Magazine Category: Article

Unaharn Festival is returning to the forests of Nakhon Nayok, located on the edge of Khao Yai National Park in Thailand this October. 

Slated to take place from 12th to 14th October 2024, the two-day, two-night festival will be held across two stages each handcrafted with local materials and featuring a unique design for this year’s festival.  

The afternoon stage, located by the garden near the resort’s swimming pool, offers a serene backdrop for daytime sets. At night, the second stage, hidden up the hill in the forest, will showcase a range of performances.

The lineup has yet to be announced, but organizers promise a diverse array of electronic music, spanning genres from house to techno and everything in between. While previous editions have hosted the likes of Ouissam, DOTT, Di Linh, Mumsfilibaba, Chucheewa, Monkey Business, Koish, and more. 

Unaharn notes that the upcoming edition will expand its international and regional presence while continuing to showcase emerging talents from Thailand’s scene.

According to the Unaharn team, the upcoming event will stay “true to its core values: an independent music festival driven by its community. We’re focused on bringing singular experiences throughout 2 full days and nights soaked in nature.”

Unaharn Festival stands out for its eclectic music and unique location, offering a blend of on-site hotel rooms and camping options. A partnership with a neighboring resort ensures that all attendees can stay comfortably close to the venue, with shuttles running continuously to facilitate easy access.

In other festival news, China’s Zhao Dai On Leave announced its return later this month, unveiling a diverse lineup including Illsee, DJ Truck, Knopha, Di Linh, Manikk, and more.

For more information on Unaharn Festival tickets and to stay updated on lineup announcements, visit here.

Zhao Dai On Leave is returning later this month for its fourth edition. 

Slated for May 31 to June 2, 2024, the three-day festival will be held in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao, Beidaihe New District, just a few hours from Beijing.

The festival was founded in 2020 by the Beijing club Zhao Dai and has since grown to become one of the most influential electronic festivals in the region. According to the festival organizers, “Zhao Dai On Leave emphasises community gathering: here, crowds meet, ideas collide, and different music genres blend, forming a cohesive force.”

Artists confirmed for this edition include Chinese DJs like Illsee, DJ Truck, Knopha, and Sanyo. The festival will also feature artists from across East and Southeast Asia, such as Hanoi’s Di Linh and Manikk, DOTT from Bangkok, Emel Rowe and Saint Guel from Manila, and many more. International guests include France’s Amor Satyr, Kimmah from the Netherlands, Peachlyfe from Denmark, and DJ SWISHA from the US, among others.

According to the press release, Zhao Dai On Leave is committed to showcasing a vast array of regional music culture hubs, including clubs, listening bars, record labels, radio stations, and collectives. It aims to provide a platform for new talents and ideas to emerge, interact, and flourish.

“In 2020, there was a period when the COVID-19 policy in China was effective. We couldn’t open the club during that time, but we could organize an outdoor festival. That’s how Zhao Dai On Leave started,” Zhiqi from Zhao Dai told Likdo. “We never intended to create a huge festival; in the first few editions, we focused on showcasing local DJs from all over China.”

“The festival connected club scenes from cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Chengdu – each city had its community, radio, clubs, and residences. We brought them all together, which had never happened before. We wanted to foster these connections, and it just happened to be the right time and place.”

In other news, Bassis Asia and .TAG Chengdu recently collaborated for the Pleasures of Anomaly event at iKi in Singapore. The event was headlined by American-born, Berlin-based DJ Lawrence Lee, you can read more about it here. 

Tickets for the Zhao Dai On Leave are on sale now, starting at 55 USD. You can secure yours here.  

The 3-day festival will welcome an eclectic array of artists, including DJ Nobu, DJ Masa, Pearson Sound, Kneju Takimi and more. More details below.

Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Japan, Rainbow Disco Club has garnered recognition from Resident Advisor as “one of the world’s most idyllic festivals.” Marking its 15th anniversary, the festival returns with a strong commitment to environmental values and a diverse lineup.

