Sonus Festival: 2023 Review
It's hard to believe that Sonus Festival has now reached a decade of techno dominance on the shores of Novalja.
I clearly remember the days when mid to late August came along and Zrฤe beach just turned into a ghost town, literally over night, well that all changed 10 years ago with the creation of Sonus Festival which has since become one of the most popular festivals in Croatia.
And deservedly so, they throw everything at it and year-on-year deliver one of the biggest techno lineups of the summer season across Europe.
Since its inception, Sonus Festival's visionary team of electronic music directors has consistently set the bar for the ultimate techno experience on Croatia's infamous Zrฤe beach.
These guys are certainly not new to putting in successful events as they are also the well-oiled team behind the iconic Timewarp brand.
Their pioneering spirit has not only shaped the Adriatic festival landscape here but also serves as a blueprint for others to follow.
Sonus Festival 2023
In my humble opinion, we need more Zrce festivals and parties of Sonus festival's stature and maturity operating and I think with the arrival of the Euro in Croatia, prices going higher across the region this may well happen over the next few season.
However, year after year, Sonus Festival consistently delivers a juggernaut techno lineup that's nothing short of a sonic journey guided by the titans of house and techno.
It's an annual gathering of global superstars and very much a congregation of the electronic music techno elite.
Located in the heart of the Adriatic Sea, Zrฤe Beach on Pag Island provides an exquisite canvas for this electronic festival
Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, breathtaking Velebit mountain vistas, and a vibrant dance music scene all come together in perfect harmony, creating an unforgettable backdrop for a techno festival that's all about high-caliber music and dance culture.
We always look forward to Sonus, it is the highlight of our year, and as passionate attendees of every Sonus edition since its inception in 2013, the Novalja Local team was eager to dive into the magic of the 2023 edition.
Here's how it Sonus 2023 unfolded...
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Day 1: Sunday 20th August
Day 1 of Sonus Festival in Novalja was off to an absolute banger! Everyone in town was fresh-faced and excited which always sets the stage for a week of music and mayhem.
The Pag Island beach vibes were electric, and the continental crowd was hyped for a day and night filled with nonstop techno beats.
We kicked things off with Lilly Palmer, who absolutely smashed it at Aquarius Zrce. The open-air beats were infectious, and the dance floor was buzzing with energy.
The crowd was already tingling with first-day anticipation, and Lilly Palmer took it to the next level. Her set had everyone properly geared up, and it was a killer way to kick off the festival.
Next up was Solardo's opening night set at Kalypso, and let me tell you, it didnโt disappoint.
We were already hyped from Lilly's performance, but Solardo took things up a notch. Their beats had the crowd grooving, and it was clear that the festival was off to a great start.
The opening night was a big one and far from over.
One of the kings of techno, Marco Carolla, hammered it out at Papaya Zrฤe - which is clearly a core venue for the Sonus crew as so many of the big names are playing this particular arena this year.
This, by the way, is totally fine by us as the Novalja Local team LOVE Papaya and are big supporters of the venue. It has a vibe like no other down on the bustling Zrce beach.
The day 1 energy was already off the charts as Marco took us on yet another techno-sonic journey. The crowd was going absolutely bonkers, and it was a perfect way to close out the first day of the festival.
The crowd was fresh, and up for it, the music was pumping, and it was an epic first day to kick off Sonus Festival.
If this is any indication of what's to come, we were in for another week of gold-standard music and techno memories!
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Day 2: Monday 21st August
Day 2 of the Sonus Festival in Novalja was again another whirlwind of electronic excitement, and it was impossible not to get caught up in the electrifying Zrฤe beach atmosphere.
The lineup, as always, was stacked, and the DJs always bring their A-game to Zrฤe.
There is definitely something about four of the best open-air superclubs in the world all sitting side by side with each other that brings out the best in visiting artists.
We kicked things bu catching Patrick Mason absolutely smashing it at Kalypso Zrce. His beats were ruthless, and the dancefloor was bouncing.
The energy was through the roof (if there was one!), and it was the perfect way to start the day.
