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!

NASS festival – 2023 Preview

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NASS festival returns in July with an epic line up bringing together some of the world’s most exciting artists.

NASS is the UK’s biggest celebration of music, street art, skate and BMX, located at the Bath & West Showground, near Bristol.

This years line-up includes an eclectic mix, including grime, hip hop, garage, drum & bass and house.

Headliners this year include:

CHASE & STATUS LIVE

LITTLE SIMZ

WU-TANG CLAN with ‘ENTER THE WU’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY

ALONGSIDE OTHER WORLD-CLASS ARTISTS

ANNE MARIE | BRU C | EXAMPLE | GREENTEA PENG | EASY LIFE | 

SHY FX | KOJEY RADICAL | EXAMPLE | JOEL COREY | NATHAN DAWE

HEDEX | PROBLEM CENTRAL | FLAVA D | JACK SAUNDERS

Chase & Status Live will be headlining the main stage on Friday, with their cutting edge dance music. The duo are ready to delight fans with an unmissable live set packed with their biggest hits, including Blind Faith, End Credits, Mixed Emotions and many more.  

On Saturday, Wu-Tang Clan, arguably one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time, will be headlining. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their classic ‘Enter The Wu (36 Chambers)’, they’ll be playing some of the biggest hits including Protect Ya Neck and C.R.E.A.M. Truly one of the best headliners of the summer festival season and one not to be missed.  

Little Simz will bring Sunday to an epic close, with songs from her award winning ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’, and new album ‘No Thank You’.

Also added to the incredible line up are Anne-Marie, bringing her chart-smashers from over the years including ‘Ciao Adios’ and ‘2002’. Elsewhere Shy FX will be bringing special guests for a unique show, while Easy Life will be bringing their indie-pop to the Bath & West showground.

Recently added are Summer Festival Guide favourites Example, Joel Corry, Nathan Dawe and Kojey Radical.

Further details of the impressive line up can be seen above.

Visit www.nassfestival.com for more information. 

Our review of last years NASS can be found here –

www.summerfestivalguide.co.uk/festival-news/2022/07/11/nassreview/

GWEN STEFANI: UK SUMMER SERIES – PREVIEW

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Gwen Stefani has announced that she will be making her highly-anticipated return to the UK this summer.

The six dates will see Stefani perform a series of huge outdoor shows, taking place at Warwick Castle, Harewood House in Leeds, Bolesworth Castle in Chester and Broadlands Estate, Romsey. Dates are shown below – So What You Waiting For?

Pop royalty Gwen Stefani also joins P!nk at BST Hyde Park 2023. Fans will be treated to Gwen’s catalogue of chart-toppers from her solo career, as well as unforgettable hits from No Doubt. 

A multi GRAMMY® Award winner, Gwen Stefani has achieved global success as a songwriter, performer, charismatic frontwoman of No Doubt, and as a multi-platinum solo artist. 

To date, she’s sold more than 60 million units worldwide, including her four-times platinum debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. – that delivered the hit singles “Rich Girl,” “What You Waiting For?” and the Pharrell Williams produced No. 1 hit “Hollaback Girl.” 

Her sophomore album, The Sweet Escape, featured the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single “Wind It Up” and the unforgettable anthem “The Sweet Escape.” 

GWEN STEFANI – 2023 UK DATES:

Friday 23 June: Warwick Castle, Warwick

Saturday 24 June: American Express presents BST Hyde Park, London

Sunday 25 June: American Express presents BST Hyde Park, London

Tuesday 27 June: Harewood House, Leeds

Wednesday 28 June: Bolesworth Castle, Chester

Thursday 29 June: Broadlands Estate, Romsey

Taking place through June 2023, tickets are available at www.aegpresents.co.uk/gwenstefani.

OVER 40 NEW BANDS AND DAY SPLITS ANNOUNCED
FOR DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2023 

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The greatest rock and metal festival of all time, Download Festival, announces 44 new names and the day splits for 2023’s mammoth line-up. New names include the blistering Halestorm, Alter Bridge, Neck Deep, Bob Vylan, Carcass, Five Finger Death Punch, Jinjer, Coheed and Cambria, Electric Callboy, Hot Milk and The Amity Affliction, who will join the celebration of Download’s 20-year legacy at the hallowed grounds of Donington Park across four days over 8-11 June 2023. They join headliners Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon and Metallica, who will deliver two massive no-repeat performances. Weekend and day tickets are now on sale, as well as a very limited amount of camping tickets and new VIP options: www.downloadfestival.co.uk.
 
