Tag: Techno

  • Mondo open air – ØTTA , Patrick Mason, Serafina

    Mondo open air – ØTTA , Patrick Mason, Serafina

    Bathed in golden sunlight and pulsing with bass, the third edition of Mondo Open Air unfolded this past Sunday at Jowke, the lush terrace-club hybrid on the outskirts of Madrid where palm trees frame the dancefloor and afternoon melts into something euphoric. From early afternoon until nightfall, Jowke became more than a venue; it became a portal.

    Jowke has that rare mix of urban edge and tropical dream. With its open-air decks, water features, elevated platforms and ambient lighting, the space moves between industrial and intimate. There’s room to drift, to lose yourself, to dance under the soft shade or perch on a ledge and watch the crowd fall into rhythm. The sound system was crisp and full-bodied, delivering every kick with warmth and force.

    Entasia opened the day with a set rooted in hypnotic techno. Hailing from the UK, her style blends gritty percussion with trance-like atmospheres. She built her session with intention, layering tension and suspense until the floor began to move as one. The energy was slow-burning and cinematic, the kind of set that invites you to surrender without even realizing it.

    ØTTA followed and brought a different light. Also from the UK, she leaned into melodic techno and soulful house textures. Her selections carried warmth and color, weaving emotional resonance into the growing pulse of the evening. As the sun began to drop behind the trees, her music seemed to guide it, each transition flowing like a gentle breath. People began to loosen, to lean into the groove with closed eyes and open smiles.

    Then came Patrick Mason. The Berlin-based artist arrived with a magnetic presence and a razor-sharp sound. His set was a masterclass in intensity, blending industrial techno with acid flashes, metallic rhythms and dramatic breakdowns. Patrick doesn’t just DJ; he commands. Every gesture felt choreographed, every track perfectly placed. The terrace turned into a pressure cooker, and when the drops landed, the collective release was immediate and wild. He connected with the crowd not just through sound, but through performance, and it made all the difference.

    Earlier and later in the day, Serafina and Gerardo Niva each brought their signature touch. Serafina carved out a psychedelic, trance-laced path through the mid-afternoon haze, while Gerardo, a beloved figure in the Mondo scene, closed with a deep and driving techno set that felt both grounded and expansive.

    What lingered most was the feeling in the air. This wasn’t just a party; it was a community in motion. Barefoot dancers by the pool, groups sprawled across lounge beds, hands reaching toward the fading light during Mason’s climactic peaks. There was connection, freedom, and something close to joy.

    Mondo Open Air at Jowke has cemented itself as one of Madrid’s essential open-air experiences. It’s more than a lineup, more than a location. It’s the way the music, the architecture and the sunlight converge into something unforgettable. If you’re thinking of catching the next one, don’t hesitate. Tickets are available at http://www.mondodisko.es/entradas. Come for the music, stay for the moment.

  • Monegros desert festival – Line-up & tickets

    Monegros desert festival – Line-up & tickets

    A Mirage Turns Reality again in 2025

    On July 26, 2025, the arid plains near Fraga, Aragón, once again morphed into an electrifying city of sound. Under the unforgiving sun and swirling dust, a temporary techno metropolis of 13 stages emerged, alive with the rhythmic pulse of electronic music for a blistering 22 hours straight


    Lineup of Legends & New Frontiers

    This 32nd edition boasted over 150 artists, with around 50,000 ravers from 90+ countries answering the call.

    The bill featured scene titans like Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Pendulum’s explosive live act, Adam Beyer & Ilario Alicante, and spectacular B2B & F2F sets ( Blawan & SHDW, Yanamaste F2F Chlär).

    The genre palette ranged far and wide, from techno to house, drum & bass, hip‑hop, psytrance, reggae, and dub, showcasing artists like Protoje, Fatima Hajji, Estella Boersma and many more.


    The Desert Becomes a Stage

    Set amidst the stark semi‑desert landscape of Los Monegros where daytime temperatures bake the soil and nights dip into chill the festival transformed the barren land into a surreal playground. Massive art installations towered over the crowd: a decommissioned A‑330 hull repurposed as a bass bunker, futuristic temples, 360° sound arenas, and vibrant tents dotting the expanse.


    Sound & Survival — A 22‑Hour Odyssey

    Attendees dubbed it a “sound and survival” test, a raving marathon that pushed limits of endurance and ecstasy. With dust in every crevice and the desert wind a constant companion, the experience was raw, unfiltered, and deeply communal. Conversations before and after sunrise echoed the sentiment: “you breathe sand, sweat beats, and at dawn find yourself bonded by the desert” .


    Comfort vs. Extremity: Surpassing Expectations

    This year’s edition saw practical upgrades—more shaded zones, oasis-style chill‑out areas, extra water points, improved signage, smart lockers, and enhanced sanitation—without diluting the wild spirit. These additions made the most grueling rave feel navigable, while still preserving the desert’s fierce character.


    Dawn’s Redemption

    As the clock struck morning, the final beats of Josh Wink and Paco Osuna faded against a palette of golden hues. Many stood in reflective awe, dust-coated and drained, yet undeniably alive. It was precisely during those first light moments that Monegros revealed its magic: the juxtaposition of survival and celebration, human connection and elemental beauty.