Next up, we made our way over to Euphoria Zrฤe. Euphoria has upped their game again this year with the venue clearly being a worthy arena for this mighty electronic music festival.
Sonus tweaked the area even further by injecting more lighting and CO2 canons into the Euphoria production equation.
First up this year we caught Ellen Alien, and she did not disappoint.
Her unique style and killer track selection had the Euphoria Zrฤe crowd grooving from the first beat.
The Techno vibes were on point, and it was clear that Ellen Alien knew how to keep the beach party rolling.
But our beach manoeuvres didn't stop there. We managed to catch an hour of the legendary Martinez Brothers at Papaya Zrce, and that in itself was pure magic.
Their mixing skills were top-notch, and the crowd was absolutely locked in.
It was cool to see them spin for a bit but all of us had our eyes set on catching Artbat over the road.
We slipped out of Papaya and went 100 meters next door to Papaya for Artbat and we were not disappointed. Their set was a journey through deep, Techno that had everyone in a trance.
It was obvious that these guys are big crowd favourites, Papaya was heaving and it was the perfect way to close out an incredible day at Sonus Festival.
The crowd was insane, the music was mind-blowing, the location was on point, and day two was a testament to the power of music to bring people together.
If the rest of the festival is anything like this, we're in for an unforgettable week of techno, techno and more techno.
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Day 3: Tuesday 22nd August
After some much-needed sleep and a few hours on the beach to recharge the festival batteries we were ready for Day 3!
We kicked things off nice and early at 1830 with a three-hour Joseph Capriati special show at Papaya Zrce.
As always, these types of early beach sets are the perfect way to transition from day to night. The energy was beginning to pulsate, slowly building through Joseph's set, the crowd grew in numbers significantly and we knew we were in for a big night ahead.
After Joseph Capriati's mesmerising set, we decided to do some club and bar hopping along the vibrant Zrce beach for a few hours.
Thatโs one of the great things about Zrฤe these days, there is so much to do! There are a load of new bars and beach activities to experience so you can easily have fun losing yourself for a few hours without having to be deep inside one of the nightclub dance-floors.
Anyhow, the night was still young, and the music was calling us from all directions.
It was definitely one of those evenings of pure musical exploration, with each venue offering its own unique vibe and personality.
But the real magic happened when Richie Hawtin took the stage at Papaya, once again. I think we all love a bit of Richie!
His set was nothing short of bang on, setting the place alight with his signature techno sound. The crowd was ready for the Hawtin, and it felt like the entire beach was pulsating to the music.
After Richie, we couldn't resist making our way a few hundred metres dwon the beach to Kalypso Zrฤe for Pan-Pot, and they delivered a set that had us dancing until the early hours.
We contemplated staying for the afters with Mr Capriati, but our party energy was running low, our beds were calling and we knew that the final after-party later in the week was still on the horizon.
But day 3 was wicked!
The crowd was super friendly, the music was mind-blowing, and day 3 was yet another exciting chapter in the Sonus Festival story.
We couldn't wait to see what the rest of the week had in store for us!
Day 4: Wednesday 23rd August
Day 4 of the Sonus Festival in Novalja was always set to be an absolute belter, and the energy in the air was off the charts.
Sonus festival had been building momentum with each passing day, and day 4 was certainly no exception.
Today was another early start as we kicked off at 1800 with techno megastar Deborah De Luca spinning at Papaya Zrce.
Her three-hour set was a familiar journey of techno beats, and the crowd lapped it up every minute of it.
It has been quite a sight seeing this DJ rise to such stardom over the last few seasons.
I have to say, it was the perfect way to start the night, and it totally set the tone for what was to come.
Even more techno magic awaited us as we made our way back down to Kalypso, where a superb DJ lineup awaited.
We were definitely going to be setting our roots down in Kalypso for a few hours!
Andrea Oliva took control of the decks, delivering a set that had the dancefloor popping.
The Adriatic temperature was rising, both on and off the dancefloor, as the techno music continued to turn the gauge on the atmosphere.
Next up, the flamboyant Mochaak took control, keeping the beats rolling and the crowd grooving.