The biggest annual gathering of the rock and metal tribes will be joined by 44 new names, including the Grammy-winning Halestorm, hard rock frontrunners Alter Bridge, heavy metal behemoths Five Finger Death Punch, MOBO’s first ever Best Alternative Music Act Bob Vylan, Welsh pop punk kings Neck Deep, Las Vegas glam rockers Palaye Royale, and effervescent partycore group Electric Callboy.
 
Joining them at the hallowed grounds will be Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil with his grindcore extreme metal side project Empire State Bastard, metalcore veterans Hatebreed, progressive rock icons Coheed and Cambria, death metal heroes Carcass, throwback rap rockers Joey Valence & Brae, dual-fronted power pop rockers Hot Milk, bright Leeds metalcore outfit Caskets and frenetic Yorkshire-based rock group Dinosaur Pile-Up. Californian punk veterans The Bronx will also be returning to Donington, along with metalcore legend and former lead vocalist of The Dillinger Escape Plan Greg Puciato, and LA metal heavyweights Bad Wolves.
 
Download Festival continues to showcase the best of the international metal scene, with Dutch symphonic metal group Epica, Ukrainian progressive metal band Jinjer, globe-trotting Mongolian warriors The Hu, Australian metalcore heroes The Amity Affliction, Scandinavian pop-rockers Smash Into Pieces, Swedish metal ringmasters Avatar, French gothic electronic musician Perturbator, incendiary Canadian heavy rock duo Cleopatrick, Mexican metal sisters The Warning and French dark-synth pioneer Carpenter Brut all on the bill.
 
Alongside them will be Maryland stoner metal monarchs Clutch, pop punk reformists Mom Jeans, two-time Polaris Music Prize nominees PUP, doom-trap purveyor Mimi Barks, contemporary heavy metallers Spirit Adrift, Essex alt-rock quintet Tigress and Hunstanton’s finest, Deaf Havana. And from the bloodline that brought us the late Eddie Van Halen, we have Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH.
 
Last but not least, we have fist-pumping doom outfit Green Lung, the theatrically bleak A.A. Williams, eloquent emo-infused alt-rockers Beauty School, ostentatious Wyoming metallers Antisaint, punishing riff purveyors Undeath and Metallica protégés Taipei Houston. Not to mention that  Fearless Vampire Killers are back, and their flair for the dramatic and vaudevillian is sure to charm the Donington crowds.
 
Aside from bands, Download Festival are pleased to announce a brand new Camping Plus five-day ticket, which includes toilets and showers in a private campsite. For those who already have a four or five day camping tickets, upgrades are available. For something a little different, a selection of new and unique accommodations have been added to The Rock Retreat including The Skoolie, Fire Truck and Billy The Snail.
 
For more information on VIP options, camping tickets, weekend and day tickets, please go to: www.downloadfestival.co.uk.

Boomtown: Chapter 2: The Twin Trail – Preview

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Boomtown, the 66,000 capacity festival set in the Hampshire hills, has launched its official trailer for the latest offering in their immersive storyline, Chapter Two: The Twin Trail. This can be viewed on YouTube below:

The festival takes place for five days from August 9th 2023, and is famed for its film-like sets, winding streets and high production stages and shows.

The Twin Trail follows on from last years’ Chapter One: The gathering, where the festival defined a new era after two years of cancellations. In the characteristically cinematic trailer, attendees are invited to follow the journey of The Twin Trail, which delves deeper into how a person interacts with themselves, and how they give back to the world. 

Megan Clifton, Head of Narrative Design at Boomtown, said:

“Boomtown is known for satirically mimicking the society we live in, and too often our dystopian visions have come closer to reality than we ever imagined possible. With The Twin Trail, we wish to go deeper and turn our focus inwards.

