Scene
The new winter festival A Winter Garden is in full swing in Obertauern, Austria. The winter edition of The Garden brand is delighting guests from all over Europe. One of the biggest highlights of A Winter Garden was the fact that four DJs who have been shaping the regional scene and The Garden identity for decades, Marijan Felver, Nick Colgan, Tom Bug and Pepi Jogarde, have gathered in the same place.
“I have never been to a ski festival before. I am very happy to be here and to have the opportunity to be in this wonderful sun. I may go back to skiing, but I believe that I will also be lazy a lot along with the gigs!” said Marijan Felver, who came to Austria from Barcelona.
Their friendship, shared adventures and energy are exactly what won over the visitors. This is the first time the whole crew has been in a winter setting, which further enhanced the event’s unique feeling.
“Everyone enjoys skiing, everyone relaxes. The hotel’s wellness facilities are fantastic. It’s really impressive what we’ve achieved, this is a wonderful end to the year!” – emphasizes Nick Colgan and adds: “This is a big step for the regional DJ scene, for sure. For me, it was important because we work closely with the local scene. I’ve been working with Pepi and Felver for years, and Tom Bug has been working with us for the last five years. I think it’s really important to have such a great combination of international and local talent. I know that the DJs who work with us know their job. There are two types of music – good and bad. As long as we have good music, everything is fine!”
The A Winter Garden festival is currently taking place in Obertauern, Austria, where The Garden team premiered its new boutique winter concept. In an idyllic Alpine setting, guests from all over Europe combined skiing, music, wellness, and socializing in an atmosphere that could only be experienced at the summer Garden editions so far.
“The location is incredible, as usual, we have top-notch production. It’s nice to hang out with all these DJs, as a kind of replacement for the summer!” – says Tom Bug and adds: “Unfortunately, I’ve never skied, and I currently have a knee problem, so I don’t think there will be time to learn to ski or anything like that. But I’m enjoying the snowy idyll. Sun, sauna, lounge bar, whirlpool, pool… mostly I’m enjoying it!”
Today marks the last day of the festival, where participants enjoyed a perfectly arranged program that combines snow, sun, alpine silence and the recognizable Garden groove. Hotel [PLACES] Obertauern by Valamar has become the new winter “The Garden village”, with more than 100 kilometers of ski slopes, après-ski gatherings, and a pop-up version of the iconic Barbarella’s scene.
“The atmosphere is great. The Garden is more than a brand and a festival. I have been working with them since the first edition in Petrčane, and over the years we have become a real family!” – said Pepi Jogarde and added: “I like this whole story. There is a good potential for something really good to be born from this, for it to become a tradition!”
The line-up of the A Winter Garden festival brought together international and regional forces, including: Olive F, Pepi Jogarde, Radio Guesthouse, Tom Bug, Ben Colgan, Brother Mark, Chez De Milo, Dave Harvey, Ellie Stokes, Felver, Gerd Janson, Guru Logic, Ilija Rudman, Manta, Peach, Curses, Dragana and many others. Local collectives Planet Srijeda, Dobar House and Late Checkout took over three nights, while British partners Love International are set to close the program.
The sold-out capacity confirms that A Winter Garden has found the perfect balance between exclusivity, music, alpine ambience and the community that The Garden has built over two decades.