As a DJ, his personal energy is notorious, and it was clear that the Sonus Festival was hitting its peak.
But the night was far from over. No way!
Dance music royalty, Locodice, took the stage and delivered a typically LOCODICE performance.
We have been fans of his since his early 2000's DC10 days so we knew he would be proper!
His mastery of the decks is always guaranteed and his impeccable track selection had everyone in a Zrce-trance.
The festival had been getting better and better with each passing day, and Locodice made day four an absolute highlight.
Day 4 was a day and night of music, dancing, meeting new popek, and unforgettable electronic music moments that left us anticipating what the final day of the festival had in store.
Sonus, you have us hooked, what next? Because we know the line up for day 5 was an ABSOLUTE monster!
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Day 5: Thursday 24th August
Day 5 sadly marked the grand finale of the Sonus Festival in Novalja, and hold on to your hats, it was a colossal lineup.
Day 5 was possibly programmed as the biggest, and the excitement was palpable as we geared up for a marathon of quality techno!
Many of the locals in Novalja were taking time off to head down to the beach for Day 5 and the afters so there was definitely a bigger buzz in the air today around the island.
Sensibly, we decided to take it easy during the day, knowing that the real action was going to happen well into the early hours.
After missing Thursday morning's "afters" our plans were well and truly locked on the after-party hosted by the techno titan, Sven Vรคth, at Kalypso, which was scheduled to kick off at 6 in the morning.
We have attended every closing day after party for so many years now and we certainly were not missing out on this one!
Our excitement was building, and we were ready for a night that would go down in 2023 festival history.
We hit the beach at around 1 a.m. for Adriatique at Papaya, and their set was nothing short of mind-blowing.
The crowd was zoned in with their every move, and it was great to see such energy after a properly heavy few days of partying!
We managed to catch about half-hour of Juliet Fox at Euphoria, and she brought the heat with her beats.
But the real magic happened when we made our way back to Kalypso Zrฤe. This year, Sonus seemed to have a knack for programming big names at Kalypso, and it was no different on the final day.
Seth Troxler took control of the decks. His electronic energy was relentless, and it was clear that this was going to be a night to remember.
And then came a big fan favourite, Riccardo Villalobos, who closed out the festival with a bang.
His unique style and Riccardo flair had the crowd in a frenzy, and it was the perfect way to roll into the final few hours.
Day five was a grand finale in every sense of the word. The lineup was massive, the tunes were relentless, and the unmistakable Sonus atmosphere was pure magic.
Sonus Festival had already delivered an unforgettable week of music, and as we headed into the after-party at Kalypso, we knew that the party was far from over.
Time for Papa Sven!
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After Party: Friday Morning 25th August
The final day after-party at Kalypso is always the perfect conclusion to one of the best Techno festivals in the world.
Sonus is a marathon of electronic music, and the team behind the festival spared no expense. They never do!
They throw EVERYTHING at booking only the very best techno lineups in the world and it was only fitting that Sven Vรคth closed down the 2023 edition at the Kalypso afters.
Sven Vรคth, the techno maestro himself, took control of the decks at 6 in the morning and didn't let up until much later in the morning.
The energy throughout the venue was s, and it was the perfect way to end an incredible week of music and celebration.
As the sun began to rise over the Velebit mountains, it was clear that the vibes and the atmosphere of the festival had only gotten better and better with each passing day.
The music, as always with Sonus, had united people from all corners of the globe, and the sense of unity was undeniable.
As we danced into the early hours of the morning, it was a bittersweet moment.
Sonus Festival had now come to an end.
It was a week of pure party magic, and the after-party with Sven Vรคth was the icing on the cake. How could it not be?
As we left the venue, the sun was high in the sky, and we couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the awesome week we just had.
We absolutely love Sonus Festival and it always delivers an unforgettable experience.
Sonus Festival 2023: The Verdict
Letโs wrap things up. Sonus Festival is a decade-strong testament to the power of techno, uniting electronic music enthusiasts from across the globe in a week-long celebration of electronic music and continental collectiveness.