“The Twin Trail represents the two paths we all have to walk in our lives; the inner and the outer path. Without addressing our inner world, learning and accepting every part of ourselves – even the darker parts – how can we address the darker parts of society?

“We know that we have an opportunity to use the fun, interactive and immersive experiences we offer to enable actual shifting of mindsets, real-world change, and for people to take something that they learnt at Boomtown home with them.”

After the success of withholding the musical line-up until shortly before the show in 2022, Boomtown will be keeping this under wraps once again, but its ‘citizens’ can expect to see some of the biggest names in hip-hop, plus worldwide artists spanning the electronic spectrum. They have already been leaving clues as to what to expect in a recent video update. 

Max Golfar, Music Programmer at Boomtown, said:

“We’ll be bringing the freshest acts in post-punk, to the dons of the reggae world, through to disco divas and afrobeat royalty. As well as all of this, next year marks 50 years of hip-hop. It’s going to be insane.”

Boomtown is at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire, 9th-13th August 2022. Instalment plan tickets are available from £45. 

Tickets are available here.

Soul Town Festival Announces First Names for 2023

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https://soultownfestival.co.uk 
https://www.facebook.com/soultownfestival

Soul Town Festival is back once again with a stunning line-up of the best soul, disco, motown and reggae on September 2nd and 3rd 2023. This year’s festival returns to the bigger and better Croydon Recreation Ground in Beckenham, Kent  which was such a success last year and the first wave of names includes Sister Sledge ft Kathy Sledge, UB40, Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family), Desmond Decker & The Aces, Edwin Starr Band, Omar plus more to be announced. Super Early Birds tickets sold out fast so move quickly to get the best ticket deals at https://soultownfestival.com
Soul Town Festival is a perfect two day escape with plenty of musical magic, more than 65 artists, over 40 food vendors as well as dancers, rides, attractions, live steel bands, face painting, glitter stalls, hair braiding, fashion and craft stalls and so much more. The new and improved location is a beautiful lush green space in Beckenham with more bars, more staff, more toilets and improved disabled access and viewing points.
You have a wide range of food and drink to keep you fuelled across the two days. New for this year is the Pimms bus which has a terrace on the top deck, a premium gin garden and cocktail beach, plus many more exciting drinks for everyone. Food-wise, every stall has been hand selected from Caribbean food, wood fire pizzas, vegan wings and more plus meals, desserts, sweet treats and more.
There is also a mix of special VIP areas and VIP tickets include separate queuing for fast track entry, a drink and food voucher (beer, wine, spirit and mixer), Soul Town merchandise, private bar, luxury toilets, makeup bar, prime stage viewing area at both stages and more.
The music comes across two spectacular main stages with immersive light, sound and visuals set to provide the perfect summer sound explosion. Headliners include the legendary Sister Sledge ft Kathy Sledge who are one of the most iconic American acts in the world, the seductive soul sounds of Omar, uplifting pop and soul from Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family), classic reggae from the one and only UB40 and iconic vocalist Desmond Dekker and the Aces plus the soul and Motown greats that are the Edwin Star Band and many more to come.
The compact and cultured Soul Town Festival is a real music lover’s haven, so don’t miss out on the fun and get your tickets now.
Soul Town Festival 2022 
Croydon Road Recreation Ground
319 Croydon Road, Greater London, Kent, BR3 3PR
Sister Sledge ft Kathy Sledge
UB40
Tunde Baiyewu (Lighthouse Family)
Desmond Decker & The Aces
Edwin Starr Band
Omar plus more to be announced

Volaris Debut at Printworks Alongside Deadmau5 & Kaskade

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As part of the historic final run of parties at London’s iconic Printworks, Volaris is to make his much anticipated debut at the renowned club supporting Deadmau5 and Kaskade as they bring their K5 collaboration to the UK for the first time on February 3rd. Having recently signed to the Canadian electronic giant’s influential Mau5trap label, Volaris will also support Deadmau5 on his world tour, including a huge party at Miami Music Week 2023. 
 