Scheduled from Friday, April 19th to Sunday, April 21st, this three-day extravaganza will unfold at the Higashi-Izu Cross Country Course, situated south of Tokyo and near the coastal town of Izu-Inatori. The festival will feature a blend of renowned international acts alongside regional and local talent.

DJ highlights include DJ Nobu, who will perform back-to-back with DJ Masda, and the collective Hessle Audio featuring Ben UFO, Pangaea, and Pearson Sound. Other notable additions to the lineup include Four Tet, Kenji Takimi, Antal, Prins Thomas, Kikiorix, Peach, salute, Mr. Ho, Tim Reaper, and SAMO. Live performances by Precious Bloom, Kuniyuki, and machìna have also been confirmed. Continuing the tradition from previous editions, the festival will be divided between two stages, hosted by Rainbow Disco Club and Red Bull.

Smoking is confined to designated areas or requires attendees to provide their own ashtrays. While pets are welcome on the festival grounds, they are discouraged from the dance floor to prevent potential disruptions. 

Tickets for the upcoming event are currently available for purchase. The 3-day pass, now in its 6th release, is priced at 23,000 yen (154.84 USD). Additionally, passes for day 2 and day 3 start at 21,000 yen (141.37 USD). For those interested in camping, a ticket for the campsite costs 4,000 yen (26.93 USD), with parking available for an additional fee of 5,000 yen (33.66 USD). 

For further details about the event and to view the complete lineup, visit the official Rainbow Disco Club website.

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Japan’s Rural festival is poised to make a return to the hills near Niigata’s ski resort town, Yuzawa, this summer. More details on the lineup and the festival below. 

Taking place at ‘Nowhere Camp’, deep in the mountains south-west of Fukushima, this year’s rural festival is set to be one to remember. Running for three days from July 12th to July 15th, the festival boasts a diverse lineup featuring artists from across Asia and beyond. 

The acts on the bill include Akey, Clarisa Kimskii, DJ HISUI, Dr. Nishimura, Elaheh, Jane Fitz & AKIRAM EN, KAPI, Levolant, and more. You can check out the full lineup here below, or at on Rural’s official website here. 

Tickets are on sale now, and are currently on fourth release, costing ¥19,000 (127.88 USD). Camping is also available with campsite tickets costing ¥4,000 (26.92 USD) and Trailer/RV Camping tickets costing ¥17,000 (114.41USD). 

As its name suggests, Rural Festival is renowned for curating an eclectic lineup amidst the scenic mountains of Japan. Last year marked the festival’s return to the mountains following the 2019 edition at Nagano’s Sutakako Camping Ground. You can explore Rural’s SoundCloud for recordings of sets from last year’s edition.

In celebration of its 15th year, the Japanese festival organisers have embarked on a tour across Europe. Tickets are still available for their upcoming event on Saturday at Ankali & Planeta Za in Prague, featuring GiGi FM, Erka, NAO, and more. You can find more information on that event here. 

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After celebrating its tenth anniversary last year, Organik will once again take place at Secret Island: a picturesque coastal location near Taipei, spanning three days from April 26th to 28th. More details below.

The event featuring an eclectic lineup, hosting artists from across Asia, such as Atsushi Maeda, Limsum, OCCA, and Sarayu. Notable Taiwanese acts include Andy Chiu, Diskonnected, Gemnital, and Tsui, while international talent includes Danielle, Woody92, DJ TOOL, Lena Willikens, Priori, Shanti Celeste, and Madalba.

According to the event’s description, Organik will “showcase three stages: the breathtaking Organik Stage, framed by mountains and sea; the Red Pillars, nestled in an abandoned warehouse; and the Ambient greenhouse.” Alongside great music, the festival will also host a diverse range of food stalls and workshops.

Tickets are still on sale and can be secured from Resident Advisor or KKtix, priced at approximately €130.00, along with a €6,25 booking fee. Visit Organik’s website for more details on the festival and the impact they’re having on Taiwan’s thriving music scene.