    Who Were the True “Monegrinos”?

    The Arnau family—who have curated the festival since its humble beginnings—proudly declared that Monegros always delivers surprise and innovation with every return.

    Beyond music and art, Monegros forced attendees to embrace the raw, to grind through dust and sun, and emerged transformed—not just by the lineup, but by the desert itself.

    All said: this edition wasn’t just a festival—it was survival, spectacle, and transcendence. It beckoned you in with bass and left marked by sand.


    Ready to Join the Next Expedition?

    Stay alert for lineup expansions, limited ticket drops, and lifestyle updates by following Monegros channels. If you crave an event that tests your limits and rewards your resilience, Monegros Desert Festival delivers once more a legendary odyssey in Spain’s elemental wild.

    This year’s collaborations at Monegros are set to take the festival experience to the next level. As always, the 13 themed stages will each reflect the musical style and creative vision of the brands behind them. Awakenings returns once again after the overwhelming success of its debut last year, solidifying its presence as one of the festival’s most anticipated showcases for top-tier techno and hard techno.

    Joining the lineup of curated stages are new additions hosted by some of the most influential names on the scene. German powerhouse Unreal will bring its signature hard techno intensity to the desert for the first time, while on the opposite end of the spectrum, but equally iconic Brunch! Electronic will make its Monegros debut with a vibrant selection of international house and tech house

    Tickets & full line-up

    Tickets for Monegros Desert Festival can be purchased directly through their official website. You can choose from several options depending on how you want to experience the festival. Standard entry gives you full access to all stages and areas, but if you’re looking to enhance your comfort or enjoy some extra perks, there are VIP tickets available that include benefits like fast-track entry and access to exclusive zones. There are also travel packages that combine your ticket with bus transport from different cities, making it easier to get to the heart of the desert.

  • Awakenings Festival 2025: All you need to know

    Awakenings Festival 2025: All you need to know

    Every summer, there’s a moment—usually around late June when the basslines start to echo across the green fields of Spaarnwoude, and you just know: Awakenings is near. For thousands of techno lovers, it’s more than a date on the calendar. It’s a ritual. A reunion. A rush.

    Awakenings Festival returns on June 28 & 29, 2025, and with it comes that unmistakable blend of pounding kick drums, smiling strangers, and endless energy under the Dutch sky. After 25 years of shaping the sound of the scene, this edition feels both like a celebration of its roots and a leap into the future.


    A Lineup That Speaks in Frequencies

    Let’s talk about the music because that’s why we go. The 2025 lineup is stacked, as always, with a perfect mix of legends, rebels, and rising stars. Amelie Lens is back (when isn’t she?), bringing her signature steamroller sets that somehow manage to feel both massive and intimate. Jeff Mills, the Wizard himself, is set to deliver another interstellar journey—expect machine soul and outer space minimalism.

    And of course, Adam Beyer returns to his spiritual home. His Drumcode sets on the Awakenings mainstage have become a tradition of their own—like techno Christmas, but sweatier.


    Dig a little deeper and you’ll find stages dedicated to more experimental corners of the genre. Richie Hawtin, Clara Cuvé, and Kobosil will dive deep into raw, industrial terrain, crafting sets made for strobe-drenched warehouses even when played under the summer sun. If you prefer melodies with your 4/4, Ben Böhmer and Mind Against are your ticket to euphoric breakdowns and wide-open emotional highs.

    We’re also watching new names break through the smoke: Ellen Alien brings high-BPM flashbacks to the rave glory days, and I Hate Models returns with his genre-melting sound, a chaotic blend of techno, electro, and emotional aggression that hits harder than ever.


    Spaarnwoude: Nature Meets Noise

    There’s something poetic about dancing to industrial-strength techno surrounded by trees and grass. The Spaarnwoude site, just a short ride from Amsterdam, has become synonymous with Awakenings, a perfect canvas where nature and technology collide.

    Expect massive LED towers, pyrotechnic bursts, laser storms, and teh best sound systems that make every hi-hat shimmer and every bass drop feel like it’s rewiring your brain. But there’s also space to breathe: cozy hideaways, shaded chill zones, open-air art installations, and food trucks that cater to everything from greasy cravings to clean, plant-based fuel.


    This contrast—between intensity and serenity, chaos and calm—is what makes Awakenings more than a festival. It’s a fully embodied experience. A place where you can lose yourself in the music, and somehow find a part of yourself in the process.


    Tickets

    If you’re thinking about going, don’t hesitate. Tickets are moving fast, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. You can still grab yours at awakenings.com/festival — with options for weekend passes, single-day adventures, and VIP upgrades for those who want a little extra comfort with their kicks.

    Awakenings Festival 2025 is a homecoming for the global techno community. Whether you come alone or with your full crew, whether it’s your tenth time or your very first, one thing’s for sure: once the music starts, and you feel that first wave of bass roll through your chest, you’ll remember exactly why you came.

    See you in the woods.