Volaris’s “Hand of God” is an epic track and is his first signed to Mau5trap, dropping on February 21st. It is a huge new progressive house track with lush signature melodies sure to take crowds into the next dimension next to an iconic vocal and powerful drums. High profile support has already come in from tastemakers such as Vintage Culture, Solardo, Joseph Capriati, Above & Beyond and many more while Radio 1 and KISS FM have also being giving it major plays.
 
The track is the latest in a long line of successes for Volaris which is now fronted solely by Nathan Cozetto, with Rhys Buckley joining for studio duties. They have been crafting forward thinking sounds now for over 18 months. In that time, releases on John Summit’s Off The Grid, Armada and Sola have gained global attention, picking up a Beatport No. 1 with “Slow Motion” whilst racking up many millions of streams. With a wealth of new music all lined up for this year across labels including Armada, Purified and more, 2023 is set to be a significant year for Volaris. 
This career defining show at Printworks sees Volaris line-up in the famously vast halls with all the mesmeric production sure to add an extra dimension. Also playing are Deadmau5 himself as well as fellow electronic luminary Kaskade as well as British DJ and producer Brad Littler aka OCULA, a rising star in the melodic house scene. 
 
This is a great chance to catch Volaris drop his huge new tune in a perfectly epic setting. 
 

Decibel Presents Indoor Easter Edition

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Marco Carola, Nina Kraviz, Chris Liebing and more all set to feature
 
The next Italian Easter weekend stands out with some of the very best electronic music thanks to  Decibel Presents Easter Edition, which will be held in April 2023, Sunday 9th and Monday 10th (noon-midnight) in Florence, at Mandela Forum (Piazza Enrico Berlinguer).
Thanks to Decibel Presents Easter Edition, Florence is confirmed as one of the most important musician Capitals in Europe, waiting for Decibel Open Air 2023 Edition, scheduled in September, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th at Parco delle Cascine in Florence. 2022 edition was attended by around more than 50,000 people with 30% of the visitors coming from outside of Italy.
Decibel Presents its Easter Edition line up including many techno and house heavyweights: Marco Carola, Nina Kraviz, Loco Dice, Ilario Alicante, Deborah De Luca, Chris Liebing, Cloone, Patrick Mason, Chelina Manuhutu, Mattia Trani (live), U.R. Trax, Sara Mozzillo and The Florentian Cabaret.

Marco Carola is a global ambassador of techno. From Napoli in the South of Italy, Marco was instrumental in the development of the electronic scene in the early 90s, he took the flourishing techno scene to the rest of the world. Producer, occasional vocalist, and DJ, Nina Kraviz is well known as a passionate record digger and for her outstanding taste in idiosyncratic electronic music, which lead her to create her label трип (pronounced trip). Every so often a DJ or producer comes along who inspires the collective imagination. If you’ve seen Loco Dice in his sets all around the world, in the most important clubs and festivals, you will have clicked on this. Loco Dice is someone who can puzzle together intangible moods with a direct approach.
Tickets:
Decibel Presents Easter Edition is a Decibel Eventi, Nautilus Event, Vivo Concerti productions

SXM Festival Reveals 2023 Additions Black Coffee, Loco Dice, Layla Benitez, Amine K, Oxia, Nicolas Masseyeff, Parallelle and More