This festival stands as a statement of excellence on Zrฤe Beach, carrying forward the legacy of the pioneering Timewarp team that has consistently raised the bar for festival experiences here in Croatia.
Throughout the five days and nights of sonic exploration, the festival's relentless energy and impeccable lineup left an indelible mark on every attendee.
From the daytime beats to the sunrise-soaked after-parties, Sonus delivered an auditory techno adventure like no other.
Sonus Festival is more than just a festival; it's a techno pilgrimage. The crowd is one of the best in the World and we didn't bump into any "moody-bods" or "entitled-instagrammers" literally all week.
It really does attract the right people for such a stunning festival location.
As we bid farewell to Sonus Festival 2023, we do so with hearts full of gratitude, knowing that this annual celebration of electronic music will continue to shape the future of festival experiences here on Zrฤe beach in Croatia.
Until next year, Sonus, we eagerly await your return, ready to dance once again under the Adriatic sun and the stars!
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Sonus Festival: Your Festival Guide
Sonus Festival. Personally, it is one of my favourite festivals on Zrฤe beach as Sonus attracts an utterly awesome crowd.
The audience is an elegant mix of 20-35 year old continental clubbers who obviously know and love their electronic music!
Let's start from the beginning...
Timewarp? Is that familiar by any chance?
Well if you are a Techno fan it certainly will be! Timewarp is one of the long standing titans of Techno! The team from Germany have developed their seamless Zrce beach Sonus festival offering since 2013 and it has steadily turned into one of the leading Techno festivals on the European calendar.
Known for its stunning location, high-octane atmosphere, mature audience, and impressive lineup of world-renowned DJs, the Sonus Festival has cemented its reputation as TOP destination for electronic music fans.
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Always taking place around the third week of August on Zrce expect iconic Techno names such as Sven Vรคth, Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Chris Liebing, Richie Hawtin, and Ricardo Villabos.
These DJs feature alongside major modern players such as Amelie Lens, Nastia, Charlotte de Witte, Marco Carola and Joseph Capriati. The list is endless and always comprehensive!
On a similar scale and artistic stature to that of Hideout festival they also book every leading Techno superstar on the planet for 5 days of thumping, pumping and twisting techno sounds.
Whether you're a seasoned festival-goer or a first-timer, the Sonus Festival at Zrฤe Beach promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Weโll delve into the history and evolution of the festival, explore its unique Adriatic ocation and setting, highlight some of the most memorable performances from past years, and offer tips for attendees looking to plan their trip to this unforgettable event.
History of Sonus Festival
Sonus Festival was first held in 2013, when it was founded by the German electronic music promoters Cosmopop who, as I mentioned at the beginning are also the guys behind Timewarp!
Since then, it has grown in size and popularity, becoming one of the most highly-anticipated electronic music festivals in Europe.
The festival's reputation has been built on the quality of its performers and its stunning location near Novalja on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Over the years, the Sonus Festival has played host to some of the biggest names in electronic music, including Sven Vรคth, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, and Ricardo Villalobos, among others.
These artists have helped to establish the festival as a major destination for fans of techno, house, and other forms of electronic music.
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The festival's organizers have worked hard to create a unique and immersive Techno experience for attendees, with multiple stages and a range of other activities and amenities.
Looking back at past years, some of the most memorable moments from the festival include performances by Maceo Plex, Tale of Us, and Jamie Jones, as well as surprise appearances by DJ legends like Laurent Garnier and Jeff Mills.
These moments have helped to cement the festival's reputation as a one-of-a-kind event that is not to be missed.
Location and Setting
Zrฤe Beach is a stunning location on the island of Pag in Croatia, known for its crystal-clear waters and beautiful beaches. The beach is located just a short distance from the town of Novalja, making it easily accessible to festival-goers from across Europe.
One of the key appeals of Zrฤe Beach as a location for the Sonus Festival is its unique setting. The festival takes place across the multiple stages of the open air superclubs.
These include Papaya, Aquarius, Kalypso and Noa Beach clubs,
All of these venues all revellers to enjoy world-class electronic music while taking in stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding landscape.
