drum & Bass, offering plenty of surprises along the way. 

From dancing until sunrise at the five breathtaking beach clubs to sailing out into the crystal clear ocean aboard one of the many boat parties, throughout the past five years Hideout Festival has defined itself as the ultimate summer retreat for electronic music fans, sun worshippers and hedonistic revellers alike. As the festival continues to go from strength to strength the five year anniversary will surpass all expectations and is set to be a talking point for years to come.

FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT:

Duke Dumont / Eats Everything / Gorgon City / Jamie Jones / Loco Dice / MK / Nina Kraviz / Sigma / Ten Walls (Live)
 
Bondax / B-Traits / David Rodigan MBE / Derrick Carter / Dusky / George Fitzgerald / Hannah Wants / Heidi / Joy Orbison / Kink (Live) / Mistajam / Paul Woolford / Redlight / Richy Ahmed / Scuba / Shy FX / Skream
 
Citizen / Chris Lorenzo / DJ EZ / Dungeon Meat / Ejeca / Eton Messy DJs / Friction / Friend Within / Isaac Tichauer / Jonas Rathsman / MJ Cole / Monki / Patrick Topping / Ralph Lawson / Roni Size / Shadow Child / Special Request / Star Slinger / TCTS / Waff
 
Grainger / Mike Jones / North Base / People Get Real / The Sonic Emporium North Base / PBR Streetgang / People Get Real / Ralph Lawson / The Sonic Emporium / Simon Baker /

Taylor Swift to headline British Summer Time Hyde Park 2015

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Global superstar and seven-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift is the first headliner announced for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park 2015. The most talked about artist in the world, Taylor will take to the Great Oak Stage in London’s iconic Hyde Park on Saturday 27 June. Tickets are on general sale 9am on Monday 10 November.

‘1989’ is Taylor’s fifth studio album, inspired by the bold sounds of the 80’s, which debuted at no. 1 in the UK’s official album charts and across 95 countries worldwide on iTunes. Taylor’s infectious first single, ‘Shake It Off’, peaked at No.1 in the UK on iTunes, spending three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the radio airplay charts, ten consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the official singles chart and is nearing platinum certification.

Taylor Swift, is the essential pop star headlining the essential event of 2015. Her critically acclaimed sell out 2014 RED tour saw her play five sold out shows at London’s The O2. With career record sales in excess of 30 million albums and almost 80 million song downloads, she is the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album (2010's Speak Now and 2012's RED) hit the 1 million plus first-week sales figure in the US. Taylor's album ‘RED’, released two years ago on Big Machine Records/Virgin EMI, has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide to date, including over half a million copies in the UK where it debuted at No. 1 on the official album charts, and more than 1.2 million copies in the U.S. in its first week (where it scored the highest first-week sales debut of any album in over a decade).

 

As the London date on her global tour, Taylor joins an illustrious group of headliners who have made Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park the best music experience of the summer. With a stellar line up of exciting artists to be announced soon as part of the event, Taylor’s show on Saturday 27 June is set to be an unmissable day out!

Jim King, Senior Vice President Live Events, says: 

"It is an absolute honour for AEG to announce Taylor Swift as our first headliner for 2015. As one of the World's biggest artists and one who never fails to deliver incredible live experiences for her fans, Taylor Swift performing on Hyde Park's Great Oak Stage will be a highlight of 2015 and we couldn't be more excited to welcome her back to London.”

Liz Mullins Director of Events at The Royal Parks, said: 

“Since it began in 2013 Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park has become a firm favourite in the events calendar, bringing a diverse range of entertainment and the world’s biggest artists to this iconic park. From The Rolling Stones to Black Sabbath, Lionel Richie to Tom Jones, comedy nights and family days there has been something for everyone. We are looking forward to working with our partners AEG Live to once again bring this truly unique event to Hyde Park.”

Rob Zombie will headline Bloodstock 2015

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ROB ZOMBIE is confirmed as Sunday’s 2015 main stage headliner, bringing his mind-blowing full production to Catton Park.  

ROB ZOMBIE exclaims, "I am so ready to get on a plane, and get my ass over to merry ol' England for BLOODSTOCK.  We've had some of the best shows of our lives over there and can't wait to add this to the list.  Besides, it's called ‘BLOODSTOCK' so how could it not be bloody fucking fun?”

Expect to witness a spectacular range of ROB ZOMBIE classics as well as choice cuts from the band’s most recent studio album ‘Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor’.  Check out this cut of ‘Superbeast’ from last year’s ‘The Zombie Horror Picture Show’ DVD, which captured Rob and his Zombie bandmates John 5, Piggy D and Ginger Fish on the road and get a taster of what’s in store; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsw8koMaZXU.