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SXM Festival returns from March 8-12, 2023 for a musical and cultural experience like no other. It is the only festival in the world that takes over an entire island – the Caribbean gem of Saint Martin | Sint Maarten – and is the ultimate destination experience. Prepare for a week of world-class electronic music immersed in stylish, sumptuous, and often surreal locations dotted around this idyllic island. Beach, villa, and boat parties, hilltop sunrise sessions and peak-time boho parties are all featured alongside French style champagne sipping afternoons by the pool, incredible food, boat activities, and culturally diverse explorations. Define your own unique adventure and rest assured that every day will be different – one never to forget.
Since its debut in 2016, SXM Festival has proven to be so much more than just another festival. This life-enriching experience quickly became one of the most talked about musical gatherings in the world. It’s a mix of Caribbean, French and Dutch culture, with an audience of worldly adventurers from over 35 countries and local enthusiasts gathering for some of the best underground electronic music talent on the planet. SXM Festival is a 5-day and 5-night electronic music escape and breeding ground for musical experimentation and discovery – eclipsed only by the beauty of the festival’s host location.
SXM Festival’s Phase 2 lineup adds a new batch of talented names to the fold, starting with Grammy Award-winning South African artist Black Coffee and Desolat label co-founder Loco Dice, plus Puerto Rico’s own Natalia Roth, the stylish sounds of Moody Jones, and Anthony Middleton of Audiofly. Highlights on the Phase 2 lineup continue with Moroccan electronic music ambassador Amine K, members of the Scenarios collective and label Emanuel Satie and Maga, and respected French export Oxia, along with a diverse mix of veteran and rising names including Jean Pierre, Layla Benitez, Paolo Rocco, Ms Mada, Paso Doble, Underher, Airrica, Wahm, and more.
These phase two additions join an already packed lineup featuring previously announced names including Grammy-nominated, triple platinum production duo CamelPhat, Music On leader Marco Carola, pioneering electronic producer Dubfire, and the musical experience of Astra Club – a b2b set from DJ Tennis and Carlita. Additional highlights include beloved Italian artist Francesca Lombardo, the reinvented house sensation Gordo, Brazilian stand out DJ and producer Mochakk, the return of Swiss favourite Sonja Moonear following her memorable 2022 performance, and a live set from visionary melodic house and techno veteran Rodriguez Jr.
The lineup’s global depth extends further with emergent West African DJ and producer AMÉMÉ, Palestinian DJ Maher Daniel, French exports Apollonia and YokoO, Berlin-based DJ and producer Gene On Earth, and German producer and co-founder of the Common Sense People event series Konstantin Sibold. A diversity of styles round out the lineup from the likes of acclaimed selector Doc Martin, Moscow Records and Moss Co. imprint head Archie Hamilton, the mystical melodic sounds of Deer Jade, and psychedelic house producer Mita Gami among others.
The party venues are simply incredible, starting with the legendary Happy Bay. The secluded private beach nestled in the jungle serves as the main evening venue and is home to the iconic Arc Main Stage and the immersive Ocean Stage. Other highlights include Boho Beach Club, the perfect place to chill out and escape during the day, and the infamous Villa Party, accessible only with a VIP ticket. Experience a revival of the luxury only bygone movie idols of the 60s jetset have lived, combined with modern-day luxury and design. This party is definitely one of the highlights of the festival. This exclusive estate, Sandyline, is a showcase for the chic, a day time rendez-vous for your inner rock star.
VIP Ticket holders receive access to exclusive areas with lush amenities at Happy Bay, priority table service, a chill-out area, a dedicated VIP bar and special cocktails, pop-up bars, VIP washroom, surprises and more.
VIP Ticket holders are also guaranteed first access to tickets for the ultra-exclusive limited capacity Satellite events; The Panorama Party and Boat Party. The Panorama Party gives attendees the chance to party at the peak of Sint Maarten’s highest mountain with breathtaking 360-degree views of the best Caribbean sunset. That Venue has been used for the Cercle live stream and has to be seen to be believed. Other Satellite Parties include the Boat Party, setting sail on the largest lagoon in the Caribbean with the most colorful sunset. Also this year, a new Catamaran Cruise will take 100 people to the most beautiful spots with food, drinks, swimming and a surprise DJ. VIP Tickets also allow advanced table bookings for each venue.
Those seeking the best possible experience should book their Villa directly with SXM Festival for added benefits such as Private Airport transfer, Admission directly in the Villa, Ultra VIP parking at Happy Bay, Dedicated VIP Host & Concierge Services, Priority Table Service, Photo Shoot, Pre-Festival styling sessions, hosted backstage visit and more.
For the 6th edition, the event will continue to build upon its deep connection with the cultural and ecological fabric of the beautiful host locale of Saint Martin | Sint Maarten. SXM Festival is also dedicated to leaving a smaller footprint and helping replenish natural environments. With initiatives that include going paperless, planting palm trees, saving energy with LED and solar lights, and eliminating plastic waste throughout the festival while collaborating year after year with local talents, it is the mission of SXM Festival to become increasingly sustainable throughout their growth. The festival also has a no-trace policy: every venue is transformed to be more beautiful at the end of each event.
Whether you are a returning vet or a first-timer, SXM Festival and the beautiful island of Saint Martin | Sint Maarten holds rich cultural surprises behind each twist and turn. It is truly a sum of its parts and a voyage of a lifetime.
Tickets for SXM Festival are available now on the festival’s official website.
SXM Festival 2023 Lineup (A-Z):
Airrica
Amine K
AMÉMÉ
Apollonia
Archie Hamilton
Asaf Samuel
Astra Club (Dj Tennis b2b Carlita)
Anthony Middleton
Black Coffee
Calussa
Camelphat
Chaim
Deer Jade
Demi Riquisimo
Doc Martin
Dubfire
Emanuel Satie
Francesca Lombardo
Gene On Earth
Gordo
Jean Pierre
Jenia Tarsol
Kadosh
Konstantin Sibold
Layla Benitez
Loco Dice
Maga
Maher Daniel
Marco Carola
Mita Gami
Mochakk
Moody Jones
Ms Mada
Natalia Roth
Nico De Andrea
Nicolas Masseyeff
Oxia
Paolo Rocco
Parallelle
Paso Doble
Raresh
Rodriguez Jr (Live)
Rossi.
Sean Doron
SIS
Sonja Moonear
Tony Y Not
Underher
Wahm (Live)
YokoO
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Follow SXM Festival:
Instagram – @sxmfestival
Facebook – @sxmfestival
TikTok –  @sxmfestival
Twitter – @sxmfestival