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Bad Times Disco, which has served as a pop-up record store and party series for the past three years, has launched a temporary physical shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

Opened on 11th January 2023, the physical store named, Bad Times Records, will sell a selection of second-hand records – focussing on rare Asian grooves and electronic music ranging from the 90s to the 2010s. 

Situated on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, adjacent to the renowned Chung King Mansions, the 648-square-foot store aims to draw in a fresh demographic of creatives and music professionals to the shopping complex. 

The main objective of the five-month pop-up is to establish a stable and grounding physical space in Hong Kong for music lovers and DJs to connect, providing an alternative to the transient nature of parties and events.

Along with a selection of secondhand and vintage clothing, curated by No ThrillSS, Bad Times Records will offer locally sourced beverages and serve as a venue for workshops, events, and gatherings catering to the local DJ, producer, and music enthusiast community. 

The store will operate as a pop-up for five months, primarily due to founder Ani Phoebe’s touring commitments and the financial uncertainties associated with opening the business. 

Speaking on the launch, Bad Times Disco said: “The essence of the 5-month pop-up is to provide a physical space for music lovers and DJs in Hong Kong to meet each other that is not a party or an event – but rather a more stable and grounding, calming space. 

“Hong Kong is a hectic city where many people do not have time, let alone space, to meet each other. Party promoters and DJs are often isolated by their busy schedules and the city’s frenetic rhythm. Bad Times Disco will create a temporary music community space where people can come together to plot out new ideas, learn from each other, launch new music, exchange new ideas, and strengthen the city’s small underground music scene that has a lot of potential to grow.”

Bangkok, Thailand—infamous for its ruggedly vibrant nightlife—introduces a groundbreaking addition to the scene. Having carved its own dynamic niche in the luxury clubbing space, Thonglor’s BEAM Club expands to the energetic Sathorn neighborhood with its latest venture, BEAMCUBE. The recently opened venue is set to redefine the city’s nocturnal landscape, offering a multifaceted destination for music enthusiasts and partygoers alike.

Situated on the 6th floor of the Mahanakorn Cube in Sathorn district, BEAMCUBE is more than just a nightclub. Bringing together an intimate cocktail bar, a sophisticated listening lounge fitted with top-of-the-line equipment for cutting-edge sound quality, and the promise of an unparalleled dance floor experience all under one roof, it’s a sanctuary for audiophiles as well as a new go-to spot for discerning guests. It is a natural evolution for the BEAM brand, already renowned and beloved for its lively dance floors, inventive cocktails, and infectious party energy.

Several features make BEAMCUBE stand out from Bangkok’s saturated clubbing landscape, namely:

Exceptional music curation. The programming at BEAMCUBE is curated by none other than Brent Burns (Transport) and Sebastian De La Cruz (Mumsfilibaba, Tropic City). This duo is guaranteed to deliver a diverse and electrifying musical journey for patrons.

A refined bar setting. Further elevating the experience is a dedicated selection of craft cocktails led by Beverage Manager Sebestian, formerly of Teens of Thailand. Expect expertly formulated libations to complement the music.

The focus on a holistic auditory experience. BEAMCUBE’s listening lounge concept provides the perfect space to connect with music on a deeper, more personal, and immersive level. Music aficionados will revel in the state-of-the-art sound design featuring a handmade TPI sound system.

BEAMCUBE’s soft launch, ongoing until January, sets the stage for another extraordinary achievement for Thailand’s restless capital city. This early phase allows guests to witness the gradual evolution of this new musical haven. Last weekend (November 17-18), the club kicked off with two inaugural international acts: Manchester-based DJ and producer Hidden Spheres as well as Parisian maestro Hugo LX, an encouraging suggestion of what’s to come.

As BEAM continues to grow, the company stays true to its commitment of providing remarkable experiences that celebrate the joy of music and dance. Bangkok’s nightlife already offers a symphony of experiences to explore. The addition of BEAMCUBE takes it to the next level, pushing its development in new directions.