In addition to that big news, don’t forget that BLOODSTOCK’s ‘Rock Society’ memberships went on sale at 9am today, 31st October.  The BLOODSTOCK ‘Rock Society’ is effectively the festival’s ‘Members Club’, offering not only a 10% discount on your weekend ticket (and that’s on top of the already discounted early bird ticket if you’re quick enough!), but it offers punters all sorts of other cool benefits like priority access to the signing tent, special tours of backstage & production areas so you can see what goes on ‘behind the scenes,’ as well as access to the VIP Serpents Lair bar, plus a Rock Society laminate with your name and membership number, and plenty more besides.  The memberships are limited to just 300 and sell out very quickly every year, so don’t delay if you want to pick one up. Last year, these sold out that morning!  Full details can be found at http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/pages/rock-society.

Bands already announced for 2015 are Saturday’s headliners, WITHIN TEMPTATION and special guests OPETH, plus DEATH TA, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, CANNIBAL CORPSE, IHSAHN, SEPULTURA and DARK ANGEL.  More bands will be announced soon! BLOODSTOCK will be held at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 6th-9th August 2015.

Sunburn Goa announce 2014 lineup

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Asia’s biggest dance music festival Sunburn Goa has announced the first phase of its 2014 line-up, showcasing a selection of the world’s best dance music acts. Returning to Vagator Goa on 27th, 28th and 29th of December the line-up will feature the likes of Knife Party, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Sasha, Sander Van Doorn, Krewella, Makj, Paul Oakenfold, Baauer & many more in what is set to be another spectacular festival of music.

With an exotic climate, stunning shorelines and affordable prices, Goa has become one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, not only boasting an incredibly vibrant culture, but also a deep-rooted heritage in electronic music that saw Goa Trance become a globally recognised movement in the late 80s. Continuing this long tradition and rising from the ashes of Goa Trance, Sunburn are pushing boundaries to write the next chapter in Goa’s illustrious history – as Swedish House Mafia member Axwell puts it: "When I play for money I play Vegas, when I play for holidays I play Miami, when I play for love I play India”. 

Successfully attracting crowds of well over 160,000 from across the globe, Sunburn has also forged a reputation for its cutting edge music programming, with the likes of Hardwell, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Tiësto all participating in recent years and its 2014 edition will play host to over 150 artists across eight stages.

Kicking off this year’s line-up are Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, the Belgian brotherly duo that have taken the EDM world by storm by recently scooping the no. 2 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs 2014 poll. After exploding on the scene two years ago, they have consistently commanded audiences of over 20,000 at recent gigs and are sure to deliver an earth shattering set at this year’s festival. Heralded Australian duo Knife Party are also sure to delight fans with new material from their forthcoming album ‘Abandon Ship’ when they grace the stage at Sunburn, especially having developed an exciting new audio-visual performance set up that has helped them remain one of the most sought after dance music acts in the world.

Electronic music pioneer and long-time dance icon Sasha is also in line to perform at Sunburn 2014 alongside Dutch trance legend Sander van Doorn – an artist who recently joined up with Martin Garrix and DVBBS on international chart hit ‘Gold Skies’. – whilst British club icon Paul Oakenfold is next to be unveiled, fresh off the back of releasing commemorative album ‘Trance Mission’ earlier this year.

Long-time house music favourite Michael Woods will return to Goa for 2014, after previously playing Sunburn Festival in 2011, as well as 2012’s massive ‘Hangover Tour’ that took in dates across India, whilst Berlin native Oliver Dollar is also set to bring his contemporary brand of deep house to the three-day festival, after recent single ‘Pushing On’ became one of the summer anthems of 2014. US singer-songwriter Matthew Koma is another to watch this year, after lending his dynamic vocals to a number of Top 40 dance records from the likes of Zedd, Nicky Romero, Fedde le Grande, Hardwell and Tiesto over the last two years.

Electro sisters Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf of Krewella are to bring their epic live show to Goa too, blending electro-house, dubstep, drum & bass and progressive house, whilst rising star MAKJ, fresh off the back of holding down a lengthy Las Vegas residency, has announced he will make his Sunburn debut in 2014. Notable Dutch duo DubVision also promise to deliver a high-octane performance of their own, whilst Australian duo New World Sound, still riding high off the success of breakthrough anthem ‘Flutes’, are guaranteed to get the Sunburn party started.

Teen sensation Danny Avila is another hotly tipped star to join the line-up after first coming to the world’s attention following his Vicious Magazine ‘Best Newcomer DJ’ accolade in 2011 – an award he won aged just 16. Like Avila, LA native Paris Blohm has received massive support from the wider clubbing elite having caught the attention of the likes of Tiesto, Hardwell, and Sander Van Doorn, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, revered party starters Deniz Koyu, Far Too Loud and Baauer, producer of viral hit ‘Harlem Shake’, are both sure to bring their own signature brands of club energy to Goa.

