Bucket List: The world of electronic dance and music festivals - Part I

Sydney lockout laws were repealed earlier this year and to celebrate, we were working on a compilation of the world’s top 50 dance and music festivals on offer which has now fallen apart as schedules have been cancelled, tickets are being refunded and our favorite acts perform from the comfort of their own home….

So now our bucket list becomes a retrospect of after movies to inspire our travels on the otherside…

Tomorrowland, Boom – Belgium

It’s the holy grail of electronic dance that has never been matched by any Australian music festival (if at all possible). There were 5 times more people pre-registered than there were (400,000) tickets available, 18 stages in a fantasy themed world that stretches 38 hectares, featuring 1000 artists in an extravaganza of elite pyrotechnics, audio visual, staging and costuming displays. It’s that big one weekend isn’t enough and and its stretched over two. It will require close to 20,000 staff to run the event for the 1.6 million people who will miss out on tickets, 710,000 of them will tune into Facebook LIVE to watch the most anticipated acts.

PRE-REGISTER FOR TICKETS

Snowbombing, Mayrhofen, Austria

It’s the original festival which Thredbo’s Snowtunes would have been descended from. A regular stop for world class acts with the experience for visitors including skiing before raving in an ifloo and chilling out in the mandatory spas available at the hotels that have to be booked with your ticket.

TICKETS ARE SOLD ONLY WITH ACCOMMODATION

Sandbox, Egypt

By the Red Sea, it’s the largest festival in the Middle East where its’ visitors and like minded individuals can escape its political struggles and prejudices.

Secret Solstice, Reykjavik Iceland

It’s quite a liberal country of less than 400,000 people with the highest single population in the world, or at least a society where almost 70% of children born are from couples who aren’t married, so they must know how to throw a party right? They only get a maximum of 5 hours sunlight during the Winter, so when the summer solstice kicks in, the city celebrates.

Sunburn Klassique, Goa India

Described as Asia’s largest electronic dance music festival.

Sonus Festival, Pag Island – Croatia

An island with a population of less than 10,000 people is taken over by international visitors for this 5 day event!

Waterzonic, Myanmar

Lost Paradise, Glenworth Valley NSW

A collective manifestation of respect and unity as lovers of electronic dance music, alternative music, arts and lifestyle activities create a bushland wonderworld that is barely enough to explore over the four days that it runs. Singles, Couples and young families populate and bring to life the magic of the grounds in a celebration that culminates in the welcoming of the New Year. 2020 event was cancelled due to the blazing bushfires across the state. It’s a $50 taxi each way from Gosford station if you arent planning to plonk yourself in Tent City or on the Glamping site set within the 3000 acre forest.

Big Red Bash, Birdsville QLD

1,900 km from Sydney ( 2.5 days drive) , 1,600 km from Brisbane (allow 2 days drive) and 1,200 km from Adelaide (allow 1.5 days drive) otherwise the only way of getting there are through private chartered flights which are available through partner and third party operators.

Set in the backdrop of the Australian outback on the edge of the Simpson Desert (South-West Queensland), it’s a family-friendly experience of desert camping and three day and nights of concerts attracting

Electric Picnic, Ireland

Clockenflap, Hong Kong

Every great outfit deserves a great stage. And there’s no better stage than Clockenflap! So come be seen, strut your stuff, and shake it like only you know how at Hong Kong’s biggest celebration of music, artistic wonkiness and self-expression.