Reinier Zonneveld Delivers a Scintillating Remix of D-Devils’ Single ‘Dance With The Devil (The 6th Gate) on his Filth On Acid Label

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Techno giant Reinier Zonneveld heads into 2023 in monstrous style with the release of his fierce remix of D-Devil’s iconic hard trance classic ‘Dance With The Devil’, out on Zonneveld’s own Filth On Acid imprint. This follows several standout collaborations and is another track that proves no one in techno is in better form than this man.
Dance with the Devil (The 6th Gate) [Reinier Zonneveld Remix] is a high-energy techno banger with a powerful beat that soon consumes your entire body. It has quick, punchy kicks and warm, rumbling bass. Over the top are sleek 90s trance chords and frazzled stabs that will make a huge impact in the club for sure.
Says Reinier: “It’s always an honour to get a chance to work on tracks I love so working on a remix of D-Devil’s classic ‘The 6th Gate (Dance With The Devil)’ has been one of my favourite projects lately. I’ve been road-testing the remix at almost all of my shows the past months already and the response from the crowd has been insane!”
Artist(s): Reinier Zonneveld, D-Devils
Title: Dance with the Devil (The 6th Gate) [Reinier Zonneveld Remix]
Record Label: Filth On Acid 
Cat.Number: FOA124
Release Date: 27th January 2023 [Beatport (2 weeks)], 10th February 2023 (all other download stores)
Tracklist:
1) Dance with the Devil (The 6th Gate) [Reinier Zonneveld Remix]

Afterlife Presents a New EP From Innellea – Five Phases – Reflected Wisdom

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Follow Innellea on SoundCloud / Instagram / Facebook
He returns to Afterlife with an instalment from his ambitious live project: Five Phases*
‘Forced Adaptation’ growls with ominous venom. Midway through, we encounter a neon-tinged breakdown designed to ignite the dance floor. ‘Reflected Wisdom’ has a little more urgency and jaunty energy, Innellea bringing the electrified funk…
*Five Phases is a series of releases and an upcoming extended Live Set journey, taking the audience in five phases from birth to death. From light to light in an audiovisual reflection of life: The Awakening – Rebellious Learning – Forced Adoption – Reflected Wisdom – The Conclusion. This EP represents the third and fourth phase of life. Forced Adoption and Reflected Wisdom.
Artist(s): Innellea
Title: Five Phases – Reflected Wisdom
Record Label: Afterlife
Cat.Number: AL074
Release Date: 27th January 2023
Tracklist:
1) Innellea – Reflected Wisdom – Five Phases Project (4/5)
 2) Innellea – Forced Adaptation – Five Phases Project (3/5)