Rounding off this blistering line up is a selection of India’s burgeoning young talent, with Anish Sood, Algorythm, Delhi Sultante X Begum x (Live), Dualist Inquiry Band (Live), Joshi, EZ Riser, Shaan, Reggae Rajahs and many more contributing. Sunburn revelers can also expect to find a dedicated ‘Sunburn Goa’ psy-trance stage at this year’s festival, with a whole host of activities at their disposal such as stunt biking, zorbing, volleyball and bungee jumping, with more adrenaline-fuelled surprises in store.

As plans gain momentum, Sunburn Goa 2014 is shaping up to be the festival’s biggest year to date. With the first two phases of early bird tickets selling out in a matter of hours and another phase of artists soon to be announced, this year’s Sunburn looks set to firmly establish India as a major player in global dance culture.

A State of Trance Festival comes to Australia in 2015

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For the first time in the history of ‘A State of Trance,’ there will be a celebration weekend instead of a celebration tour.  In addition, ‘A State of Trance’ will consist of festivals with multiple stages at fixed destinations around the globe planned for the next three years. 

Totem Onelove & ALDA are thrilled to present the Australian festival shows.  The celebration weekend will be held: 
Melbourne – February 6 and Sydney – February 7. 
Tickets will go on sale Thursday October 23 at 10am (AEDT).  
Sydney event tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster Australia or Viagogo. 
Melbourne tickets can be purchased from Ticketek Australia.

A State of Trance will venture into new territories by bringing fans on a brand new musical journey that infallibly captures their hearts and minds.  A State of Trance festival will deliver the unique ‘ASOT’ vibe and electrifying atmosphere in its ultimate purest form.
Armin van Buuren: “We’ll be taking this concept to the next level, with different festivals on different continents, during which the radio studio will get a more prominent place than ever.  We're all looking for that special State and hope to reach that through different artists and music, for example by giving new talent a platform to perform.  The interaction with my fans is key to me, that’s why ‘Together in A State of Trance’ will be the new theme this year.”

The live stream of ‘A State Of Trance’ Festivals will all be hosted through:http://www.astateoftrance.com.  The line-up of each festival edition will be revealed at a later stage along with subsequent tour dates, but visitors can expect only the best DJ’s within the trance and electronic music industry. 
It’s time to go back to the essence. Back to where it all started. That incredible feeling. Together we are in: A State Of Trance.

Melbourne – Friday 6th February, Hisense Arena 
Tickets on sale from Ticketek 10am (AEDT) Thursday October 23

Sydney – Saturday 7th February, Exhibition Halls, Sydney Showground 
Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster and Viagogo 10am (AEDT) Thursday October 23

Above & Beyond, Mat Zo and more added to VH1’s Supersonic Festival

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After announcing headliners Dillon Francis, Paul van Dyk, Chainsmokers, and Stanton Warriors, India’s Vh1 Supersonic Festival now expands further on its star-studded Phase 1 line-up with confirmation of Above & Beyond, Bl3nd, Mat Zo, Funkagenda, Maya Jane Coles, John 00 Fleming, Aly & Fila, Mark Knight and Andrea Olivia and the Main Stage hosted by one of the world’s best, MC Stretch.
 
 
BUY TICKETS TO VH1 SUPERSONIC HERE
 
Vh1 Supersonic also celebrates local talent, with Arjun Vagale, Ash Roy, B.R.E.E.D., Mackenzie Pareira, Nawed Khan, Pearl, Rohit Barker, Tuhin Mehta and Vachan Chinnappa representing. With the announcement of the UKF Bass Stage and headliners still to come, the hotly anticipated event is making major waves across Asia’s dance music community. 
 
Unquestionably entrenched in the lore and history of both dance and travel, Goa has been an international hotspot for electronic music for decades. The Goa Trance movement of the early 90s, which was so influential on the modern sounds millions drench themselves in today, originally blossomed from the area’s reputation as the global hippy capital in the 60s and 70s. Now over half a century later, Vh1 Supersonic Festival promises to carry on the tradition for the next generation.

Bloodstock 2015 lineup and details revealed

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We are excited to announce the first lineup additions to next years Bloodstock at Catton Park.