In addition to its stages, the Sonus Festival also features a range of other amenities and activities for attendees.
Food and drink vendors are located throughout the festival grounds, offering everything from local cuisine to international favorites.
The festival also offers a range of other activities, such as bunh=gee jumping, boat parties, and more, making it an immersive experience for attendees.
Overall, the combination of Zrฤe Beach's stunning location and the Sonus Festival's impressive lineup and amenities make for an unforgettable experience for all who attend.
Whether you're a die-hard fan of electronic music or simply looking for a unique and unforgettable vacation destination, the Sonus Festival at Zrฤe Beach is not to be missed.
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Lineup and Performances
The Sonus Festival is known for its impressive lineup of world-renowned Techno DJs and producers.
Some of the notable artists who have performed at the festival in past years include Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Charlotte de Witte, Dixon, Carl Cox, Loco Dice, and Nina Kraviz, among many others.
The festival also features a strong contingent of local talent, showcasing the best in Croatian electronic music.
Overall, the lineup and performances at the Sonus Festival are a major draw for attendees, with many coming from across all Europe and beyond to experience some of the biggest names in electronic music in such a stunning and unique setting.
Attendee Experience
The Sonus Festival has become known for its continental atmosphere and high-energy vibe, drawing in electronic music fans from across the world.
The atmosphere is electric, everyone is so friendly and down to earth and the people are at Sonus to really party, properly!
There are so many festivals in the world now where people just attend to โcheck in on Facebookโ but this is absolutely not the case with the superb Sonus family!
They come to PARTY on Zrฤe beach!
The beach also provides a unique setting for daytime events, such as boat parties and pool parties, making for a truly immersive Techno experience.
Overall, past attendees of the Sonus Festival have raved about the festival's atmosphere and vibe, with many citing it as one of the best electronic music festivals they've ever attended.
The combination of great music, stunning location, and strong sense of community make for an unforgettable experience that keeps fans coming back year after year.
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Logistics and Planning
For those planning to attend the Sonus Festival at Zrฤe Beach, there are several key factors to consider to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Accommodation: It is recommended to book accommodations early, as the festival attracts a large number of attendees and accommodations can fill up quickly.
The festival offers several Novalja based accommodation options, including camping, apartments, hostels and hotels.
It is also recommended to consider staying in nearby towns such as Novalja, as this can provide a wider range of options.
Tickets: Tickets for the festival typically go on sale several months before the event. It is recommended to purchase tickets early to ensure availability and to take advantage of early bird pricing. The festival also offers several ticket options, including full passes, day passes, and VIP passes.
Transportation: Zrฤe Beach is easily accessible by car or bus from nearby towns and cities. The festival also offers shuttle buses from nearby airports and train stations. It is recommended to plan transportation in advance and to allow for extra time for travel during peak festival periods.
Packing: Be sure to pack appropriate clothing for the festival, including comfortable shoes for dancing and swimwear for daytime events. It is also recommended to bring sunscreen, a hat, and other sun protection, as the festival takes place in a sunny and warm location.
Overall, with proper planning and preparation, attending the Sonus Festival at Zrฤe Beach can be an unforgettable experience. From booking accommodations to purchasing tickets and planning transportation, taking the time to prepare can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable festival experience.
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Sonus Festival: Wrapping Things UP
Sonus Festival at Zrฤe Beach in Croatia has become one of the premier Techno music festivals in Europe, drawing in crowds from across the world with its impressive lineup of world-renowned DJs, stunning location, and unique atmosphere.
Over the years, the festival has certainly evolved and expanded featuring most of the biggest names in the industry.
For those planning to attend the Sonus Festival, careful planning and preparation can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
From booking accommodation to purchasing festival tickets and planning transportation, taking the time to prepare in advance can help make the most of your festival experience.
Overall, the Sonus Festival at Zrฤe Beach is not to be missed for fans of Techno music and those looking for a unique and unforgettable festival destination.
If Techno under the sun is your thing, Sonus will absolutely light you up!