WITHIN TEMPTATION are set to play their only UK show next year as Saturday night headliners at Catton Park!  It is a triumphant return for the Dutch megastars, who headlined BLOODSTOCK in 2005, as their very first UK festival appearance and only second ever UK show.  Frontwoman Sharon den Adel enthuses, “We're thrilled to play BLOODSTOCK again!  We had such a great time before and can't wait to take ‘Hydra’ to the stage at Catton Park.  It's a really exciting time for us right now and we're looking forward to bringing the fire!!”  Check out their video for ‘Dangerous’ from their current album, ‘Hydra’, featuring none other than Howard Jones (The Devil You Know, ex-Killswitch Engage) here: 

Slotting in to the Saturday night special guest slot are Swedish progmeisters, OPETH.  Having landed at #14 on the UK album charts last week, their highest chart position to date for new studio album, ‘Pale Communion’, OPETH are looking forward to returning to BLOODSTOCK.  Comments frontman Mikael Akerfeldt; “We’re happy to confirm that we’ll be back at the BLOODSTOCK festival next year!  I don’t know how many times we’ve played there now, but it’s a real great place, a nice festival run by nice people.  Too bad it’s like….a year or so away!?”  Check out new track, ‘Cusp of Eternity’ while you’re waiting; 

Also added are DEATH DTA.  Formed to keep the musical legacy of legendary DEATH frontman, Chuck Schuldiner alive, the band’s touring line up changes often, but the DEATH DTA stage family for 2015 features Steve Di Giorgio (Death, Testament, Sadus), Gene Hoglan (Death, Dark Angel, Testament), Bobby Koelble (Death) and Max Phelps (Cynic).  Check out TVRockLive’s informative DTA mini doc shot at Hellfest this year, with the band and their manager Eric Greif discussing Chuck and the ongoing project;

East Coast thrash legends, NUCLEAR ASSAULT also join the bill and celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2015.  Bassist Dan Lilker informs us, “In 2015, it will be 30 years since NUCLEAR ASSAULT solidified our lineup and started making a name for ourselves in the metal/crossover scene. To commemorate this, the band will write and record another album and play some shows for a 'Final Assault.'  The live front will be of a limited nature due to the reality of people in the band having careers that they can't just walk away from for the time needed to go tour the world like we did in the '80s.  Nevertheless, we will try to do whatever we can, especially in the summer to get out there and thrash for everyone again.  Progress on writing will not go quickly due to a couple of facts; we are geographically challenged, so can't just jam once a week like we used to, and we want to make sure that this album is really killer so we can go out with a big bang.” 

Seminal California thrashers, DARK ANGEL are also set for a rare appearance.  After reforming last year after an extended hiatus, the band have been playing very selected shows in the US and Europe, and we’re excited to welcome them to Catton Park in 2015.  Check out this teaser clip of the band in rehearsals earlier this year;

 

Dr Martens #STANDFORSOMETHING Tour details

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Since their inception in 2001, Welsh post-hardcore act Funeral For A Friend have consistently pushed the boundaries of their genre and carved a place for themselves as one of the UK’s most electrifying rock bands. With their upcoming new album ‘Chapter and Verse’ on the horizon, the electrifying quintet stopped off at Edinburgh’s esteemed small venue Cabaret Voltaire as part of the Dr Martens #STANDFORSOMETHING Tour to perform an incendiary set for their hardcore fan base. From their incredible performance last weekend, here they are revisiting their classic single ‘Roses For The Dead’ from their critically acclaimed album ‘Hours’.

What do Funeral For A Friend stand for? "The idea that music can break down walls that segregate us in everyday life and can make you feel a part of something larger than yourself, that's something to stand for. A real sense of community and belonging." – Matthew Davies-Kreye.

Introducing Sweden’s newest music festival Where’s the Music?

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The festival will include artist performances as well as lectures presented by people in the music industry, sharing their stories and experiences. The combination will make a platform for networking, where the national and international music industry will exchange experiences and ideas, discover new artists and find new collaborations through networking.

Says Folkert Koopmans, CEO of FKP Scorpio is looking forward to launch his new festival; “We have found a great and trustworthy partner in Upplev Norrköping while promoting Bråvalla Festival in 2013 and 2014. It feels great to come back to Norrköping with the new concept, Where’s the Music?, so that we can show international professionals in the music industry what Sweden is well known for in Europe – to find and bring up interesting new artists and innovative technical solutions.”

”It feels great to develop the collaboration with FKP by creating a new festival together, says Stefan Papangelis, CEO, Experience Norrköping. “Where’s the Music? is going to improve the image of Norrköping as a music city and bring us even closer to its vision to become the Music Capital of Sweden”.

Taking place in various public locations in the unique area called Industrilandskapet in the central of Norrköping, Where’s the Music? aims to be one of the most important meeting points for European music industry, where they can meet the Swedish industry and make great things together. The live music focus will be on Swedish artists, but there will also be room for international music, where visitors can discover the stars and sound of tomorrow.

  • 2 day conference – more than 40 lectures & seminars
  • 3 days of music – more than 50 acts performing on each day
  • Norrköping, Sweden 12-14th February 2015